Friday, August 24, 2007
International experience has recently become a talking point of sorts at KU. From the chancellor down, there is a concerted effort to boost the ranks of KU students studying abroad. Recently, however, the rhetoric has begun creeping from “suggestion” to “requirement.” University administrators should take into account the diversity of the student body before making international experience a requirement for graduation.
Currently over one-quarter of KU students study abroad at some point in their academic careers. Efforts are underway to increase that figure to over 40 percent. Ensuring that every student who desires an international experience can obtain one is a laudable goal. Recently, donations to the study abroad scholarship fund have increased, led by a half-million dollar donation from Larry D. Horner and Donna Manning Horner. This will be a great benefit to students seeking foreign exposure in their educations.
The concern, however, is when KU administrators start prescribing a universal solution to an individual problem. Until every single student is filing applications with the study abroad office, there are some students who don’t think the experience is worth the costs. When one mission of a university education is to teach students to think for themselves, it is disconcerting to see the administration’s paternalistic desire to remove choice and demand compliance.
The justification for this potential change is fuzzy at best. Recently quoted in the Lawrence Journal-World, Nelson Galle of the Kansas Board of Regents said, “Is this policy necessary? Absolutely.” Things which are “absolutely necessary” include air and water. They do not include getting drunk in exotic locales and hooking up with foreigners.
Chancellor Hemenway has said, “Study abroad gives students a great understanding that will make them compete and lead in the global marketplace.” How do you quantify “understanding?” Do you have enough already, or do you need more? Can you get it here in Kansas or is it only obtainable elsewhere? Before saddling KU students with what can be an onerous burden, the administration should make their case using specific language, not buzzwords and cant.
This change is based on a myopic view of “the KU student.” In this view, the KU student has no spouse, no children, and no “real” job, if any at all. This KU student spends the summer at home working in retail or service sectors. When this student wants to go abroad, he calls home to Johnson County and soon receives a check. Requiring foreign experience is a pleasant burden to be borne by this student.
In reality, KU students have a variety of complexities in their lives. Many don’t have parent contributions to their educations, or have spouses and children who will either raise the costs of a semester abroad or who must be left behind. Only each student knows what his situation requires. What works for one student will not work for all. As long as studying abroad is a choice, students who can make it work are free to do so. When that choice is turned into a requirement, it will become a prohibitive onus to some. Administrators should seek to create an environment where everyone who wants to study abroad can, not one where some are kept from a college education because of unnecessary requirements.
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Comments
Editorial: Studying abroad ‘requirement’ unjust
The only logical part of this article is the truth of conclusion.
Editorial: Studying abroad ‘requirement’ unjust
If KU administrators are attempting to make studying at KU nearly impossible for students, then making studying abroad a must-have requirement is a good idea.
When I was at KU, I worked...a lot. I was working half of the night and had class all day. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I didn't spend many nights at bars. My bills had to be paid. That was when tuition was less than $100 a credit hour!
My point is, not every student can afford to study abroad. Unless KU is planning to pay for a student to study abroad, then please, make it mandatory. But unless KU wants to fit the bill to afford to send 10,000 annually somewhere else for a semester/year, then they shouldn't bother.