Tuesday, March 4, 2008
For students planning to study abroad in Europe during spring break, every dollar in their pocket will only be worth about 67 cents once they get overseas.
According to xe.com, a Web site that tracks up-to-the-minute currency exchange rates, the dollar’s value has dropped 44 percent since 2000.
breakbox
The value of the dollar
Euro - $0.66
Great Britain - $0.50
China - $7.10
Japan - $1.03
Canada - $0.99
Australian - $1.06
Mexico - $10.69
Back then a dollar was worth $1.20 in Euros, the currency used in most European countries.
The dollar is now at its lowest value against the Euro in the history of the Euro’s existence.
Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco, director of the Study Abroad Department, said her department will be watching the fluctuation of the dollar’s value the next three weeks.
If it continues down its current path, some study abroad programs may have to either reduce spending or look elsewhere for funding, Gronbeck-Tedesco said.
“We’re going to try to take our excess costs out of the reserve if possible so that we can keep the advertised price for students, but if the costs are too great, we may have to ask students to pay an additional fee,” she said.
Gronbeck-Tedesco said the option to raise program fees would be a last resort.
“I never like to ask students for more money,” she said. “Once we put a budget together, we try to stick with that budget so that we don’t drive students crazy with additional costs.”
She said her department would only consider these additional costs for programs next fall because the summer programs will have their budgets already set before any financial decisions are made.
Gronbeck-Tedesco said the three biggest expenses for students traveling to Europe were transportation, housing and luxury goods.
Large cities like Rome, Paris and Brussels are the most expensive places to shop.
Ann Huppert, who will supervise a study abroad trip to Rome, said one way students could save money is by adopting local customs rather than sticking to their regular American habits.
One example of this, she said, is that Italians drink more coffee than Americans, making soda more expensive.
“You might pay the equivalent of nearly $4 for a can of Coca-Cola in a restaurant or bar,” she said. “American students might want to change their habits while traveling since coffee is a much more inexpensive source of caffeine.”
Corey Gray, a student in Huppert’s group, said European thrift stores have been the focus of her research.
“I will definitely be bargain hunting once I get to Rome,” she said. “If they have coupons in Rome, I will find them.”
— Edited by Sasha Roe
Weak U.S. dollar slows KU study abroad ...
The KU office of Study Abroad is experiencing a decrease in the ...
Weak U.S. dollar slows KU study abroad ...
The KU office of Study Abroad is experiencing a decrease in the ...
Donation boosts study abroad program
A donation from Larry and Donna Horner will raise the maximum scholarship ...
Petition supports Israel program
The University’s study abroad policy does not allow students to study abroad ...
KU study abroad program ranks within top ...
The University tied for seventh with Michigan State.
Reorganization, renaming could be in the School ...
The new school would be called the School of the Arts and ...
University attempts to ease passport lines
Passport Acceptance Center to open in Strong Hall, making passports easier for ...
Editorial: Exchange rate just one reason to ...
With the relative cost of studying abroad, decreasing, now is the time ...
Students learn to study abroad on a ...
As the dollar’s exchange rate worsens, people learn to live frugally in ...
"Guys and Dolls" opens on campus
Proceeds from the May 5 performance will go to the Douglas County ...
Study abroad is possible despite economy
Financial aid and personal budgeting can make travel affordable.
Precautions before break ensure safety
Before leaving town for the week, students should do small things to ...
Visit marks anniversary of Hiratsuka relationship
Representatives from Kanagawa University visited campus to discuss expanding the study abroad ...
Data shows study abroad myth is untrue
Students who study abroad are more likely to graduate in four years ...
Watkins to prepare for possible pandemic
Study Abroad introduces new programs
The study abroad fair is today on the fourth floor of the ...
Mysteries on campus
KU 11th in study abroad participation
During the 2006-2007 school year, more than a quarter of KU undergraduates ...
Weak dollar attracts students to United States, ...
The falling dollar and economic growth in home countries are favorable for ...
New plan splits School of Fine Arts
Music department will become School of Music, among other changes.
Professor stays active as retirement nears
Jeff Weinberg paints, travels and holds three different positions at the University ...
Students suffer returning from studying abroad
Thousands affected by reverse culture shock upon return to American culture.
Knutsen: A closer look into campus fees
A student at the University of Kansas ends up paying extra campus ...
Miyakawa: More than 'study' abroad
Students miss opportunities by avoiding interaction with locals.
Summer internships now available
The KU Office of Study Abroad offers internships in various fields.
Deans prepare for recent budget cuts
KU is searching for ways to maximize resources after an announced $2 ...
Hudson: Study abroad should offer more summer ...
Money, homesickness and time are a few reasons why some students prefer ...
Study abroad sets students up for success
Deadline to apply for summer, fall and 2009-2010 academic year programs is ...
MBA program ranked among the best
Surveys completed by graduate students of the Master of Business Administration program ...
Study Abroad offers more scholarship opportunities
Students who want to study abroad might have an easier time getting ...
Business School offers study abroad in India
For the first time, business students will study abroad in India over ...
Flu fears cause study abroad cancellations
The Office of Study Abroad calls off Mexico program, and European students ...
Proposed budget cuts could harm School of ...
Gov. Brownback proposed a $15 million budget cut in mental health care ...
Studying abroad creates subleasing troubles
Difficulties of subleasing when going abroad
Student Senate approves group funding
More than $100,00 will fund more than 70 student groups next year.
Study abroad program wants to expand travel ...
Program officials would like to form a committee to review countries deemed ...
Honors faces more applicants, less money
After budget cuts, the Honors Program considers ways to cope with record ...
Four candidates vie for provost position
Degrees of success: athletes after college
College athletes' payment is their degree. But what if they never get ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID