Boulder, CO, May 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High school graduates looking for an academic adventure prior to enrolling at Naropa University now have the opportunity to earn general education and elective credits abroad before studying on campus full-time.

Naropa University recently partnered with Verto Education, a provider of semester-long and year-long programs to travel and study abroad.

Students who participate in the program can defer enrollment for the length of their chosen program and transfer their credits to Naropa after their experience with Verto. Mills College in California is granting the academic credit for the courses through the Verto program, and these credits will be transferred to Naropa University through Naropa’s normal process of evaluating credits.

Naropa is now one of only 18 partner colleges of Verto Education. Other partner colleges include Cornell College, University of Bristol, and University of Auckland.

Karen Wills, Director of Admissions at Naropa, said: “As Director of Admissions, I have long appreciated the emotional maturity, clarity of direction, and adventurous spirit of students who complete gap year programs prior to matriculation. The partnership between Naropa and Verto Education is particularly exciting because of the complementary nature of the two organizations. Verto students now have a unique and purposeful choice with the option of continuing their undergraduate studies at Naropa, and conversely, Naropa students will have a wide choice of high-quality gap year programming with Verto.”

Verto Educations’s programs are designed to “foster self-discovery through journaling, mindfulness training, mentorship, service learning programs,” an approach that aligns deeply with Naropa’s unique form of contemplative education, which blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Students who participate in Verto’s programs will be well prepared to continue their educational journey at Naropa University.

Among the choices for travel over the coming two years, students can opt to learn about species conservation and ecology in the South Pacific, business ethics and global development in Southeast Asia, or public health and sustainability in Latin America. 

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About Naropa University: Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a private, liberal arts institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Naropa University is a leader in contemplative education, an approach to learning and teaching that integrates Eastern wisdom traditions and traditional Western scholarship. Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.