50 Students who hoped to study abroad in summer 2023 could travel to Zambia through Harding in Zambia (HIZ). Years previously, this program was only available during the fall semester. However, that arrangement created schedule conflicts for many students wishing to go. “Our hope is that more students will be able to participate in the program in the summer, especially students who are science majors, nursing [majors] and pre-health sciences [majors],” Audra Pleasant, executive director of International Programs, said. “A lot of students have expressed interest in the program who have a hard time being gone in the fall due to the course sequencing.” Moving the program to the summer allowed the students to gain experience collaborating across professions. Harding’s graduate speech pathology program, HIZ Path, overlapped with the HIZ program, allowing students to work together and serve in a unique real world setting. “We are excited about the opportunity of interprofessional collaboration with [Harding speech pathology],” Jessica Gardner, director of HIZ, said. Slight changes to the prerequisites were made, making the program cost less for students. Information previously covered in class was to now be included in the program’s orientation. The Harding University Takhodah intersession course was still a requirement for students. Another perk of the program change was the seasonal change. The program would now be in session during winter in Zambia, where students enjoyed temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even with the changes, students were expected to gain the same experiences as students in years past. “We anticipate the core of the program being the same,” Gardner said. Mallory Jones, a freshman medical humanities major, was signed up for HIZ summer 2023. “The way my schedule was, I would have had to take on a whole extra year, but with it in the summer, I am able to keep a normal four-year schedule,” Jones said. “It is a convenient time that wouldn’t mess up my school social experience or [academic] experience.” Jones chose the HIZ program in order to study abroad with a purpose. While there were many handson opportunities available for medical students, Jones encouraged students from all majors to consider doing more with their abroad experience. “Zambia is a service opportunity,” Jones said. “You don’t have to be a nurse or Bible [major] or missionary to have those experiences that are so different and healthy for anybody.” Written by: Anna Yingling FALLING INTO SUMMER Harding University in Zambia becomes a summer program beginning in 2023.
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