New study abroad experience for first-year students launches a WMU education in the Dominican Republic
KALAMAZOO, Mich.— The Haenicke Institute for Global Education is proud to announce a new WMU Study Abroad program exclusive to first‑year students. Registration for Economics in our Daily Lives: Perspectives from the Dominican Republic is now open.
The 3‑credit course blends eight days of global immersion in the Dominican Republic with an on‑campus seminar. This innovative model allows students to start their college experience with meaningful, international academic immersion.
“This program is designed for 1st year students who are interested in global education and are looking to participate in study abroad early in their careers at WMU,” says Joe Milostan, director of study abroad and international enrichment at the Haenicke Institute for Global Education..
"Students will be traveling with a group of WMU students, so this is a great opportunity to make new friends and gain some international travel experience.”
Lead by Dr. Susan Pozo, professor of economics in College of Arts and Sciences, the course fulfills WMU Essential Studies Level 1: Inquiry and Engagement.
It allows incoming students the opportunity to complete a foundational requirement while participating in an experience that is both academically rigorous and exceptionally memorable.
“Our students won’t just learn economics—they’ll do economics,” said Pozo. “By collecting data in the Dominican Republic and then analyzing it together on campus, students connect core concepts to real decisions people make about education, work, migration and opportunity.”
Students enrolled in the class will begin their work in the Dominican Republic, exploring how economic forces shape daily life in different cultural contexts, including how historical, geographic and gender‑related factors shape economic pathways.
Traveling as a small group, they will meet with community leaders, observe local industries and workforce development initiatives and engage with organizations addressing social and economic challenges. Students will document patterns of decision‑making in both urban and rural settings.
After they return to campus, students will analyze the field data and connect their findings in the Dominican Republic to U.S. economic conditions to build evidence‑based arguments grounded in real experiences, Pozo says. The exercise will deepen their comparative reasoning and strengthen their analytical confidence early in their college careers.
“Seeing the same concepts from two vantage points—the Dominican Republic and the United States—helps first‑year students understand trade‑offs, constraints and the real costs and benefits behind choices like going to college or entering the workforce,” she says. “The result is a tight‑knit cohort that arrives on campus for the fall semester with shared experience and strong data skills.”
Sign Up Today
More information about the application to study abroad as a first-year student can be found in the online digital trip catalogue. Applications must be submitted by May 15 for August travel.
Incoming first-year students who do not yet have a Bronco net i.d., can set up a guest account with their personal email address. Information about the trip will be presented at the March 28 WMU Open House and this spring's Future Bronco Days.
About the Haenicke Institute for Global Education
The Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education, established in 1998, fosters an environment that supports the global engagement of the Western community. Its offices assist nearly 2,000 international students and alumni at home and abroad with admissions, immigration, student success and post-graduation job training.
The institute also facilitates short- and long-term study abroad programs for students, faculty and staff. It hosts a variety of global learning activities, such as designing and promoting scholarship and academic opportunities on campus; providing K-12 outreach; hosting lecturesa, panels and events; and showcasing arts, entertainment and culture from around the world. Learn more about the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.