But even MSU’s study abroad programs are feeling the heaping weight of the financial crisis.

As loans and financial aid are tightening, students have had to put their travel plans aside, which includes study abroad programs.

Although MSU has held the title of largest study abroad program for four years, its numbers have declined almost 12 percent since last year.

Study abroad programs are invaluable experiences, especially semester-long programs.

But with only about 35 percent of study abroad scholarship applicants getting a slice of the $290,000 allotted for the summer and fall semesters — and about 75 percent of those scholarships devoted to students demonstrating financial need — study abroad funding must be reconsidered.

The university could make study abroad programs more affordable for students if it simply takes the time to analyze spending for each trip and cut unnecessary hidden fees, eliminate organized weekend excursions and require a more detailed curriculum and spending proposals for each program.

Considering there are many students who have to hand over their nonrefundable $200 deposit even if they decide against studying abroad — and this will surely be a more common case this year — it would be commendable for the university to look out for its students by trimming trip costs.

Another option would be to find more scholarship funding, since the middle class gets squeezed out of need-based scholarships and study abroad can still be unaffordable for lower income students.

If this were to occur, however, the emphasis for scholarships should rest with fall and spring semester programs, as summer stays are often too short and don’t offer the benefits or learning experience of semester-long programs. Students on shorter summer programs often do not get the chance to feel like a local in their study abroad destinations, which detracts from what students are supposed to get from study abroad programs.

Still, this economy necessitates hard decisions. If funding for study abroad programs can be improved without taking away from the quality of education in East Lansing, the university should give the green light to more scholarship funds for study abroad programs.

Yet most MSU students will never go on a study abroad program for a variety of reasons.

Funding to maintain the university’s current quality should not be negatively impacted for the sake of study abroad programs.