Every year nearly 400 students travel to cities abroad to take classes at another university while enrolling at LSU for a flat fee — until now.
All University departments and organizations are subject to random internal audits. Academic Programs Abroad’s recent audit provided recommendations to improve the efficiency of the program, said Margaret Parker, APA director.
One recommendation was for summer study abroad students to pay the same summer school tuition and fees that regular LSU students pay in addition to the flat fee.
Also, out-of-state LSU students now have to pay out-of-state tuition and fees unless they have an out-of-state fee waiver.
APA will require in-state students to pay $799 and out-of-state students to pay $2,124 for the now-required summer school tuition and fees.
Parker said at least one student from New York who showed interest in the programs said he could not attend because of the increase.
But she said the administration argued students abroad use University technology to access their PAWS account and therefore should pay University fees.
Anna Nordo, director of the London program, said Parker lobbied against paying fees because she felt students should not pay when they are not at the University.
The cost of some programs will increase but others will stay the same. The Ireland and London programs are two examples of programs that will see only a slight increase.
Angela Kriger, an English junior, studied abroad in Ireland two years ago. She said though she signed up for the least expensive program, it still was a large chunk of money.
“Though the experience was well worth it, I am not sure I would do it again without a real reason,” Kriger said in response to the fee increase.
Kriger believes APA enrollment will decrease because some people will not want to pay the same fees as other students.
Adam Foreman, an English senior, attended an internship program in France with APA and said an enrollment decrease would depend on the program.
Parker does not anticipate an enrollment decrease because of the experience the program offers.
“The kind of experience those professors can give is amazing,” she said.