College Times

Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: MARK DuFRENE

Northwestern University's study abroad programs are under investigation by the New York attorney general's office, part of a larger probe into potential conflicts of interest between colleges and universities and overseas program providers.

Northwestern spokesman Al Cubbage confirmed Tuesday that the university received a subpoena last week from New York investigators asking for information about contracts Northwestern has with outside, or affiliated, study abroad programs.

The subpoena asks Northwestern to provide materials showing how officials chose the programs and whether Northwestern or its employees received money or perks from the organizations that operate the programs.

The office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo targeted 15 colleges and universities, following up on subpoenas issued to 10 study abroad providers last year. Other universities subpoenaed include Harvard, Cornell, Brown, and Brandeis.

The investigation is similar to that of the student loan industry, which found that some universities received cash, stock options and other benefits from lenders in exchange for recommending the companies to student borrowers.

"The common thread here is making sure that deals that colleges and universities go into with outside vendors are in the best interest of the students when they are indicated as such," said John Milgrim, spokesman for the attorney general's office. "The conflicts of interest on campuses end up hurting middle-class students and their families, who can't afford to pay extra for what could be a tremendous opportunity."

Critics have said deals between colleges and study abroad providers can limit choice and drive up the price of the programs.

While some universities offer their own overseas programs, it also is common to expand opportunities and save costs by contracting with other providers.

Such is the case at Northwestern, which offers academic credit for participation in more than 100 approved programs in 45 countries, most of them run by other institutions. About 700 of Northwestern's 8,000 undergraduates study abroad a year, up from about 125 students a decade ago.

Northwestern "strongly encourages" students to attend one of the affiliated programs, according to a university Web site. To attend an unaffiliated program, students must petition the university with a "compelling academic reason." Students in unaffiliated programs are ineligible for university financial aid.

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