VTC/VTRIP

NOTES FROM STUDY ABROAD
FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR

FEBRUARY 07, 2003
AT WHRO TELECONFERENCE CENTER

Welcoming remarks and overview of the FIPSE VTRIP project by April Burriss, Project Director.

Overview of Financial Aid Seminar, Goals, Objectives and Desired Outcomes by Ana Icayan, VTRIP intern.

• After completing individual introductions by representatives from local institutions (ODU, TCC, TNCC, HU, NSU), a general discussion ensued as to obstacles that students encounter in considering an international study experience.
   
• Not surprisingly, money is the number one barrier for students.
   
• Ms. E. Harding of NSU indicated that another problem is that the financial aid departments are not brought in at the beginning of the study abroad process for each student. She further suggested that there is a need for a special fund of money to be set aside by the colleges to release funds before the federal financial aid is distributed, as deposits and other international deadlines are often weeks or months ahead of the federal disbursement.
   
• Pam Turner of TNCC indicated that alternative lending (loans) have been a great asset to students interested in studying abroad.
   
• Each school then gave a total of numbers of study abroad students, both short-term and semester, and their scholarship and financing packages.
   
• There were questions about funding for longer-term programs, semester long.

Campus Reports

• Each school represented gave a summary of current procedures for study abroad. Most schools have a standardized budget form that each student must bring completed to the financial aid office.
   
• Work-study is not available to study abroad students as financial aid.
   
• There was considerable discussion about the requirement for advance payment to institutions running programs.
   
• Pam Turner commented that TNCC gives left over money from the previous semester. It is important to look ahead multiple semester to anticipate when money will be needed.
   
• The financial aid office assumes that a program is approved for study abroad. Approval for credit is an issue that must be deferred for discussion with registrars’ office officials and faculty.
   
• There was a discussion of credit hours versus contact hours, with discretion left up to individual institution departments.
   
• It is vital for students to have a timeline for financial aid for study abroad.
   
• It should ideally be at least 18 months prior to their going. However, this can vary greatly depending on the program, student finances, and unanticipated opportunities. For short-term summer trips, the student often has to come up with deposits early.
   
• Ann Moore of Hampton University explained how faculty salaries are determined for study abroad trips.
   
• There was general discussion about conflicts as to faculty taking a potential student’s place. It was agreed that students should be accommodated first.
   
• Liability issues/waivers for outsiders on trips were discussed.
   
• Issues of daycare as barriers for single mothers were highlighted.
   
• ODU financial aid representatives Lishena Ruffin and Selethia Thorpe detailed their process: a budget plus the FAFSA is required. No money can be released until 10 days before classes start.
   
• Jean Natali discussed the problems at TCC with no clearinghouse for faculty-lead trips. She indicated that it would be very helpful to have VTC behind this process and help to steer TCC and other institutions into the same centralized set of standards.
   
• All school reps emphasized the need for communication among admissions, departments sponsoring trips and financial aid offices.

Suggestion for Discussion at follow-up meetings:

• planning ahead: mechanism for students to set aside money during their freshman and sophomore years.
   
• Exploration of alternative loans: Sallie Mae, Sun Trust, etc.
   
• Idea of an incentive for students to hold leftover Pell monies in an international account.
   
• VTRIP could facilitate as a source for a funding pool, through the development of an endowment fund. Perhaps some sort of matching fund.
   
• There was a suggestion to create “area of the world” studies at each institution and coordinate through VTC for cross registration.
   
• Idea that faculty and admission/fin aid administrators would come together annually to talk.
   
• Eliminate redundant programs and work cooperatively to fill each other’s programs. VTC might list each other’s classes for unique opportunities as a way to expand the curricula and to advertise these programs.
   
• Funding partnerships might include: NATO community, Sister City programs, VA Port Authority, city departments of development, Hampton Roads office of Economic Development. Global Institute/ADM Ray Taylor as Executive Director
   
• Other creative ideas included ways to get individual deans to sponsor a student.
  
  
  Vaughan Frederick
  VTC/EOC
  February 11, 2003