The Study Abroad Committee (SAC) made an unprecedented move this Wednesday when it decided to reconsider previously denied applicants to the spring session of the study abroad program. The study abroad selection process has come under fire following the release two weeks ago of the spring study abroad list, which many junior applicants who were denied admission felt was unfair.

Director of Study Abroad, Rhoda Borcherding, said, "Deciding on applicants this session was a particularly difficult and painful assignment for the committee because it seemed we had so many applicants that were qualified. There are more students, especially qualified students, that are applying and we are oversubscribed–there are more applicants than spaces."

An insufficient budget also affects the number of study abroad spots Pomona can support. President Peter Stanley stated that, "The numerical cap placed on the availibility of study abroad spots stems from budget planning, which requires that the administration try to predict how many students are on campus each semester."

Many students were angered that the SAC’s decision was dictated by poor budget planning and not eligibility, as they view the study abroad experience as an integral part of a liberal arts education.

Jozsef Tamas ’01, who has been granted permission to go abroad after appealing his previous rejection, said, "We understand the admissions process is competitive, especially for programs like Oxford and Cambridge. But to be turned away from programs we’re eligible to go to is frustrating to say the least, especially if it’s because of budget issues."

Assistant Director of Study Abroad Stephen DePaul said, "This semester was definitely more competitive than the past."

As a result, many students submitted appeals to the SAC and by the end of Tuesday, the college released its decision to add more spots to the Study Abroad program and reconsider previously denied applicants.

"We plan on talking to the study abroad office to find out how many students were rejected just based on the budget cap and we will try to accommodate those students," added Stanley

Vice President, Dean of College and member of the SAC, Hans Palmer, said, "My understanding is that the entire group of denied applicants has been extensively reconsidered." He continued, "This reconsideration reflects the College’s willingness to seek creative solutions to a critical educational situation."

Borcherding adds, "I think the college is creating more spaces both because of student complaints but also because the SAC recommended it."

According to Tamas, only students who appealed their case were eventually allowed to go abroad.

Usually, the SAC increases the number of students it accepts by ten students each year. This year, SAC allocated 196 spaces, plus or minus ten spaces, over both semesters. Approximately 105 students applied for the spring semester and 91 were accepted 160 students applied for the fall semester and 115 students were accepted. Overall, 196 students were excepted while 106 were denied. Generally, between 50 percent and 55 percent of all Pomona graduates take part in the some sort of study abroad program.

Many students, though, feel that study abroad is a certainty for them, often planning their schedules, beginning as early as freshman year, around it. Tiffany Jacobs-Quinn ’03 said, "I want to do study abroad, I assumed that if I wanted to do study abroad junior year, I could. It seems possible that if anyone wants to do it they could."

Tamas adds,"Study abroad is portrayed to be an integral part of our education at Pomona — the administration should be a little bit more considerate of our situation."

Open to all juniors, the selection process is competitive. The SAC, which receives the study abroad applications, is composed of faculty members representing all three academic divisions (Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences). In addition, four ex-officio members (Dean of Students, Registrar, Director of Oldenborg Center, and Director of Study Abroad) and two students appointed by the ASPC sit on the SAC. The committee bases its decision on many factors, including the academic background of the applicant, the academic appropriateness of the program to the applicant’s major, an essay, two recommendations of teachers, and an interview conducted by a faculty member. The SAC then meets to make the final decision of acceptance or denial.

Grayson Schaffer ’01, applied to three different programs –Oxford, Prague and Seville–over the last two semesters and was denied admittance to them all. "They are forcing me to take a semester off of school," he said. "I really need to get out of here and the study abroad program is part of the college experience. It was something I was promised when I came to this institution."

Borcherding states that enthusiasm for the study abroad program may lead students to believe that study abroad is an option for everyone. She stresses, though, that it is not.

"All students cannot go abroad," Borcherding explained. "Nor can all students who want to study abroad," Because Pomona is a small school, the presence of a junior class is needed. Otherwise, the leadership role of the junior class would be gone.

In addition, a lot of the upper divison courses, some of which are taught only once every other year, would not have enough students."

Though it is still uncertain how many presently denied applicants the SAC plans to accept, the decision to accommodate the increasing number of students who wish to study abroad reflects a change in Pomona students’ perception of themselves in the world marketplace. Borcherding, cites the change to the increasing number of students that feel it is important to prepare themselves for a global marketplace.

"I think more students are applying for study abroad because it’s a wonderful opportunity," Borcherding said. "Not only based on successes of the alumni and students that have completed programs in the past, but also because I think students feel that this experience will equip them for changing world where they might have to live and work in a different country."

Jon Bergset ’01, accepted for the Seville study abroad program in the spring, hopes study abroad will prepare him for life after college. He hopes study abroad will allow him not only to explore a different culture but also a humanities based component of his liberal arts education that as a chemistry major he finds little time for.

"I’m gonna learn more about the history of Western Europe and learn about a different culture because I’ve lived my entire life in the United States," Bergset said. I will get more of a liberal arts experience because until now I’ve had a very science- intensive course load and I haven’t taken classes learning about culture or art besides what I’ve been forced to take for PAC’s."

There are varying sentiments among students who were not accepted to the Study Abroad program.

Schaffer ’01 stated, "Putting a quota on the number of people who go abroad —if people want to go abroad they will–but it will make it difficult for them and force them to graduate a semester late."