Kara DelaneyStudents enrolled in the study abroad program will not receive the usual scholarship money that would be given to them during their stay overseas. This policy change has created major concerns for those planning to study abroad next year.
When a student applies for the study abroad program, they have a number of choices of where they plan to study at; France, Italy, England and Australia are common considerations. The expenses of living in another country for roughly three to four months are very similar to the expenses a student would encounter living on campus. Figuring in scholarship money and financial aid, usually students can afford studying through another school, but in the past few weeks there has been speculation that Cabrini grant money, that would normally be given to the student, will not be applied to their school of interest in another country. A major concern is if a student will still be applicable for this grant money upon their return.
Many students chose to study abroad through a Cabrini- affiliated program. Currently, these affiliations are with schools in Rome, Manchester and Fremantle, Australia. Previously, Cabrini scholarships and grants could be applied toward a study abroad program at an affiliate institution.
However, because of the increased number of students traveling abroad, the proposed policy change would eliminate the use of Cabrini grants for study abroad at these institutions.
For example, if Cabrini awards a student a grant for $3,000 per semester, and the semester abroad would cost $10,000; the amount on the tuition bill will not factor in the $3,000 that the student would have received from Cabrini. This is because, when applying for the program, everything is run through Arcadia University, so technically when abroad, one is considered a transfer student for that semester, so the money that Cabrini would be giving is not in use; however, when a student returns to Cabrini’s campus, the $3,000 is put back into place again.
The proposed change does not affect students who choose a study abroad program offered through another institution, such as Arcadia University. Technically, when students are over there, they are a transfer student for that semester, so the money that Cabrini would be giving is not in use, but as soon as they come back, the 3,000 dollars is put back into place again. Students who have studied abroad, through programs offered by Arcadia and other institutions, have never been able to use Cabrini scholarships or grant money to fund their international educational experience, yet the number of students in this category continues to grow each year as well.
However, there are certain schools through the program that are solely sponsored by Cabrini, meaning if a student chooses to study at these schools then their tuition would not change, it would be the same as if studying at Cabrini for a semester. The schools that apply to this are the University of Rome, in Italy, the University of Notre Dame, in Australia and the University of Manchester, in England.
“It is too early to tell whether the proposed change will affect the number of students who apply to the various programs,” said Dr. Uliano, coordinator of the study abroad programs. “When a student expresses interest and subsequently decides not to apply, there are often other reasons besides scholarship money that come into play,” Uliano said.
Posted to the web by Ryan Norris
