EAU CLAIRE — From Alaska to the Virgin Islands, 41 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students will expand the boundaries of their university by spending part or all of the 2000-2001 academic year attending school in another state through the National Student Exchange program. UW-Eau Claire also will host six students from other universities.
          When Mary Ryan Miller, associate dean of students at UW-Eau Claire and NSE coordinator, first started working with the program more than 10 years ago only 16 UW-Eau Claire students participated. "Now we usually have 40 to 50 students involved in the program," she said. They are just a few of the nearly 4,000 students who will be attending school in another state without having to pay the high cost of out-of-state tuition or forfeit a scholarship.
          The National Student Exchange is an association of colleges and universities that have joined together to provide exchange opportunities for their students. College and university students from one NSE member campus can apply for exchange to another NSE member campus for up to one year. Ryan-Miller currently is the NSE central region representative on the five-member NSE Council.
          UW-Eau Claire places more students than any other University of Wisconsin System NSE-member school. "The program is self-generating," said Ryan-Miller. "The large number of students returning from other NSE campuses with positive experiences is increasing interest among other students," she said.
          "Students benefit in a number of ways from the exchange program," said Ryan-Miller. "They learn about themselves, experiment with different academic areas, and often live in geographical and cultural settings that are different from theirs or what they have known. The NSE program is definitely a worthwhile investment. Our students come back with a wealth of experiences and talents."
-30-
LWG

[Administrative Offices] [News Bureau]

Updated: May 17, 2000