the University of New Haven will sign a partnership with CEA - Cultural Experiences Abroad to provide transcripting and academic oversight of CEA's one-of-a-kind and growing GlobalCampus Network overseas, facilitating study abroad for students from universities across the nation.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity for the University of New Haven, its students and college students across the nation," says UNH President Steve Kaplan. "Through the partnership with CEA, the University of New Haven will become the top study abroad provider in the United States." Kaplan points out the partnership supports the experiential education initiative in the university's strategic plan, particularly the global education component.

Through the new agreement, the University of New Haven (http://www.newhaven.edu/) will gain greater international visibility, as well as new opportunities for faculty development, resources for continuing globalization, and revenues to support students' study abroad and other experiential activities. "While the University of New Haven currently provides other study abroad opportunities in-house or through direct arrangements with providers, this partnership with CEA is far more efficient and affordable, and accelerates our developments in this area," Kaplan says.

CEA - Cultural Experiences Abroad, an Arizona-based organization offering comprehensive study abroad programs and international education, is currently operational in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Australia and Latin America, with expansion into Asia planned for this summer. Already affiliated with over 145 universities to place students in universities abroad, CEA (http://www.gowithcea.com/) also seeks to expand its GlobalCampus Network where local support services are offered and courses of study are provided for client students. "While such courses are worthy of college credit," says Kaplan, "the transfer of these credits to students' home institutions requires endorsement by a properly accredited school of record."

"The University of New Haven has a strong faculty, imaginative leadership, experience in developing a technology-rich environment and a major interest in international education," says CEA CEO Brian Boubek. "We envision a true partnership in which UNH maintains the control of all the academic processes and policies, which are at the heart of its mission."

As soon as this summer, college students from across the nation will be taking courses at GlobalCampus centers. The partners estimate that by fall 2009, more than 4,000 students a year will study abroad in Barcelona, Florence, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome and the South of France through the GlobalCampus Network. Next steps include expanding traditional study abroad opportunities overseas to give international students the same opportunities to visit campuses in the U.S., facilitating a better understanding of this country's values and capacities.

The signing ceremony will take place on Monday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at the University of New Haven, Maxcy Hall, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT.