Ashley Lemke | Assistant News Editor
Travel numbers are slightly down for the month of January for Buena Vista University (BVU). Currently, there are 62 BVU students traveling during January on various trips including: Europe, French Polynesia, Spain, Disney, New York City, and Chile; however many trips were cancelled due to the lack of students signed up.
There were a few other trips that were offered this year but didn’t have enough numbers to go. Typically eight students must be signed up for a trip in order to go. During registration for interim and spring semester, students also sign up for opportunities to travel.
BVU junior Katie Turnquist, a Business and Accounting major, originally planned to go to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
“We were sure we had enough people to go when we were organizing things, but when it came to sign up during registration week, there weren’t enough people,” Turnquist said.
BVU junior Janice Timmerman, a Business major with minors in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Sports Marketing had also planned on going to Haiti.
“We heard about Haiti last spring and got super interested and really wanted to go. During the week of registration on Friday, we were told that we wouldn’t be going because we didn’t have enough people,” Timmerman said. “We were kind of upset and we did what we could to find more people that would want to go. We recruited enough people, but it was too late for the deadlines.”
According to Dr. Peter Steinfeld, Associate Dean of the Faculty, the cutoff date for January travel courses is on the calendar far in advance each year.
“This strict deadline for travel courses is because the university makes reservations for each student’s plane ticket 90 days before the beginning of a January travel trip,” Steinfeld said. “The airlines have strict non-refundable deposit regulations and by having a strict deadline for the students, we are able to get that deposit back if not enough students sign up for that trip. It’s a risk.”
“I think it’s great that BVU offers so many travel opportunities. I just wish that there were a better recruiting process in place. Money is also a big issue that makes students hesitant to travel. I think everyone should be able to travel and it kind of makes me sad that more students aren’t taking the chance to go. This is our only opportunity we’re going to have to go.” Turnquist said.
Timmerman also sees travel opportunities at BVU as an advantage
“I think the travel opportunities at BVU are good. However, I think some have become redundant like the Disney trip that goes every year. I’d love to see some more variety in the trips offered. Because we’re such an education driven society, I think money prevents students from participating in travel opportunities. As tuition goes up, students are less likely to be able to afford to travel,” Timmerman said.
There is a little leeway when it comes to registering even though there are strict deadlines put into place well in advance.
“When it’s six or seven students signed up for a trip and they only need 8 students, we do everything in our power to help to get the kids to go. It’s up to the travel leaders and students to recruit the other students that might want to go. When students get into a situation where they don’t get with the trip they want or it has been dropped; some of those students will join another trip going,” Steinfeld said.
Steinfeld has been working with students to give them options for other trips, according to Turnquist.
“Dr. Steinfeld gave me a few options so I could go on another trip. I decided to go on the Spain trip. The Haiti trip was more focused on a working experience but Spain is a learning experience. The Spain trip still appeals to my interests because I will still be getting a great experience and I’m excited,” Turnquist said.
Timmerman had a similar experience working with Steinfeld.
“I now get to go to Spain. I have four years of Spanish, so Spain is a great opportunity for myself. I’m definitely satisfied. We tried so hard to get the Haiti trip to go; we were passionate about it. Yes, it is unfortunate that trip didn’t get to go, but there are other great opportunities that get to be a part of,” Timmerman said.
According to previous interim statistics, last year there were 103 students signed up for travel. There are currently 62 students signed up for travel not including summer trips such as South Africa, Ireland, and Brazil.
Just a few short years ago in 2013, 123 students were signed up for travel courses. However, in 2011, there were only 80 signed up to travel. Are the numbers for January travel decreasing? They might be down this year, but there seems to be ebb and flow to the numbers of students signing up and going on January travel trips. The numbers go up and down throughout the years.
Steinfeld explains how economic concerns and decreased enrollment play a role in the shortage of student travel.
“The economy is tough, money is tight, and it’s not easy to come up with that kind of money. Most people have to take out loans to take these trips,” Steinfeld said. “People are becoming more reluctant to take out loans.”
“We do everything in our power to keep costs down, some of the things we do is to subsidize fully faculty members travel costs. Students pay exactly what it costs for them to travel. The University picks up the tab for faculty members fully. Students do not have to pay for faculty members,” Steinfeld said. “This really helps keep the costs down for students and helps them have the opportunity to travel while still in college.
If the students did not get to go on the trip of their choice, or missed out on the opportunity to travel, there will always be more travel opportunities every year. If there is a trip that a faculty member wants to offer again that didn’t get to go last time, the best way to get that trip to go again is to get enough students rallied together and go to that faculty member and let them know that there are a group of students that would love to go on that certain trip.
“I’m definitely traveling next year as a senior. Before I decide what trip I’m going to go on I’m going to ask the faculty leaders to see how many students are showing interest for that trip so I know whether it will probably go or not,” Turnquist said.
Timmerman shares the same desire of wanting to travel another year, but plans on taking precautions before settling on a destination.
“I would definitely like to travel again next year for sure. I’ll put more effort into making sure my trip will get to go. In fact, I’ll be more of an advocate for people to go on trips so they don’t get canceled. I would definitely like to travel one more time when I’m here because I don’t get to do a full semester abroad because of my full schedule,” Timmerman said.
