Exchange program ups tuition costs

his academic year, the German exchange program is undergoing significant changes that may effect enrollment of Temple and German students alike.

The program, which was previously offered to Temple students without the additional charge of their Temple tuition, will now require these students to pay their regular in/out-of-state tuition in addition to other program-associated fees.

In the past, Temple students were responsible for paying only their exchange fees, housing, meals, and insurance for the program.

In an exchange program, unlike study abroad, a U.S. student studies abroad in exchange for an international student studying in the U.S. Currently, Temple’s International Programs Office offers exchange programs with universities in England, France, Germany and Puerto Rico. But the German exchange program’s policy has changed this year.

“This is completely how it’s done at other U.S. colleges and universities,” said Barbara Gorka, Associate Director of International Programs. “All other Temple exchange programs have been doing this for years and years.”

The increase in the cost of the program could deter students from entering, but Gorka hopes that will not be the case.

“This change shouldn’t deter students. This is a normal practice and students’ financial aid can be used to pay for the cost. The key thing about exchange programs is that it allows students to study abroad and allows other students to come to the U.S. to study,” Gorka said.

Ryan Shermer, a business major, plans to go to Germany, but not through Temple’s exchange program.

“It think the policy changes sound fair to me…I don’t think people decided to go abroad based on the cost,” said Shermer.

This year there will be seven Temple students going to Germany and five German students coming to Temple; in recent years three to eight Temple students were sent to Germany in exchange for one German student who would come to Temple. This increase in German student enrollment gives Barbara Gorka the sense that the policy changes are already working to create a more balanced exchange.

Courtney Makupson can be reached at cori06@temple.edu.