Back in April, DU declared that all of the study abroad programs for this fall will be canceled due to the pandemic. This sudden notice from DU has left students to create last-minute plans for the fall quarter. It is a strenuous situation, as the application process takes a long time to complete. Students should not have to go through the entire process again.
Study abroad applicants have a lot on their plate. I applied to study abroad this fall quarter and needed to make quick arrangements for the sudden change. I felt there was little support from the University throughout this process. I contacted the housing office for information on affordable housing options, but I never received an email back.
To make matters worse, I was not made fully aware of all of my options. After the fact, I found out that students could have deferred their study abroad application from Fall 2020 to the winter and spring quarters of 2021. The information was sent out in one email that had easily gotten lost in my inbox. This would not have been an option for me, as it put me behind on my current graduation plan. But I still would have liked to know about this option. Instead, I had to search for it myself in the study abroad handbook. Later, I discovered it in a long lost email.
Worrying about having to re-apply for study abroad is an added stress on students. Many are already struggling to come up with quick changes to their fall quarter and finish online courses.
Requirements to study abroad included mandatory “First Step Sessions.” Students should not have to re-attend those meetings. The better option is to have them meet with a study abroad advisor one-on-one at a convenient time. This ensures that students are supported and have access to someone who can answer all their questions. This way, they would not have to go through the entire study abroad process all over again.
DU should also consider changing the requirements for the international studies major. This major requires students to study abroad for at least one quarter. The requirement has been waived for students whose programs got canceled this year. But in the future, the study abroad requirement should be optional. DU should consider the fear many students may still have even after the pandemic is over.
These are only a few of the things that DU should take into consideration. This pandemic has changed the way people behave and live, which means programs need to adapt to these changes. Study abroad applicants in the future will need more support, especially those whose programs have been canceled. The pandemic has caused much stress upon students, and they do not need any more added complications.
