We hope study abroad numbers will make a quick recovery when the U.S. economy starts to turn around.

The director of Kansas University’s study abroad program told the Journal-World last week that KU had seen a small decline this summer in the number of students participating in study abroad programs. The drop of 29 students from 648 in 2008 to 619 this summer obviously is slight, but it’s nonetheless disappointing at a time when it is increasingly important for American college students to have more experiences with languages and cultures around the world.

KU said the flu-related cancellation of a program in Mexico accounted for the loss of 10 students and some other programs were canceled because not enough students signed up. Kansas State University and Washburn University also reported declines in study abroad enrollment, mostly because of the troubled economy.

It’s certainly understandable that the current depressed and uncertain American economy would cause students to forgo the added expense of studying in a foreign country, but the reality is that the money spent on such an experience might be the best investment of their university career.

Now more than ever, a student’s education is woefully incomplete if it doesn’t include some experiences outside the United States. Learning and practicing a different language is important, but, in the big scheme of things, not as important as simply understanding other cultures. Visiting a foreign country for several weeks or months can give a student valuable insight into why people act and think the way they do. Such an experience almost always leads a visitor to have more respect for a people and their way of life.

As an administrator at the University of North Carolina, KU’s incoming chancellor, Bernadette Gray-Little, reportedly was successful in boosting study abroad opportunities for UNC students. Hopefully that also will be a priority for her as she begins her work at KU.

The global understanding that comes from study abroad benefits not only the individual students but contributes to the security and prosperity of the entire nation. It deserves to be a top priority for any major U.S. university.