Code of Ethics for Education Abroad

After several months of intensive collaborative work, the Forum's Code of Ethics for Education Abroad is available for use by institutions and organizations.

Media coverage of the Code of Ethics includes the following:

Inside Higher Ed
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/03/03/abroad

The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/03/1909n.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Post your comments about the Code of Ethics here!

Ongoing Press Coverage of Lawsuit Challenging Study Abroad Pricing

A lawsuit has been brought against Wheaton College by a parent, claiming its practice of charging home tuition for independent study abroad programs is unfair. Articles about the lawsuit are linked here:

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2008/02/20/news/news6.txt

http://chronicle.com/news/article/3999/plaintiff-in-study-abroad-lawsuit-draws-fire-from-students

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i24/24a02001.htm

Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act passes Senate Committee

In a significant development for education abroad, this morning, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act (H.R. 1469; S. 991). The bill will now go on to the full Senate for a vote, before it is enacted into law.

The bill was first introduced in March 2007 in the House by the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D–Calif.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–Fla.)

In the News: Study Abroad and Home-School Tuition Policies

Recent articles in The Boston Globe, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Inside Higher Ed have brought attention to the practice of charging home school fees for students studying abroad, citing a lawsuit that has been filed against an institution by a parent of a student.

What are your views on this issue? Read the articles linked here and voice your opinion!

The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/09/college_sued_over_study_abroad_cost/

Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/02/1610n.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Inside Higher Ed
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/02/12/fees

More Press Reports on Investigation into Study Abroad

Two other articles provide further reporting and analysis about the new subpoenas issued in the investigation into study abroad:

From Inside HIgher Education
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/01/21/alfred

From the Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hyIxph7wdkujj72VTUvpJvQsTsTAD8UAK3P83

Study Abroad Subpoenas and Requests Continue

Back in August , The Forum noted The Chronicle of Higher Education report that 'Colleges Can Expect Subpoenas in Study-Abroad Investigation.'

Today (1/21/08) , the New York Times reports that 15 college and university study abroad programs had received subpoenas or requests for information from the office of the New York State attorney general. The full article may be found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/us/21cuomo.html?ex=1201582800&en=21ef131839e9338f&ei=5070&emc=eta1

The Forum invites your comments on this topic.

Supporting Undergraduate Research Abroad

Bernhard Streitwieser of Northwestern University's Study Abroad Office is investigating support of undergraduate research abroad. He writes about his study:

"...Few in the field dispute the value of undergraduates undertaking a research project while they are abroad if the effort is adequately prepared and supported and can be conducted appropriately. Yet, to date no comprehensive data exists that indicates how widespread undergraduate research abroad may be among sending institutions and third party providers institutions, nor what kind of support may exist for these efforts. According to the most recent IIEPassport data, of the 7,682 study abroad programs, 1,474 programs offer 'directed field study' opportunities, and 1,884 offer 'independent study opportunities'. This study is an attempt to begin answering two crucial questions raised by these numbers:

1. How many students generally undertake a research opportunity while they are abroad?
2. How is this opportunity prepared and supported by the sending university, college, or third-party provider? "

How does your institution or organization support undergraduate research abroad?

We invite your feedback here, and also to complete the attached short survey and send it directly to b-streitwieser@northwestern.edu by February 15, 2008.