Students and Faculty Laud Summer Cambridge Program for Its Rigor and International Exposure

Meeting an international political leader, analyzing the leadership style of a worldwide corporation, and punting along the River Cam are not on the summer agenda for the average college student. But the students from the Jepson School of Leadership Studies can experience all of these things and more by spending five weeks of the summer studying at Emmanuel College at Cambridge.

The Jepson School program is in partnership with School of Law, which has held a summer program in England for more than 30 years. Students apply in January for the summer program. "I would recommend this program particularly to undergraduate students with an interest in law," says Lynne Nolte, who studied at Cambridge in 2006. 

"The program is an inspiring intellectual and cultural experience for students and faculty alike," said Dr. Terry Price, associate professor and director of the summer study program. Student Nolte agrees. "The program is set in the heart of Cambridge andt here are many opportunities to learn about the rich heritage of English culture in this setting." Summer at Cambridge enriched her understanding of the world. "London in particular made me realize how diversity and exposing yourself to different worldviews is an very critical and necessary component of education. Americans are not at the center of the world though we would like to think so sometimes.

The curriculum changes every summer. One year, Price taught "The Moral Limits of Criminal Law" and a Cambridge professor taught “Legal History.”

Another Jepson faculty member’s course "Organizational Leadership” provided students with a complex case study and comparative research project that studied the differences between U.S. and UK organizations and cultures. That year, students interviewed employees at all levels of two worldwide corporate organizations headquartered in Cambridge. They asked in-depth questions about vision, mission, goals, culture, personal and professional development, leadership style and processes. After completing some 40 interviews per company, student teams presented their findings and organizational analysis to the senior management of their respective organizations.

Lauren Bifulco, a leadership studies and rhetoric and communications double-major who spent a summer abroad at Cambridge relates, "Academically speaking, the classes were more rigorous than I had originally expected, but not in a bad way." Another participant, Jackie Knupp, a 2006 graduate who double majored in leadership studies and biology, said the classes afforded students the opportunity for "highly effective leadership theory application."

Outside of the classroom, students enjoy exploring Cambridge and taking advantage of the cultural experience that studying abroad offers. Michelle Swartz, 2006-07 Jepson Student Government Association president made time each day to chat with locals. Her favorite memories center on the Shakespearean plays she attended and a Vivaldi concert she heard in St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square.

Formal outings include a tours of Oxford and the House of Commons and Lloyd's of London, lectures and special events on campus and, the grace note for the program, a reception with Lady Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister.

Most students recall that as the social highlight of the summer.  "The Thatcher reception was an excellent opportunity to hear a bit about how the U.S. and U.K. interacted in the '80s and how leadership of our countries was tied to the friendship between Lady Thatcher and President Reagan," explains Swartz. Lady Thatcher advised students to "always do [their] homework, [so that] when opportunity knocks, [they] have the knowledge and competencies to answer."

Beyond the academics and activities, students take away from the Cambridge program an overall understanding of British culture. Students are also able to better comprehend their own role in the world and to do some self-exploration. Noted 2006 graduate Swartz: "I have become significantly more aware of what a small part of the very large world I am, while simultaneously [grasping the concept] that we, as humans...are still driven by similar motivations."

Application Deadline: In January of each year  
Cost: $5250 (2007 cost) 
Program Director/Faculty: Dr. Terry Price
Course Information: Students will register for between 5-6 credit hours. Courses for 2007 included: LDST 390 Moral Limits of Criminal Law (LDST elective); LDST 488 Internship (fulfills the internship requirement for leadership studies majors); HIST 499 Legal History

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