Potential study abroad program allows students the opportunity to attend another American university

Illustration by Jake Barnard

UMD student and Freshman Student Association Representative Sadira Burgess. Photo courtesy of UMD

Earlier this fall semester UMD student and Freshman Student Association Representative Sadira Burgess proposed an idea to Student Association (SA) about a domestic study abroad program.

“NSE, National Student Exchange, is a domestic study abroad program that gives students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition prices to attend any of the many colleges within the NSE program,” Burgess said. “The credits you earn while at the school of your choice transfer back to your home campus.”

Similar to other UMD study abroad programs, students can study for either a semester or a year. However, NSE is unlike any other study abroad trip offered at UMD because all the other programs offered are international.

“With NSE, students may be able to study in a new place within the [United States] that maybe they couldn't afford to go to for all four years but now have the opportunity to with this program,” Burgess said.

Burgess first heard of NSE when she applied to UMN Twin Cities this past spring.

“When I came to UMD and found out the program wasn't offered, I wanted to try my best to get the conversation started with administration and NSE,” Burgess said.

Burgess first introduced NSE to UMDSA congress and now the initiative is being worked on.

Karl Markgraf, chief international officer and director of international programs and services. Photo courtesy of UMD

Karl Markgraf, chief international officer and director of international programs and services, wants students to know that UMD has no concrete plans yet to join NSE.

“UMD has not yet not joined NSE, nor are there any plans currently to do so,” Markgraf said. “We have been considering the possibility, however, and I understand that the discussion is continuing.”

There are a lot of details and logistics involved in joining the NSE program. Right now the different organizations working on the initiative are working out the fine details.

Markgraf is “familiar with [NSE]” from a previous university he used to work at. Markgraf feels the program “does create some unique opportunities for students.”