I'm a professor who often teaches classes in France (not through companies, but totally through my college) who is constantly getting come-ons, what I consider bribes (get 25 students and you and a companion go free!) and hard-sells constantly from one large and supposedly "reputable" company.

I disapprove of study-abroad programs which insulate students from the local culture, often in the name of "safety" and "quality control" and fear of legal issues. They verge on being pointless, but are very common.

Posted By Lily on January 24, 2008, 12:22 PM

When I did study abroad in France during undergrad, my college had me pay the normal tuition, and gave me the same amount of financial aid in grants and loans that I got during every semester in college. The cost of the study abroad program may have been slightly cheaper than my school's usual costs, but I did not have to go through any hassle with paying directly to the study abroad program's school or as a result of the changed costs, receiving less or no financial aid, which is a nightmare story I have heard from numerous fellow students at other colleges. I went to Connecticut College, which has excellent and extensive study abroad offerings due to its agreements with many many programs and other schools. They are also pre-approved by the College, or if the student wants a different program, they need only apply to the College and it almost always approves the credits to transfer from any other programs.

Kickbacks from study abroad programs in exchange for sending students to those programs is a terrible way for already cash-rich schools to take advantage of students by pocketing bribes and not even passing on the incentives to students or informing them of the arrangements. This is the same as the loan kickbacks that A.G. Cuomo recently exposed. When will colleges be held accountable for this totally unethical behavior and most importantly, so much extra expensive to students who already pay OVER $43,000 per year for college costs?! Harvard for one has changed its tuition to depend on family income, but it only has the luxury of being able to do that because its endowment and donations are non-stop gigantic.

Posted By MP on January 24, 2008, 12:46 PM

The checklist of questions has nothing to do with the scandal at Harvard, Northwestern and so on. These are generic questions that counselors answer even before you've shown interest in a program, i.e. through presentations and flyers. If you entitled an article with news of a scandal, then give questions that help students discern whether or not the price is inflated.

Posted By elena on January 24, 2008, 12:47 PM

I am connected with a small university in Uganda (see wwww.CentralBugandaUniversity.info) or (wwwcbu2000.com) and we would love to have students come and study with us. We do not charge high fees and can quarantee you an experience that will open your eyes and be life changing. High prices are not synonymous with quality education, either here or abroad. Students and universities should do their homework and select a small university, such as ours, where the student will get a real education.

Posted By Dr. John Veldhuis on January 24, 2008, 1:23 PM

This is no great secret...it has been happening for years. I would very much like for people to understand that universities are a business...and a profitable one at that. When I sent my daughter to Italy for a foreign study program I knew I was paying a premium...the extra costs for the semester plus the extra semester she would have to attend as an undergraduate to recoup the credits she missed. That said... the experience for her I felt was worth the extra cost.

Posted By Judy on January 24, 2008, 1:53 PM

This is nothing new. When I studied abroad in Taiwan in 1999-2000, I wondered why the price I was paying the study abroad company was more than $10K in excess of the tuition of the Chinese classes we took at the local university. Admittedly, the $10K difference included my dorm room ($300/semester), two classes about Taiwanese history and art conducted in English and access to local English-speaking staff (who were basically babysitters that had to bail out some American students who got in bar fights.) I ultimately concluded that these things were not worth $9,700, withdrew from the program for the second semester and enrolled directly in the local university. Much cheaper and I had time to intern at a local company. As you can imagine, my Chinese improved much more quickly than it would have wasting time in classes conducted in English!

Posted By Gringita on January 24, 2008, 2:09 PM

I'm a Columbia student currently studying abroad in Europe through another university program--one of the only ones approved by Columbia. The program definitely absorbs excess money and told us straight up that the excess money goes towards funding need-based finaid for other students. However, I am a need-based finaid student, and still paid the regular tuition plus an additional 8000 dollars in program fees--taking out excess loans, etc. That's not to mention the additional money I will need for all the meals and everything else that isn't covered by that program fee. So, tell me, where is that so-called funding going? And, why are all our counselors taking "free" international trips on our dime? Furthermore, why sponsor another university program and not guarantee that any credits will transfer? I agree that people should expect that universities are a lucrative business of sorts, but I also believe that they should have their students' interests at heart. The expectation doesn't necessarily justify taking advantage of students.

Posted By Frustrated on January 24, 2008, 2:30 PM

If you've ever chaperoned a group of young "adults" then you might realize that the price of a trip isn't so much of a kickback as an incentive for the program to happen at all. I haven't been on an international trip like this, but the chaperoning I've done has been tough, 24 hour babysitting. If I had to pay for my own ticket - I'd go on my own and relax instead of working my tail off.

Posted By GR on January 24, 2008, 4:06 PM

PLEASE NO
DO NOT TELL ME A LIBERAL UNIVERSITY WOULD CHEAT THEIR STUDENTS EXCEPT IN GIVING THEM THE BOTH SIDES OF A POLITICAL VIEW.

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO

Posted By gary gieseke on January 24, 2008, 4:15 PM

PLEASE NO
DO NOT TELL ME A LIBERAL UNIVERSITY WOULD CHEAT THEIR STUDENTS EXCEPT IN GIVING THEM THE BOTH SIDES OF A POLITICAL VIEW.

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO

Posted By gary gieseke on January 24, 2008, 4:16 PM

Some study abroad offices, usually at large public universities, are self-support--and so the offices must include a surcharge in order to financially support themselves, and to continue their roles in promoting, advising, and creating new study abroad programs. Some of these offices charge flat fees for their programs, and students (residents and non residents of the state alike) all pay the same amounts for the same programs. Financial arrangements and expenses are fairly transparent. Surprisingly, the schools that tend to charge their own tuition and room/board fees are sometimes--and only sometimes--the institutions that are actually having students pay more than the program's actual costs. In some cases, this is because the student has a large amount of institutional aid, which may be, in reality, a tuition DISCOUNT rather than physical money from an endowment. I am not excusing or defending any kinds of practice--I am just trying to make the point that it is much, much more complicated than anyone who hasn't worked in offices at these institutions may be able to fully grasp.
And the list here isn't all that different than what many study abroad offices offer prospective students.

Posted By Angie on January 24, 2008, 4:34 PM

It's no surprise that schools pocket the difference between what it costs to go to a school in another country and what it costs domestically. Realistically, living and studying in a second- or third-world country should be much less expensive than the states (especially in a large urban environment), so the colleges actually make MORE $$ when a student goes to study abroad.

Posted By Suzanne on January 24, 2008, 5:02 PM

I am a professor who has led many study abroad programs. I do believe that there are unscrupulous companies out there who may have given kickbacks to university administrators, and this is obviously not okay.

However, paying for the travel of the professor or chaperone is not a kickback. Leading a study abroad program can be hard work (think days -and nights- spent making sure everyone is doing okay and actually learning something, plus the occasional 2am phone call, medical emergency, and the kid who leaves his passport on the bus).

If those of us who lead study abroad programs had to pay for our travel expenses, it simply wouldn't be worth it. Believe me when I say that it's not a vacation - it's work. I've already seen the Alhambra 8 times, so when I take students there its for their benefit and not mine!

Posted By Kate on January 24, 2008, 5:27 PM

take a closer look at the University of Minnesota's Learning Abroad Center and their relationships with Village Travel, IFSA, Arcadia, CIEE, Australearn and many many other "providers"

Posted By oy on January 24, 2008, 6:05 PM

I'll second what Kate said!

Covering the expenses of professors/counselors is NOT a kickback, or a way to get a free trip on someone else's dime. The cost of the escorts' travel is a cost of doing the trip - otherwise they couldn't be there to do the work. It's just like any other business trip that's covered.

Instructors are generally only paid their normal salary for doing study abroad programs, but are on duty almost all the time (assuming they're doing the job right). I've done several study abroad trips, and trips to the bathroom were about the only time I wasn't working with students (and on one trip, even that had to turn into a brief "how to use a squat toilet" lecture!)

Would those who think they're paying for someone else's "free" trip be willing to have their job duties suddenly change to include being away from friends and family for weeks at a time, or waking up at 2 in the morning to help a drunk student who's locked himself out of a hotel room?

Posted By Laura on January 24, 2008, 6:57 PM

Like some others who've posted here, I spent a semester abroad (Madrid) during my junior year of college (Yale) and experienced financial strain that was baffling to me since my financial aid package had supposedly been adjusted to the cost of the study abroad program (NYU) and funds transfer would be coordinated directly between the two schools. My situation became even more confusing & embarrassing when my rent, which was also supposed to be paid directly to my host family, became weeks overdue. They were very gracious under the circumstances (many of my classmates' host mothers were requesting their rent up to 10 days in advance), but began to ask me about it almost daily, perhaps thinking I could somehow expedite the apparently snail-like process. I tried my best to explain how need-based funding works and that I'd been calling the Financial Aid Office (across the pond, mind you!), but this didn't change the fact that they needed their money.

Interestingly enough, one day near the end of my stay and after I'd moved to a friend's apartment (my host family had been paid by this point, but I couldn't afford any more days with them), I stopped by the administrative office of the NYU in Madrid program where I ran into my host mother. She had just met with the program director and kindly gave me an envelope containing surplus cash that had been paid to them in excess of what they were owed for my rent -- money I probably would not have received otherwise, but that was MUCH needed, let me say. I never got any clarification on why this mess couldn't be sorted out without me having to call Yale from a pay phone in the middle of Madrid and it never would have occurred to me that this might somehow be related to the report above, but it certainly makes me wonder now.

Posted By Alicia on January 24, 2008, 8:13 PM

If study abroad professionals don't visit the programs about which they advise students, how can they be expected to evaluate the quality of the programs? In many cases, study abroad offices don't have sufficient funds to cover the full cost of site visits. By the same token, conferences sponsored by third-party providers offer important opportunities for study abroad professionals to learn about programs, as well as to discuss with colleagues some of the many challenges in this growing, changing, diverse field -- and thus to serve their students better.

Posted By C on January 24, 2008, 9:27 PM

I hope this situation doesn't put people off studying abroad.

I had an amazing year (94-95) at University of Manchester facilitated by Beaver College's Study Abroad program. My study abroad tuition was LESS than my home university's regular tuition!!! It was a fantastic program and was life changing. I stayed in University Housing and had access to staff (which I rarely needed).

I would HIGHLY advise any student to consider studying abroad. I would also suggest you consider studying for a year instead of just one semester. You've just made friends after one semester and I think you get a more immersive comprehensive experience in a full academic year.

PS. I also agree that trip leaders SHOULD travel free with their group of X # of students. I know someone who has led trips and the company he uses is up front about this benefit to trip leaders.

Posted By Laura on January 25, 2008, 2:45 PM

When I’ve been invited on providers’ familiarization trips, it’s been about learning more about the program so our university might consider approving it for our students and/or so that we can better prepare and advise students prior to departure. I’ve been on several of such trips and there has never been any pressure to approve the program or send students on the program in exchange for the trip.

Furthermore, familiarization trips, same as the faculty leading study tours, are NOT free vacations. The pace of these trips is often quite grueling and we often spend entire days in a class or conference room listening to presentations regarding difference aspects of the program and university. Once I spent an entire day touring ten different dormitories in Paris. It’s nice for us to get out of the office, however these trips are not glamorous or relaxing though either.

It should also be noted that none of us are paid really well, especially considering that most of us have advanced degrees. We’ve chosen this profession because we believe in what we’re promoting to students; we studied abroad ourselves and know what an incredible experience it is.

I work at a state school so we have programs approved and available that cost a student the same as staying on campus or that cost triple that—students choose which they want participate in and we’re often amazed by the choices that they make.

Posted By gc on January 28, 2008, 2:29 PM