Adult Degree Study Abroad Program Earns National Recognition 

James Madison University’s Adult Degree Dukes: The Exploration of Migration and Culture in Germany and Poland program has been recognized with a national award from NASPA’s Adult Learner and Student Community, honoring its innovative design and transformative impact on undergraduate adult learners.

Officially started in 2022, this short-term study abroad program was created specifically to address the barriers adult learners often face in accessing global education opportunities, including work, family responsibilities, and limited time away. This program is not only innovative in that it's one of the only programs of this type, but it also fully funds the student experience. The 10-day immersive experience takes place along the Germany–Poland border and explores issues of migration, culture, and refugee support through guest lectures, site visits, and engagement with international partners. To date, the program has supported 31 adult learners at no cost to participants.

This program is also special because of its collaborative framework, drawing support from across the university, including Academic Affairs, the Center for Global Engagement, the School for Professional and Continuing Education, and University Advancement, as well as an international partnership with the Europa-Universität Viadrina based in Germany. The program also intersects with JMU’s New Dukes Abroad initiative, a pre-Weeks of Welcome program for incming first-year students, creating a unique intergenerational learning experience.

This award recognizes Adult Degree Dukes as a national model for expanding access to high-impact global learning and advancing educational equity for adult learners.