Welcome to the National Student Exchange!

When most people think of exchange, they think of crossing oceans and international borders which are thousands of miles from home. These global living and learning opportunities are encouraged by colleges and universities throughout the country. Sometimes, however, thinking globally may begin a bit closer to home through the National Student Exchange.

The National Student Exchange was founded as a parallel to study abroad programs, recognizing that often language, cost, and program compatibility make studying in the United States and Canada more practical and beneficial for some students than studying abroad.

NSE is a consortium of nearly 200 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada (see links to Member Universities) which has provided tuition-reciprocal, exchange opportunities to more than 90,000 undergraduate students since its founding in 1968. With its diverse group of member institutions, students should be able to find a university with just the right combination of courses, facilities, and environment to meet their academic and personal needs and interests. Participating in NSE can be exhilarating, culturally enriching, and one of the most significant experiences of a student’s undergraduate education.

We thought that you might have some questions such as:

• Why would a student want to exchange within the United States or Canada?
• What is the impact of NSE participation?
• What is my role in the exchange process?
• How does the program work?
• What is expected of exchange students before, during, and after exchange?
• How can I obtain additional information?

Thank you for your interest and the support for your student. On behalf of the coordinators at our member universities we acknowledge that family and friends play an important role in a student’s decision to participate in NSE and in their preparation for the exchange experience.

Bette Worley
President

IMPACT OF THE EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

For participating NSE students, the year on exchange is usually the most significant and enjoyable year in their education. Students return home with a fresh outlook on their education and better able to define academic and career objectives. It is also a year of dramatic personal growth and maturity, particularly for students who are not well-traveled or have lived most of their lives in the region where they are attending college. Students frequently return from exchange:

• with more self-confidence and independence,
• greater decision-making skills,
• more flexibility and maturity,
• and with more clearly defined academic, career, and personal goals.

"I have noticed greater maturity and positive life-changing behaviors from our returning NSE students than from our returning study-abroad students. I think, perhaps, students naturally assume they will be subjected to the unfamiliar in another country, but do not expect the treasure of re-discovery in their own country and culture."

Patrice Swarstad
Former NSE Coordinator
and Study Abroad Advisor
Western Washington University

This is a program which requires planning, timely and thorough completion of forms, and taking responsibility for one’s own actions. From the time your student explores possible participation in NSE through return from exchange, your engagement, support, and understanding of the process and expectations of the program is important. Prior to Exchange Read the Exchange Checklist for an overview of the process from exploration to return. See How the Program Works, below, for more detail on NSE policies and procedures from application through exchange. The home campus NSE coordinator will have campus specific policies and procedures to supplement that provided by NSE. Before your student departs for their exchange site, set up a communication plan that includes telephone and e-mail and establish a regular schedule for contact. Once the student is on site, obtain additional contact information which may be appropriate to the host campus (e.g., campus e-mail address, host coordinator contact). During Exchange No matter the location of the exchange, some things will be different than back home. Host institutional policies, procedures, and

timelines may differ from those of the student’s home campus. The physical environment of the campus and the cultural, social, and economic environment of the city in which the campus is located may present some challenges for your student. Initially, some students feel overwhelmed, homesick, lonely, or unable to cope; but these feelings usually pass as the student establishes new support networks, becomes accustomed to the new environment, and forms a new circle of friends. Be supportive of your student during this period and encourage contact with the host campus NSE coordinator. While on exchange, students are responsible for acting prudently and exercising caution and common sense at all times. Students will be expected to learn about their new environment, familiarize themselves with campus and surroundings, adhere to the rules and regulations of their host campus, and heed the safety advice provide by personnel at that host campus. In case of natural disasters, strikes, etc. students are expected to follow instructions provided by the host campus NSE coordinator and the appropriate safety and security personnel on the host campus. Set up a communication plan with your student in anticipation of such situations. In case of medical emergencies, notify both home and host NSE coordinators.

"For me, going abroad seemed too far away; staying home seemed too close. NSE was the perfect choice!"

Lauren Flaherty
Sonoma State University
to the University of Northern Colorado

Students who express an interest in the National Student Exchange will receive from their home campus NSE coordinator a copy of the NSE Directory. This publication describes how the program works and provides general and financial information on each member university. The sections below which parallel the opening pages of the NSE Directory, detail the policies and procedures for exchange participation, what is expected of the student, and what the student might expect of the program.

Each participating campus uses these policies and procedures as a framework for their own program and will develop written eligibility, application, placement, matriculation, and other procedures appropriate to their institution for outgoing, incoming, and returning exchange students. It is necessary, therefore, for a student to work directly with a member campus NSE coordinator. Their home campus NSE coordinator is the appropriate contact through the application, placement and pre-departure processes. Participating students will be contacted by their host campus coordinator following placement and given instructions for timely follow-through regarding matriculation, housing, registration, and enrollment.

Exchange Policies and Considerations Eligibility Language Proficiency Special Needs Semester: Quarter Exchanges Undergraduate Programs of Study Program Access Program Accreditation Course Availability Grades and Credits Length of Exchange Housing Health Insurance Distance Education Intercollegiate Athletics Questions to Ask Exchange Opportunities Multicultural Opportunities Exchange with Canada Honors Courses and Programs International Options Resident Assistant Exchange Other Opportunities Financial Matters Tuition Room and Meals Fees Other Financial Considerations Financial Responsibility

Financial Aid Federally-Funded Financial Aid - U.S. Students Other Financial Aid Sources - U.S. Students Financial Aid - Canadian Students Application Application and Selection Special Program Options or Needs Commitment Placement Placements - March Conference Post-Conference Placements Placement Acceptance Form After Placement Placement Acceptance Campus Detail Information Maintaining Eligibility Enrollment Materials Immunization Health Insurance Course Approval Course Access and Registration Cancellation During Exchange Your Host NSE Coordinator Adjusting to Your New Environment Maintaining Exchange Eligibility Rules and Regulations Personal Safety Crisis Awareness Financial Responsibility Transcript

The Resources section of Student Information is loaded with factual information such as undergraduate majors offered at member campuses, the estimated costs for attendance, and a demographic profile of the students who participate in NSE. From that section, students can easily find member campus home pages and the on-line college catalogs that provide detailed information on each campus. The Special Opportunities section of Student Information provides guidance for students who are considering participation in a study abroad program offered by a member campus, applying for resident assistant exchange, or learning more about the honors programs of member universities.

"Students who participate in the NSE program consistently cite their experience as the single most rewarding opportunity of their college career. They return full of life, interested in furthering their education and, in many cases, more goal oriented. They become explorers ready to take on the challenges a new environment offers them."

Ross Meloan
NSE Coordinator
and Director of Career Services
Murray State University

"NSE is inclusive, innovative, and highly respected in the higher education community."

Monica Schechter
NSE Coordinator
and Associate Director, Study Abroad and International Programs
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Additional questions should be directed to the NSE coordinator on the campus at which your student is enrolled. For information on offices which administer NSE, see NSE Campuses Offices. The NSE Central Office can be reached between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time.

"We actively encourage our UVI students to participate in NSE, and we truly welcome the visiting students. We recognize that even beyond the educational benefits and cultural sensitivity that ensue from such programs, these types of experiences provide life lessons that influence the student’s ultimate ability to positively impact the global community."

LaVerne E. Ragster
President
The University of the Virgin Islands