From PathwayOregon to Pathway World
Send Ducks around the world, one gift at a time!
Help close the gap for PathwayOregon students
At UO, 43% of undergraduates study abroad. Among PathwayOregon students, that number is just 13%. The biggest barrier is cost, and with your support, we can change that.
The PathwayOregon Study Abroad Fund helps high-achieving, low-income Oregon students travel abroad and earn UO credit, often for the first time. It’s an experience that can shape their academic, career, and personal goals, and change the course of their lives.
It also helps students cross the finish line. The typical four-year graduation rate for PathwayOregon students is 57-63%. For those who study abroad, it rises to 95%. Your gift goes beyond program tuition. It helps cover the real costs of going abroad: passports, flights, housing, and meals.
Unique Program model: London in a Global Context
London in a Global Context is a cohort-based study abroad program where PathwayOregon students travel to London together. They take classes with UO and London-based faculty, immerse themselves in the city’s history and culture, and learn alongside other UO students at the GEO London Centre. The program is fully funded. Your gift covers tuition and the entire cost of going:
- Flights
- Insurance
- Passport costs
- Housing
- Food
- Excursions in and around the United Kingdom
For many of these students, coming to Eugene was already a big step, and studying abroad never felt possible. Your gift to the PathwayOregon Study Abroad Fund unlocks the world for students like Sarah Shewaye, a 2023 London in a Global Context participant who went on to study abroad again and is now attending graduate school internationally. She’s not alone: more than 25% of past participants have gone on to a second study abroad program.
Student Testimonials
“For first generation, minority, or PathwayOregon students who are thinking about studying abroad my advice would be to take a risk. I applied for the program not knowing if I would get in and with little knowledge of what Europe was like. No one in my community had studied abroad and many people were shocked when I told them that I was leaving for almost two months in another country. I was even discouraged by some people. They told me that it was too far and I didn't know what I was doing. I took what I would consider the biggest risk of my life and got on a plane by myself to Europe. However, it was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I will cherish it forever. I have changed and grown into a better person. I never thought that as someone who is a first generation and a PathwayOregon student, that the opportunity to go abroad would be opened to me. This experience taught me that the world is full of so many beautiful opportunities, and you should grab onto as many as you can.”
Sarah Shewaye, Political Science
“London in a Global Context was a great program that changed my perspective on the world and my life goals. The program was unique, with interactive classes where we would learn material in class and then visit the sites throughout the city. We also learned about British culture through the theater and historical tours. The instructors of the program were passionate about their courses and gave us creative assignments to encourage research and critical thinking.”
Ivan Luna-Larios, Accounting
“This was my first time leaving the country, so it was a meaningful experience that broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of different cultures. I also built friendships during the program, which made the whole experience even more special.”
Chloe Doner, Psychology