Interested in study abroad but don't know where to start? The new Office of International Education will now provide services previously offered by the Campus International Programs Office and the College of Arts & Sciences and College of Business Administration's study abroad programs.

The OIE, located in the Alumni Memorial Union Room 425, held an open house Tuesday to announce its grand opening, at which students and faculty discussed international education and the office's services.

"(The OIE) will improve the university's international program," said Provost Madeline Wake. "Study abroad opportunities will be more available to students from all colleges."

Wake worked with the office's director Terence Miller and co-director David Bruey to create the OIE after Wake held a strategic visioning process last fall.

"As Marquette's international activity has increased, the need for greater coordination of all international matters was evident," Wake said.

Miller said the OIE is a comprehensive, central office that will improve international education services.

According to Miller, the office will work with international students who wish to study at Marquette, facilitate and advise the federal visa process, assist students who wish to study abroad and arrange international partnership agreements.

The office will have 13 staff members, each specializing in different areas of international education.

"One of the main reasons we created the office was to make it seamless for students," Miller said. "It takes out the guesswork. Students now have a one-stop place to learn about study abroad."

Kara Neaton, a junior in the College of Communication, spent fall semester studying in Bilbao, Spain. Neaton said she started the process of organizing her trip through the College of Business Administration last spring.

"The office was not entirely helpful," Neaton said. "I felt like I was doing a lot of the work myself."

Neaton had problems obtaining her visa from the consulate in Chicago after her mail was stolen last summer, and she didn't have the original forms she needed from Marquette.

"The office was closed for summer vacation, so I was scrambling," Neaton said.

She thinks the OIE is a good idea, because she had a hard time getting through to her coordinator.

"More attention to student needs would be helpful," Neaton said.