FACULTY RESOURCES
WELCOME
If you are reading this paper you have chosen to inquire about participating in an amazing, life-changing experience. The Marco Polo Organization sponsors culinary/hospitality learning experiences abroad. We focus on sustainable food, agriculture, hospitality and culture in all regions of Italy.
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NOTE: This is not a school trip. You are traveling under the Marco Polo Organization.
Dear Culinary Professional and fellow Educator,
Are your students able to travel and experience new cultures while earning credit?
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Let me introduce myself, my name is Kelly McClay. I am a retired chef, educator, and administrator. I was responsible for a two-year Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry program for the past 14 years. During that time, I believed in the powerful impact of exposing students to other cultures and how they experience food. We tried many options, taking the student to France, Austria, and Italy. Each trip presented its own challenges. I wanted the students to participate in hands-on classes, and cultural events and truly experience the life of the locals. After many offerings, none of which were quite what I had envisioned I learned about Marco Polo Program abroad in Italy. Prior to COVID, we traveled six times to Italy with this company and It was exactly what I had hoped for. Students traveled for 17 days to four different regions each time experiencing hands-on classes, visits to the region’s specialized production facilities, tastings, and unique area attractions. This trip was wholly focused on the culinary experience.
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Coming from a Community College environment I know the challenges of offering what is typically viewed as a four-year program benefit. Community colleges are not always prepared for the steps involved in offering study abroad programs. That was the beauty of working with Marco Polo. Let me share with you some of the challenges and how we were able to address them.
HOW DO STUDENTS PAY FOR A TRIP LIKE THIS?
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Financial aid is only available for credit courses. We initially used the existing student cooperative education credit. All the students were required to do a Co-op and because we believed so strongly in the travel experience, we were willing to allow students to use the trip as their cooperative education requirement. Of course, they had additional academic requirements for the trip, journaling, essays, language lessons, and travel meetings.
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After several years we were able to move the trip from the end of the spring semester to the fall. Our classes ran on a 15-day sequence and so the second class of the fall was approved for travel. This also allowed us to award full credit for the course as a substitution for advanced coursework. This increased the option of financial aid and allowed students to use their 529 funds.
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The rigor of this trip, classes, and academic requirements led to the development of a full syllabus and the signing of the process for state approval. The syllabus has been approved by the State of New Jersey. The curriculum is written as a 3-credit general education course. The benefit is, the students can use financial aid as well as apply for the course to their degree requirements.
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Perhaps one of the best reasons for joining Marco Polo is their support of fundraising for student travel. They have sponsored visiting Chefs that allowed for fundraising dinners, connections with leading providers of Italian specialties have sponsored dinners, provided ingredients, and offered additional educational opportunities for students.
HOW ARE THE FINANCES HANDLED?
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By having the students deposit the funds with the college, no taxes are involved. Students make a deposit into a holding account, and when the final payments are made the college generates a check to Marco Polo. Students are required to have insurance, and the school makes arrangements through an insurance provider who specializes in travel programs. The fee is based on age and for students is very inexpensive. The company sent a quote, and the students made their payment through the college, again using the holding account.
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If the student is using financial aid or has received scholarship funds, these are transferred to the holding account as well.
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Our school has a foundation arm that has just approved awarding scholarship funds for travel abroad. For the 2022-2023 school year, the foundation allocated funds for students participating in the Italy study abroad. This emphasizes the College's commitment to providing this opportunity to culinary students.
SOME UNFORESEEN BENEFITS
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Having a study abroad program that is designed specifically for culinary students (they do have a program for sustainability as well) will give your program a unique marketing edge, provide an enhanced positioning on campus, and gives your students a life-changing perspective on food, ingredients, and technique not to mention future travel.
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So if you have questions or if I can assist you in offering your students a new perspective on the world, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out to me at mcclay@atlantic.edu.
Wishing you good food, great meals with friends, and an enriching school year.
Sincerely,
Kelly McClay
As a participant on this trip you are required to follow the rules/guidelines that Marco Polo has established for a safe, learning environment. Any breach in those rules/guidelines , either before we leave or when you are traveling with the Organization will result in the forfeit of any deposits on the trip and can also result in you being sent home during the trip with no refund on travel not completed.
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These rules- guidelines, pertain to all participants on the trip, regardless of age or student status and are clearly explained in the agreement. NO EXCEPTIONS.
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See below for more information.