Bill Overview
Title: Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022
Description: This bill expands access to study abroad for U.S. undergraduate students. It revises the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students program (commonly known as the IDEAS program) and formally renames the program as the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.
Sponsors: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
Target Audience
Population: Undergraduate students in the United States.
Estimated Size: 1000000
- This bill seeks to expanding access to study abroad programs.
- It is applicable for U.S. undergraduate students.
- The target population mainly consists of college students who are citizens or residents of the United States.
Reasoning
- The policy's budget is limited, so initially only a small percentage of the total undergraduate student population can be served.
- The immediate impact will likely be to target students with a high need or interest in study abroad opportunities.
- Since the target population is over 20 million, but the policy can only serve a small fraction in the first few years, most students might not immediately benefit.
- Long-term impacts could see a gradual improvement in access to study abroad programs which can enhance cultural exposure and personal development for involved students.
- The distribution of impacts will vary, with higher gains for those who value international experience and personal enrichment.
Simulated Interviews
Undergraduate Student (New York, NY)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think expanding study abroad is amazing. It opens new horizons and learning about cultures first-hand is invaluable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Undergraduate Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the benefits but I'm not really interested in studying abroad myself. It's good for those who want it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Undergraduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always wanted to study abroad but financial aid was a barrier. This policy could really help students like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Undergraduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a fantastic opportunity. I've always felt that international experience gives a leg up in business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Undergraduate Student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not thinking about study abroad yet, but it's great if more people can do it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I studied abroad thanks to scholarships. Students definitely benefit from these experiences.
- The program's expansion can change many lives like it did mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Undergraduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 20 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am all for it. More students should get the chance to see the world and learn beyond textbooks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Undergraduate Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Studying abroad should be an option for everyone. It bridges cultural gaps and is personally enriching.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Undergraduate Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Scholarships overseas can make education more equitable. Personally, scholarships would be my only chance to study abroad.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Undergraduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Studying abroad adds so much value. It breaks tech bubbles, sharing diverse perspectives is crucial for innovation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $7000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $7000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $7000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The primary goal is educational rather than direct fiscal benefit.
- Impact on U.S. diplomatic and cultural relations might be positive, but these are intangible benefits.
- Long-term benefits might include enhanced jobs for students, which could indirectly benefit the economy.