UW–Madison’s International Academic Programs office is making life even easier for students preparing to study abroad. A new service will provide free passport-sized photos to all UW students, faculty, and staff to make the passport application process more convenient and defray the cost of photos.
“We understand that study abroad sometimes feels daunting — like there are so many tasks attached to it,” said Andy Quackenbush, UW study abroad advisor. “We want to do everything we can to make that transition easier for students.”
Wiscard holders can take advantage of the service on Fridays between 8:30 and 11 a.m. on the third floor of the Red Gym, where the Study Abroad Resource Center is located. Housing all services in the same location allows students to complete the necessary tasks more easily, Quackenbush said.
Along with facilitating preparation for travel, the service aims to divert the costs linked with study abroad.
“The cost associated with passport photos can be expensive,” said Erin Polnaszek Boyd, senior study abroad advisor. “Local spots can charge 15 dollars for two photos, and some students need upwards of eight photos, which makes the cost high. These costs cause many students to think study abroad is out of reach, and we want to combat that as much as possible.”
Students looking for more information about study abroad programs and how to fund their experience should attend the UW-Madison Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, September 18, in Union South. The event will run between 1:30 and 6:00 p.m. and showcase over 260 programs in more than 65 countries, for students of all academic levels and majors, including specialized programs for students in CALS, the College of Engineering and the Wisconsin School of Business. Informational sessions on a variety of topics will be available throughout the day.