Study Away program encourages travel, study in North America
Beginning next fall, Oakland University will offer students the opportunity to study for Oakland credit at partnering universities throughout United States, Canada, and U.S. territories as a member of the National Student Exchange (NSE).
“The NSE Study-Away member institutions provide exchange opportunities for students for whom an overseas experience may not be feasible,” said OU Professor Brian Connery, director of International Education and Study Abroad. “It is a good fit for students without a foreign language, or who can’t find an academic program match or can’t afford an international exchange.”
The National Student Exchange is a not-for-profit consortium of 200 accredited, baccalaureate-granting colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Frequently, students want to study away for a semester but can't find courses abroad that will allow them to continue to make progress towards completion of their degree. Studying away at NSE member campuses offers the opportunity to explore a different culture and environment while taking courses taught in English in a wide range of disciplines in programs comparable to those at OU,” said Connery.
The study-away program integrates into the global mission of Oakland and provides opportunities for the university to host a diverse group of incoming students, some of whom may return to OU for graduate work.
“Oakland's membership in NSE, in effect, gives us branch campuses all over North America, and it provides opportunities for OU students to study in different environments, take courses we don't offer, or to use resources which we may not have at OU,” said Connery. “Only one other university in the state is a member of the NSE, and so this is yet another distinctive feature of an Oakland education.”
NSE students can exchange for a single term or full academic year. Students will pay normal tuition and mandatory fees directly to Oakland. They will fund their own transportation and will pay their host institution's fees for housing. Any scholarships or financial aid that applies to Oakland tuition will apply to a student's participation in an NSE exchange.
“Studying away through NSE will generally be very affordable, since students will pay OU tuition rather than out-of-state tuition at their host university,” Connery said.
Work completed at the host campus earns Oakland credit and will apply to the student's degree program. Each campus has a coordinator who interacts on behalf of incoming and outgoing students with other member campuses.
“We look forward to hosting students from all over North America here at OU. This will spread the word around the country about what we have to offer,” said Connery.
Prospective students need to meet with a study-away adviser and complete an application by Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, for study away beginning fall semester 2013. Study-away advising appointments and complete study–away information on the website will be available beginning this fall.
Beginning next fall, OU will offer students the opportunity to study at partnering universities throughout United States, Canada, and U.S. territories.
Created by Katherine Land - Deleted (land@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Modified by Katherine Land - Deleted (land@oakland.edu) on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Article Start Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2012
