Spring Break
Brandeis named in study abroad investigation
by Jacob Kamaras
Senior Editor
News | 1/22/08
Posted online at 12:40 AM EST on 1/24/08
Brandeis is one of 15 schools that received subpoenas last week from New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office for an investigation into a group of study abroad programs the schools approve, administrators said.
Director of Study Abroad J. Scott Van Der Meid and Senior Vice President for Communications Lorna Miles both confirmed that Brandeis received the subpoena, but couldn't comment further because the University's lawyers are evaluating the request.
John Milgrim, a spokesman for Cuomo's office, explained in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon that the investigation looks into the relationship between universities and the providers of study abroad programs, including the financial arrangements the two parties make as well as who actually makes the decision about the programs universities approve and what factors are taken into account for those decisions.
Milgrim said that this case is an offshoot of an ongoing investigation started last February by Cuomo's office into conflicts of interest between schools and student lenders, in which loan companies were paying money to colleges and universities in order for them to direct students to those companies' loans.
After The New York Times reported Aug. 13 that officials from private study abroad companies offer university officials money and trips in exchange for exclusively directing students to their programs, Cuomo decided to research various companies' business practices.
"We are trying to make sure that there aren't any undisclosed conflicts of interest that could hurt middle class students and their families who can't afford to pay extra for hidden costs for something that could be a tremendous opportunity for them," Milgrim said.
Milgrim said the investigation doesn't specifically target the study abroad operations of the schools that received subpoenas, but instead described the probe as a process for gathering information on the study abroad providers that were previously subpoenaed and the nature of the relationships they had with universities.
Director of Study Abroad J. Scott Van Der Meid and Senior Vice President for Communications Lorna Miles both confirmed that Brandeis received the subpoena, but couldn't comment further because the University's lawyers are evaluating the request.
John Milgrim, a spokesman for Cuomo's office, explained in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon that the investigation looks into the relationship between universities and the providers of study abroad programs, including the financial arrangements the two parties make as well as who actually makes the decision about the programs universities approve and what factors are taken into account for those decisions.
Milgrim said that this case is an offshoot of an ongoing investigation started last February by Cuomo's office into conflicts of interest between schools and student lenders, in which loan companies were paying money to colleges and universities in order for them to direct students to those companies' loans.
After The New York Times reported Aug. 13 that officials from private study abroad companies offer university officials money and trips in exchange for exclusively directing students to their programs, Cuomo decided to research various companies' business practices.
"We are trying to make sure that there aren't any undisclosed conflicts of interest that could hurt middle class students and their families who can't afford to pay extra for hidden costs for something that could be a tremendous opportunity for them," Milgrim said.
Milgrim said the investigation doesn't specifically target the study abroad operations of the schools that received subpoenas, but instead described the probe as a process for gathering information on the study abroad providers that were previously subpoenaed and the nature of the relationships they had with universities.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 10
Assaf Ben-Atar
posted 1/24/08 @ 4:04 PM EST
Shocking??? As of 5 years ago, J. Scott Van Der Meid and the study abroad office demanded full tuition from Brandeis students ($20,000) and Brandeis paid that students tuition for the schools abroad (typically less than $3,000). (Continued…)
Michael Corwin '05
posted 1/24/08 @ 5:39 PM EST
For years students (including me) were bewildered at the seemingly random method used by van der Meid and the UCC to determine what programs were included or excluded from the "Approved Program List" and the labarynthine process required to gain credit for other programs. (Continued…)
Nan
posted 1/24/08 @ 8:35 PM EST
Are you saying that students receiving financial aid cannot apply this aid to a semester (or year) abroad? Please comment
James Sanders
posted 1/25/08 @ 1:04 AM EST
I'm confused as to how Brandeis falls under NY jurisdiction.
Wham Bam Hollow Hands!
posted 1/25/08 @ 2:44 PM EST
I thought this was gonna be about like a murder story or something. I am very disappointed. This is far less exciting.
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