Many studies have shown that the same student learning outcomes observed in long-term study abroad can be met during short-term programs, if executed correctly. Intercollegiate athletic foreign travel tours (AFTs) are similar to short-term study abroad programs, but little research has been done on these programs. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from surveys of student-athletes who recently participated in AFTs, as well as interviews with relevant staff members, I was able to determine strengths of the program and identify areas for growth. The evaluation process shaped organizational change recommendations, along with an institutional policy that will allow the AFT program to better facilitate the student learning outcomes related to intercultural competency and the development of student-athletes through global experience.
","abstract_html":"<p>Many studies have shown that the same student learning outcomes observed in long-term study abroad can be met during short-term programs, if executed correctly. Intercollegiate athletic foreign travel tours (AFTs) are similar to short-term study abroad programs, but little research has been done on these programs. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from surveys of student-athletes who recently participated in AFTs, as well as interviews with relevant staff members, I was able to determine strengths of the program and identify areas for growth. The evaluation process shaped organizational change recommendations, along with an institutional policy that will allow the AFT program to better facilitate the student learning outcomes related to intercultural competency and the development of student-athletes through global experience.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Elsbernd, April L"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ed.D. Doctor of Education","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Educational Leadership","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Carol Burg","Dr. Stuart Carrier","Dr. Margaret Machon"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-04-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2020-04-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:20:57Z","subjects":["Study Abroad","Intercollegiate Athletics","Cultural Competence","21st Century Learning Skills","Transformational Learning","Student Development","Curriculum and Social Inquiry","Higher Education","International and Intercultural Communication","Race and Ethnicity","Service Learning","Sports Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/527","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Carol Burg","Dr. Stuart Carrier","Dr. Margaret Machon"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Elsbernd, April L"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-10-19T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Educational Leadership"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Study Abroad","Intercollegiate Athletics","Cultural Competence","21st Century Learning Skills","Transformational Learning","Student Development","Curriculum and Social Inquiry","Higher Education","International and Intercultural Communication","Race and Ethnicity","Service Learning","Sports Studies"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/527"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Many studies have shown that the same student learning outcomes observed in long-term study abroad can be met during short-term programs, if executed correctly. Intercollegiate athletic foreign travel tours (AFTs) are similar to short-term study abroad programs, but little research has been done on these programs. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from surveys of student-athletes who recently participated in AFTs, as well as interviews with relevant staff members, I was able to determine strengths of the program and identify areas for growth. The evaluation process shaped organizational change recommendations, along with an institutional policy that will allow the AFT program to better facilitate the student learning outcomes related to intercultural competency and the development of student-athletes through global experience.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Short-term Athletic Foreign Tours and Student Learning Outcomes: A Program Evaluation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Carol Burg","Dr. Stuart Carrier","Dr. Margaret Machon"],"dc:creator":["Elsbernd, April L"],"dc:date.available":["2020-10-19T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Many studies have shown that the same student learning outcomes observed in long-term study abroad can be met during short-term programs, if executed correctly. Intercollegiate athletic foreign travel tours (AFTs) are similar to short-term study abroad programs, but little research has been done on these programs. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from surveys of student-athletes who recently participated in AFTs, as well as interviews with relevant staff members, I was able to determine strengths of the program and identify areas for growth. The evaluation process shaped organizational change recommendations, along with an institutional policy that will allow the AFT program to better facilitate the student learning outcomes related to intercultural competency and the development of student-athletes through global experience.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/527"],"dc:subject":["Study Abroad","Intercollegiate Athletics","Cultural Competence","21st Century Learning Skills","Transformational Learning","Student Development","Curriculum and Social Inquiry","Higher Education","International and Intercultural Communication","Race and Ethnicity","Service Learning","Sports Studies"],"dc:title":["Short-term Athletic Foreign Tours and Student Learning Outcomes: A Program Evaluation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Educational Leadership"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:20:57Z"}