About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) is a nonprofit consortium of nearly 30 colleges and universities dedicated to supporting our members' international education objectives. We provide short-term, for-credit study abroad and opportunities in English-speaking countries. Headquartered at Western Kentucky University, CCSA designs academically rigorous programs that are affordable, accessible, and tailored to meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds.
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By connecting students and faculty across institutions, CCSA fosters a dynamic community of global learners. Our programs emphasize real-world learning through cultural engagement, shared experiences, and faculty-led coursework that extends beyond the classroom. CCSA helps students develop the confidence, curiosity, and perspective to thrive in an interconnected world.
Meet The Team
Kara Arvin
Operations Manager
Email: Kara@ccsa.cc
Contact for:
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Student applications
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Scholarships
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Student Affairs
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Transcripts and Grades
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Marketing
Denise Knisely
Programs Manager
Jeffrey Williams
Academic Director
For questions about your program fees, payments, payment plans, or costs, please contact finance@ccsa.cc.
Our Story
Founded in 1982 by a group of Kentucky institutions, CCSA began with a simple but powerful goal: to make international education accessible, affordable, and academically enriching for a broader range of students. Today, our consortium includes nearly 30 member schools across more than 10 states, collectively serving over 200,000 students from diverse backgrounds.
Headquartered at Western Kentucky University, CCSA designs and supports programs led by faculty from our member schools. Each course blends classroom learning with real-world experience through cultural engagement, fieldwork, and academic exploration. Students travel as part of a close-knit learning community, often with peers and professors from different institutions. These programs typically take place during winter or summer breaks and include pre- and post-travel components to deepen learning.
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What sets CCSA apart is our long-standing commitment to collaboration, academic excellence, and student success. We manage the logistics - travel, housing, and academic support - so faculty and students can focus on meaningful teaching and learning. Our programs provide a welcoming entry point to global education, particularly for students new to international travel or those unable to commit to longer-term study abroad programs.
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Looking to the future, CCSA is exploring new opportunities to expand our impact through semester programs and international internships. By building partnerships with institutions worldwide, we aim to create more pathways for students to engage globally, grow professionally, and gain the confidence to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
Are you a student ready to take your learning beyond the classroom? Or a faculty member interested in teaching in a new environment? Join us. With CCSA, your next academic adventure is just around the corner.
