FAU Announces New Pathway for Israel Gap-Year Students
Florida Atlantic University announced an academic articulation agreement that creates a pathway for eligible students in the Israel XP gap-year program to receive transfer credit toward a FAU degree through approved course equivalencies.
Florida Atlantic University announced a first-of-its-kind academic articulation agreement that creates a pathway for eligible students in the Israel XP gap-year program to receive transfer credit toward a Florida Atlantic degree through approved course equivalencies.
Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, Bar-Ilan University’s vice president for international affairs, helped make the announcement recently at an event that brought together college counselors, representatives from private Jewish high schools throughout South Florida and key leaders from the region’s Jewish educational community.
At the same event, Florida Atlantic emphasized how its deferred enrollment policy provides greater certainty for students who elect to participate in approved gap-year programs after high school and before beginning their degree-track university studies.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to meeting students where they are and recognizing the tremendous educational value of the gap-year experience in Israel,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “For many Jewish students, a year of study, personal growth and connection to Israel is a foundational experience. Florida Atlantic is proud to create pathways that allow students to pursue that opportunity while remaining on track toward earning a high-value degree at our university.”
The agreement comes amid a resurgence in Israel gap-year enrollment among Jewish teens, with more than 3,000 students from around the world beginning programs this fall — participation levels that now match the pace seen before the Oct. 7 attacks, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“Bar-Ilan University is delighted to embark on this new partnership with Florida Atlantic University,” said Tuval-Mashiach. “We are working energetically to build collaborations of many kinds, including student exchange, and to give FAU students the opportunity to spend a period of time in Israel while earning credits toward their degrees. We also see this as an excellent opportunity to strengthen research cooperation between our two universities, building on the outstanding work both institutions are doing in fields such as engineering, health sciences, quantum science, and more.”
The announcement represents another step in Florida Atlantic’s broader effort to strengthen support for Jewish students and families. The university has expanded accommodations for religious observance, increased the availability of kosher dining options, and continued to invest in creating a welcoming and vibrant environment for Jewish life on campus.
“Providing our students with increased access to a global education enhances their university experience and benefits our whole community,” said Maura Flaschner, FAU assistant vice president for admissions and student success. “This partnership with Bar-Ilan University provides a seamless transition for students to stay on track toward their academic goals while strengthening ties between Florida Atlantic and the Jewish community.”
The collaboration further strengthens ties between Florida Atlantic and Bar-Ilan University by adding to an already existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two schools and underscores both institutions’ commitment to academic excellence, student success and global engagement.
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