Exchange offers students chance to study...in Cleveland

The National Student Exchange, founded in 1968, works as a consortium where the University of Arizona hosts the same number of students it sends to the 148 participating universities in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The program allows students to take more classes in their majors and other courses not offered at the UA.

"This program will allow students enough options in a number of different places," said Patricia MacCorquodale, director of the UA Honors Center, which is facilitating the UA's exchange application process.

"Many universities of comparable stature have joined the exchange to increase diversity for their students as well as ours," she added.

MacCorquodale said the UA hopes to send at least 45 students to study for up to one year at other public universities.

Students in the program will pay UA tuition to attend the exchange school. The National Student Exchange is different from international exchange programs, where students often pay the exchange university's fees, MacCorquodale said.

"The National Student Exchange opens up opportunities for students that may not be available for study abroad," she said.

To be eligible, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and maintain it throughout the program. Students apply to specific universities and choose at least three classes before they are accepted, MacCorquodale said.

All UA students who use the program can study at another university up to a year.

"This year we are having a small number of students work through the process of application," MacCorquodale said. "We would like this program to be successful so that it can grow and we can give more students the opportunities to take advantage of the exchange."

UA students said they were enthusiastic about the program.

"It sounds like an excellent opportunity, and I would love to travel, especially to the East Coast," said Michelle Johnson, microbiology freshman. "I would love to be a virologist, but that major isn't offered at the UA. It would be great to take classes at other schools where more is offered."

Over 45 students have already requested exchange applications. It was advertised Jan. 26 on various listservs.

The UA will accept all transfer credits earned through the program, MacCorquodale said.

Financial aid will be eligible for students who participate in the exchange, just if they were at the UA, MacCorquodale said. Additional aid may be available if students have to pay additional fees or have high airline prices traveling across country, she said.