Chapman’s commitment to helping students become well-rounded thought leaders and global citizens is exemplified through the Semester at Sea program. Started at Chapman in 1965 and originally known as University of the Seven Seas and World Campus Afloat, Semester at Sea has taken thousands of students and educators around the globe to such port of calls as South Africa, China, Singapore and many more. Chapman was the primary academic sponsor from 1965-1975 and has continued to be one of the most well-represented schools throughout the years.
Students have been forever changed by their experiences. It opens new career possibilities as well as views on philanthropy and making an impact on the globe. Alumnus Brian Collier '71 has never forgotten his Semester at Sea visits to Kenya. "On my first trip we provided money to build a house for the headmaster of a school in Kenya, and the next year we brought the school a palette full of books. We were able to the finished the house and to really understand what it's like to participate in a meaningful project that ultimately was completed. For me the program was life altering."