National Student Exchange

More than 30 years ago, one of the students particiating in the National Student Exchange referred to NSE as a "mind stretcher in terms of both academic and personal experiences." He called NSE "...an opportunity to refresh your whole life in a new enviornment, and see new wonders about yourself and others. It's what life should be--a continuum of new and fresh learning, deepening appreciations, and widening horizons."

Imagine the opportunities available when accessing courses and programs from NSE's 177 member campuses. Think of the adventure, the untold diversity of people, the culture, and the geography among the 49 states, District of columbia, 3 territories, and 4 Canadian provinces where NSE has member colleges and universities. Consider the impact on your personal and academic growth, the implications for your future, and the satisfaction of achievement.

What Exactly is NSE?

The National Student Exchange was established in the 1967-68 academic year with three state-supported campuses in the United States exchanging seven students among their universities. Administrators on those campuses wanted to help students who could not take advantage of studying abroad by providing them the opportunity to learn about new people and new places through study in another part of the United States. Using NSE, students could exchange to state-supported NSE member campuses in other states without having to pay the high cost for out-of-state tuition. NSE has retained that basic idea during its development as it has grown to over 200 member campuses placing nearly 4500 students for exchange annually.

While the majority of members are still state-supported, NSE now includes several private campuses as well as Canadian institutions The basic concept, however, remains the same. Students either pay their normal tuition and fees at the home campus or pay the in-state tuition and fees at their host campus. Private campuses usually prefer the plan where students pay tuition and fees at the home campus as they do normally. Each campus determines the fee payment plan under which it can operate. Room and meals are always paid to the host campus.
Students apply for participation in the NSE office on their home campus. If they are approved for participation, they are accepted on exchange by the host campus on a space available basis. Financial aid is applied for, awarded by, and disbursed from the campus at which students pay their tuition and fees.

Before students leave home for exchange they are instructed to have written approval for courses to be taken along with a determination of how those courses will be accepted into their home campus academic program.

Testimonials

"NSE is the ultimate college experience. Going away not only creates a sense of independence, but every door of life is opened -- culturally, academically, and socially."
- Michelle Ankenbauer, SUNY College at Buffalo to the University of South Carolina

"NSE is a once-in-a-lifetime experience"
- Amber Weingartner, University of Minnesota to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

For more information on this program see:

Marjorie McNamara
Student Exchange Coordinator
103 South Hall
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768-9615