Global Initiatives
Japan Immersion
Lansing Community College, the pioneer in community college
study abroad in Japan, offers life-changing global
experiences for its students in business and education. Both
opportunities result from the strong connections between
Lansing and its sister city, Otsu, located in Michigan's
sister state, the Shiga Prefecture, Japan. LCC’s partnership
with Michigan State University also helps students study
around the globe.
Up to 10 LCC students are selected to complete an internship with the Biwako Kisen Steamship Company, Ltd., a Japanese company, during summer and fall semesters.
The experience will include a 3-credit unpaid internship on the Michigan
Boat, where students work an average of 20 hours a week doing food service and
public relations duties. Students also will study Japanese language under the
direction of a faculty member from Japan’s University of Shiga Prefecture. The
application for the Japan Immersion is 
available here.
"It was one of the best experiences of my life. I would say that anyone who has the opportunity to go on this kind of trip and passes it up is crazy" – LCC student Elmo Harris, 2011 participant, quoted in the LCC Lookout, December 13, 2011.
"It ended up being just one big ball of fun … It’s also a really nice thing to put down on a resume" – LCC student Tori Kerr, 2011 participant, quoted in the Lookout, December 13, 2011.
Japan Education Internship
The Japan Education Internship offers two LCC students the opportunity to work with Japanese teachers to teach English in an Otsu, Japan elementary school. The LCC Japan Education Internship takes place from May to July. Internship experiences include:
"The Japan education internship changed my life and the lives of the students I worked with. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I could."
-- Susan Zack, 2012 LCC Education Intern in Japan
- Doing English dialog examples with classroom teacher
- Leading English-language classroom activities with children
- Working with LCC faculty and Japanese elementary teachers to develop weekly lesson plans
Applications for the education internship are
available here. For more information on this program, contact Professor Marc
Thomas at
thomasm6@lcc.edu.
Experience Germany
Lansing Community College, in partnership with Muskegon Community College and the Kaufmaennische Schule Stuttgart-Nord, a small business college, offer a chance to experience Stuttgart, Germany for 10 days each May. In 2013, the students from Michigan will visit Stuttgart from May 11 to May 19. The German college exchange students will visit Michigan from June 5 to June 13. Contact Professor Mary LaVigne at lavignem@lcc.edu for more info on the program.
Study Abroad through Michigan State University
A partnership between Lansing Community College and Michigan State University encourages LCC students to participate in MSU’s study-abroad programs.
Experiences abroad range from Advertising in the Mediterranean to Education in South Africa. Through its Office of Study Abroad, MSU leads the nation in study abroad participation among public universities. MSU’s program options are among the most diverse, with more than 260 programs in 60 countries on all continents. Its programs range in length from one week to an academic year, and they are offered during each session, including fall semester, spring semester and breaks.
Check out MSU’s Study Abroad Site, where you can find more details on each program, and a searchable database of the University’s study-abroad programs
When do I have to apply?
Application deadlines for MSU’s study abroad programs are as follows:
October 15: Winter Break & Spring Semester programs
January 15
: Spring Break programs
March 1: Summer & Fall Semester & Academic Year programs
How can I pay for study abroad?
Scholarships
LCC/MSU Study-Abroad Scholarship. LCC provides a scholarship
of up to $3000 for a student to participate in one of Michigan State
University’s vast study-abroad offerings. The application deadline is in January
for an LCC scholarship to help pay for a spring, summer or fall MSU study-abroad
program.
Click
here for the application.
LCC Japan Scholarships. Students selected for the LCC Japan Immersion receive a $2000 scholarship from the LCC Foundation to help defray the cost of the program. Those selected for the LCC Japan Education Internship receive a $2000 LCC institutional scholarship to help defray the total program cost.
Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is offered by the federal government to help students who are underrepresented in study abroad participation to take part. If you receive a federal Pell grant, you are eligible to apply for the Gilman. Click here or contact Marc Thomas at thomasm6@lcc.edu for more details. The application deadline for Spring and Summer study abroad programs is in early October.
Federal Grants and Loans
Federal Financial Aid. If you have not done so, fill out the federal FAFSA form, then contact LCC Financial Aid Office, which can help you determine eligibility for federal loans and grants to help make paying for study abroad a little easier. Click here for more info on financial aid.
Where do I get more info?
Marc Thomas
Professor, Social Science and Humanities
Arts & Sciences Room 361-E
PO Box 40010 – MC 5500
517.483.1912
thomasm6@lcc.edu
Academic Affairs
Administration Bldg, Room 201
Phone: (517) 483-1498
Additional contact information »
