Ease of study abroad courses debated by professors, students

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Jennifer Connarn learned this past summer not to believe everything you hear about MSU’s study abroad program.

The finance junior said most people expect to ace the courses they take overseas, but her experience did not live up to the hype.

Connarn spent four weeks in the United Kingdom and said her final course grades — two 3.0’s — are comparable to grades she expected to receive if she took the courses in an East Lansing classroom.

“Most people think their program is going to be pretty easy 4.0’s,” Connarn said. “These were core classes for business students, so it was a little bit more difficult than other study abroad courses. I got a 3.0 in both of (my classes), which I probably would have got about the same if I took them here.”

Although Connarn said she had an East Lansing-like academic experience abroad, the question of whether professors hand out higher grades overseas is a concern for zoology professor Richard Hill.

Hill, who is a member of Faculty Council, questioned the number of high grades given to students participating in a study abroad program in an e-mail to Harold Hughes, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council, or ECAC. Hill, who said he teaches a study abroad program, asked ECAC to provide council members with a summary of grades study abroad students received during the past three years.

“I don’t have an agenda, but I’d like to know what it looks like,” Hill said.

At an ECAC meeting on Tuesday, members decided not to move Hill’s request forward for further discussion.

University Committee on Academic Policy, or UCAP, Chairman Martin Crimp said the request concerned him because it could lead to questions about grading in more specific university academic areas, such as individual programs and courses. Crimp said he will respond to Hill’s e-mail.

“My concerns are, if we try to segregate a small area in terms of what grades are there that opens a can of worms in terms of other areas,” Crimp said. “People can start targeting majors. They can start targeting graduate courses and undergraduate courses. It is the responsibility of the faculty to assign grades as they feel appropriate within the grading policy of the university.”

Cindy Chalou, the associate director for the Office of Study Abroad, said students who sign up for a study abroad program are required to enroll for course credit, but the required minimum of credits changes with each program.

“It is an academic experience, so it’s an expectation of participation because we could be a travel abroad office or we do have information on work and internships … abroad,” Chalou said. “The mission of our office is to provide academic programming.”

Communication junior Stephanie Isaacson spent this past summer in Ireland as part of a study abroad program offered by the Department of English. Isaacson said she does not believe professors grade easier during study abroad programs.

“I think I ended up with two 3.5’s and one 2.5,” Isaacson said. “I don’t think it was easier. I think (the grading) was pretty typical.”

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