Activities and Opportunities
Student Life
Orientation To help students acclimate to their new surroundings, each summer session begins with a day-long orientation conducted by the staff at Franklin College. The orientation program includes sessions on academics, living in Lugano, health and safety issues, and a walking tour of the city.
There are several facilities open to students in addition to the classrooms, library, bookstore, and computer labs. The Falcon's Nest is a student lounge with wireless Internet access, Ethernet plug-ins, and three desktop computers available for student use. The Falcon's Nest also has a big screen television with cable and a Foosball table. Another student lounge, Ben's Den, contains a television with international cable and wireless Internet access. At the college sports complex, students have access to a soccer field, basketball court, and weight room.
City of Lugano
Lugano, Switzerland is the cultural, recreational, financial and commercial hub of the southernmost, Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. The city boasts two concert halls, great museums such as the Cantonal Museum of Art and Architecture and the Museum of Modern Art, and a variety of shops and restaurants. In addition, there are limitless outdoor activities both on and alongside Lake Lugano, including 40 of Europe's best mountain bike routes.
With its central location, Lugano is also the perfect gateway to all of Europe. The Lugano airport and train station provide ample opportunities for travel while studying at Franklin.
Housing
Student Housing Students will share a fully-furnished campus apartment with other program participants, located within walking distance of campus. All kitchenettes and common cooking facilities are stocked with basic cookware, silverware, plates, bowls and glasses. Students will need to bring their own bed linens and towels; however, a pillow and duvet comforter may be leased directly from the school. Each residence building also has a trained student Resident Assistant (RA) assigned to help participants during their time at Franklin.
Meal Plan Basic meal plan is included in the CCIS program benefits. However, students have access to fully equipped kitchens in their campus apartment. Students may also purchase an optional larger meal plan directly from Franklin College, which offers six meals per week (breakfast, lunch, or dinner). Additional information about the optional meal plans will be provided in the acceptance packet from Franklin College.
Alumni Feedback
Studying abroad in Lugano, Switzerland at Franklin College will go down as the best summer in my life--I'm sure of it. There was nothing quite like traveling around Europe for a weekend and having a place to come back to like Lugano. The Swiss are the cleanest, most adventurous, fit, wealthy, and pleasant people I've met in my life and you would not understand until you go to this beautiful country. From the breathtaking views from the Lake and downtown Lugano looking up into the Alps, and the breathtaking views looking down upon the small towns from the mountains is something no picture can capture, because trust me, I tried. When studying at Franklin College, the Resident's Assistants were always finding activities for the students to do together, none of which were inside because who would want to miss the weather and glorious views when sitting indoors? I am making it a priority to travel back to Switzerland within the next five years, and I would be fine only traveling within it's borders. No other country has as much diversity as Switzerland with the French, German, and Italian regions, so it's almost as if you're getting parts of Europe in one. As a result of this diversity, the French, German, and Italian cuisines are all authentic and words can't describe the taste of the delicious food. Go and get the real European experience all within one country, go to Switzerland!
Aubrey Kettrick