Description
This resource describes off-campus study opportunities, how CLA students can participate in them, and what advisers need to know to assist students who are interested in participating.
National Student Exchange (NSE)
Coordinated through: Career and Community Learning Center
Community Service Learning
345 Fraser Hall
(612) 626-2044
What is NSE?
National Student Exchange is a program that enables students to study at a member college or university in the United States or Canada. Nearly 200 member colleges and universities participate in the program. Students can go on exchange for one term or one full year. It offers students a wonderful opportunity to experience another part of the country, take advantage of academic options not offered here at the U of M, and meet new people. NSE campuses are found in 48 states, including Hawaii and Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and several campuses in Canada. To see a list of all the NSE campuses, please refer to the current NSE Directory or visit the NSE website.
What are NSE’s admission requirements?
NSE is open to full-time, degree-seeking U of M-Twin Cities undergraduates from all colleges. Program participants must:
- have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5l,
- be in good financial and academic standing, and
- have at least 20 U of M-Twin Cities semester credits completed by the time the exchange begins.
What are the deadlines and U of M fees for NSE?
The priority and final application deadlines for an exchange for the following academic year are always in February. Please see the current NSE informational brochure for this year’s deadlines. An administrative fee is charged to all program participants (2002-03 rate is $200). The payment is due with the application and is nonrefundable. (If we are unable to place a student we will grant an exception to this rule: the student may either have us attempt another placement, or receive a partial refund). The fee is used to support the operation of the NSE program and help pay the NSE membership fees and support services provided to the student both prior to and during the exchange. Students who do not apply by the deadline may be placed on Plan B (see the “How does tuition and financial aid apply?” section, below) at a small number of available campuses after April 1 of each year.
What is the acceptance rate for NSE?
Most U of M students are accepted to one of their chosen institutions. Students who have more than one preferred school have the greatest chance of being accepted to one of them. Typically, 85% of U of M students get placed at the schools they’ve listed as a first choice. Most of the remaining students get placed at one of their other school choices.
To increase chances for placement, NSE advisers can assist students in identifying campuses at which placement might be difficult, and in identifying viable alternative choices that suit the student.
How do classes transfer on NSE? Are NSE campuses accredited institutions?
All institutions affiliated with the NSE program are fully accredited institutions and as such their credits are accepted by the University of Minnesota. Coursework taken on exchange is listed as transfer credit.
The grades earned in those courses are indicated on the course report, but are not calculated into a student’s U of M GPA. The transcript will note the school and the terms in which a student participated in NSE.
Students are required to fill out an adviser approval form before leaving on exchange. This form will list all the courses a student plans to take on exchange. The form is approved by the college and/or departmental adviser(s) to give the student the most complete information possible as to how his/her coursework can be used to satisfy degree requirements here.
How does tuition and financial aid apply?
There are two tuition plans for NSE. Under Plan A, students pay full-time resident- rate tuition and fees directly to the institution to which they exchange. Students also apply for and receive financial aid from the host campus.
Under Plan B, Minnesota residents pay full-time resident-rate and students receiving reciprocity pay full-time reciprocity-rate tuition and fees to the University of Minnesota. This tuition charge is set at a standard rate of 15 credits plus all current student service fees. Students are allowed to take more or fewer credits on exchange, and still have all of their credits transfer back. Students on Plan B apply for and receive financial aid directly from the U of M’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
The University of Minnesota requires that students participate under Plan B except in cases where the host institution will only accept a student on Plan A. This allows students to avoid paying the much higher nonresident tuition charges at out-of-state colleges and universities.
How do outgoing students maintain U of M student status while on exchange?
The NSE program coordinator registers NSE participants for an Off-Campus Study (OCS) course during the terms of their exchange. For students on tuition Plan A, the course is OCS 0550; it is a zero (0) credit course. For students on Plan B, the course is OCS 3550; it is also a zero (0) credit course but is tied to a tuition and fees charge and 15 financial aid units.
Registration in an OCS course indicates that students are participating in a University-sanctioned, fulltime off-campus study program. There is no additional charge for this registration, and the NSE office processes it for students. This registration enables students to maintain U of M student status during the time of exchange, facilitates financial aid release for students who receive financial aid, and improves the appearance of the transcript, for it will indicate that the credits earned at another school were earned as part of an organized University of Minnesota exchange program.
In order for this registration to take place, students must have no holds on their records. If you advise students who are going on NSE, please be sure to remove any adviser holds from their records for the duration of exchange.
Can students go on NSE during senior year?
Students who meet all other CLA residency requirements may request an exception to the senior year rule (requiring students to take at least 20 of the last 30 semester credits at the University of Minnesota) to participate in NSE. In the past, the majority of these petitions have been encouraged and approved.
What is the Adviser Approval Form?
The Adviser Approval Form is a form that allows students to gain pre-approval on degree requirements for the courses that they plan to take on exchange. It is to students’ advantage to have as much prior information as possible about how the courses they take on exchange will apply to their degree programs here at the University. Students list all the classes they plan to take on exchange on the form and bring it to their college and departmental advisers before leaving for exchange to get approval on the specific courses. Students may supply bulletin descriptions for all the courses they intend to take while on exchange. In many cases this information is sufficient to make relevant judgments. If further evaluation will be necessary (e.g., a course syllabus is needed, or you wish to examine the course materials before a student leaves), then the student should contact the host NSE coordinator to help obtain this information. When the form is completed, it is to be returned to the NSE Office at the U of M.
What type of students are typical participants in NSE?
All types of students might be interested in NSE. Students are often outgoing, adventurous, and open-minded. Some are younger students looking for a chance to meet people and find some direction in their college careers. Other students know exactly what they want out of a particular university, such as a specific degree program or specialty. Some have family or friends in other parts of the country that they want to live near. Others have an idea for a project related to a specific school or its region. Some students want to try living in a new place and culture (or gaining language practice by living in a particular region of the country) but are not interested, ready or able to afford the costs to study abroad.
Please recommend NSE to your students who are looking for special opportunities to study at another campus within the US or Canada.
What opportunities are available through NSE?
Some opportunities that are available through NSE include taking advantage of programs not offered at the U of M, such as marine biology at a Sea-Grant University like University of Hawaii at Manoa. Some students want to go to a particular region of the country to take advantage of specific opportunities there, such as television media and acting in the Los Angeles area, or environment and outdoor recreation in places like Montana, Idaho, or Oregon. Students also have the chance to exchange to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or schools in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Many types of colleges and universities are a part of NSE, from very large to small campuses in both urban and rural areas. There is a place for everyone.
How can faculty/advisers support NSE?
- Recommend NSE to students who might be interested. Students can visit the Career and Community Learning Center in 345 Fraser Hall or visit their website.
- Recommend specific NSE member institutions that can offer enhanced opportunities for a student’s degree plan.
- Include information on NSE in your newsletter or listserv announcements.
- Hold information sessions in your department or college about NSE.
- Keep in contact with your students that are participating in NSE.
- Be available as a resource to students coming to the U of M from other universities on NSE.
- Invite students who have returned from an NSE exchange to participate in panels and presentations.
- Do outreach from your college or department to other NSE campuses to recruit students to exchange to the U of M.
- Be on the NSE selection review committee to review applications in February.
- If you are interested in any of the above options or have other ideas, please feel free to contact NSE staff at 612-626-2044.
HECUA Twin Cities Programs
Coordinated through: Career and Community Learning Center
Community Service Learning
345 Fraser Hall
(612) 626-2044
Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST)
ID 3571,3572,3573
City Arts
ID 3581, 3582, 3583
What is the Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST)?
MUST explores strategies for addressing urban inequality. This 16-semester-credit, off-campus learning experience combines fieldwork, group conversation and a dynamic internship in the Twin Cities. In the field, students meet with a variety of people closely tied to urban inequality issues, ranging from policy makers to community activists.
What is City Arts?
In City Arts, students explore the relationship among the arts, culture, and social change. City Arts is a 16-semester-credit, off-campus learning experience that combines fieldwork, group conversation and a dynamic internship in the Twin Cities. In the field, students meet with local artists and arts organizations representing a variety of disciplines such as visual arts, music, theater, literature, and dance.
What is HECUA?
HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) is a consortium of Midwest colleges and universities that jointly offers high-quality programs with an emphasis on hands-on experience, gaining practical skills and making a difference in society. Along with international programs, HECUA offers Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST) and City Arts in the Twin Cities. HECUA was incorporated in the late 1960’s. The U of M is proud to be one of the founding members.
What are the admission requirements to participate in MUST or City Arts?
Students need to be full-time, degree-seeking, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities undergraduates with at least 30 semester credits completed before they enroll in MUST or City Arts. Students need to have a GPA of 2.0 or above. The application requires two letters of recommendation, a personal essay and an internship essay. In each of these areas, HECUA looks to admit students who have goals and capabilities that fit the content of the program.
What are the deadlines of MUST and City Arts and when are the programs offered?
- Application deadline for participation in the MUST program offered over fall semester is April 15.
- Application deadline is for City Arts or MUST program offered over spring semester is December 1.
What are the costs for participating in MUST or City Arts?
2002-03 costs for MUST and City Arts are broken down as follows:
- Program tuition is $5,200
- HECUA application fee of $50
- U of M Administrative fee of $200
- Total cost of enrollment is $5,450 for participation during 2002-03
What is the acceptance rate for MUST and City Arts?
Most students who apply to MUST or City Arts from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities are accepted into the program. This is because of the high level of advising that the Off-Campus Study staff does for prospective students. By the time U of M students apply to the program, they usually have a clear idea whether the program is a good fit for their goals. The main criteria HECUA looks for in accepting students to the programs are outlined above in the section titled “What are the admission requirements to participate in MUST or City Arts?” If students meet the criteria and the program hasn’t filled, they will be accepted. If the program has filled, students will be notified and placed on a waiting list.
How do students register for the programs and how are the credits distributed?
The Off-Campus Study Coordinator registers students for an Interdepartmental (ID) course during the term of their participation. For students in MUST, the courses are ID 3571, 3572, 3573. For students in City Arts, the courses are ID 3581, 3582, 3583. Upon completion, program participants will have earned a total 16 credits. Grades are posted after students have successfully completed the program.
In order for this registration to take place, students must have no holds on their records. If you advise a student who is going to participate in MUST or City Arts, please be sure to remove any adviser holds from her/his record for the duration of the program.
In the application process, students work with their academic advisers to determine how the 16 semester credits will be broken down and which requirements will be fulfilled by participating in MUST or City Arts. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the programs, credits may be distributed in a wide variety of ways. To assist you in determining credit distribution you can request a program information packet and/or to speak with the program director about curriculum. Please contact the Off-Campus Study Coordinator at 612/626-2044 to receive this information.
How much is tuition? Does financial aid apply?
Students pay program tuition directly to the U of M, who then pays the HECUA consortium (costs outlined above). The U of M charges an administrative fee but no tuition during the program. Students without health insurance will also need to purchase U of M hospitalization insurance. Because students are registered in a U of M course, financial aid can be applied to the programs. If a student is eligible for college work-study, it may be possible for them to get a paid internship in MUST or City Arts. Since projected costs for the programs are higher than regular tuition, students can request a revised budget form for financial aid from the Off-Campus Study Coordinator at the Career and Community Learning Center. Students use the revised budget form to request a higher level of aid.
Can a student participate in MUST or City Arts during senior year?
MUST and City Arts credits are University of Minnesota credits and fulfill the senior year rule requiring students to take at least 20 of the last 30 semester credits at the University of Minnesota.
What type of students are typical participants in MUST or City Arts?
MUST and City Arts are interdisciplinary programs available to any major. Most students who are interested in these programs are exploratory in nature, want to test academic theories in the “real world”, are concerned about social issues, want to gain experience through an internship that has a focus on social change, want to take an active and engaged role in their education and are respectful to differences in opinion.
Majors or students groups that tend to participate/have participated in MUST:
- American studies
- Urban studies
- Sociology
- BIS/IDIM
- Anthropology
- Architecture
- Pre-health sciences
- Child psychology
- Cultural studies and comparative literature
- Geography
- Global studies
- Journalism
- Marketing
- Political science
- Psychology
- Spanish
- Communication studies
- Women’s studies
Majors that tend to participate/have participated in City Arts:
- American studies
- Art
- BIS/IDIM
- Anthropology
- Art history
- Chicano studies
- Cultural studies and comparative literature
- English
- American Indian studies
- Music
- Sociology
- Theatre arts
- Urban studies
- Political science
How are the MUST and City Arts programs structured?
Both programs incorporate the following:
- An internship focused on the goals of the student that also ties to the program curriculum
- An integration seminar to tie learning from the internship to field and reading seminars
- A reading seminar to tie theory to practice (students are often co-leaders)
- A field seminar in which students meet with community activists, policy makers, artists and people closely involved in the issues studied
- A study project created by students in consultation with the program director
How can faculty/advisers support MUST and/or City Arts?
- Recommend the programs to students who might be interested. They can go to the Career and Community Learning Center website or the HECUA website for more information, or visit the Career and Community Learning Center in 345 Fraser Hall.
- Include information about MUST or City Arts in your newsletter or listserv announcements.
- Hold information sessions in your department or college about these programs.
- Keep in contact with your students that are participating in MUST or City Arts.
- Invite students who have returned from MUST or City Arts to participate in panels and presentations.
- Invite students who have returned from MUST or City Arts to meet with you and debrief on what they learned and experienced. This interaction validates students’ experiences while helping them to adjust to reentry and focus on their next steps.
- Participate in the HECUA Fellows program. Spend two days with the MUST or City Arts program. Talk with students, program faculty and field speakers and visit a student’s internship. Contact HECUA at 651-646-8831 if you are interested in the fellows program.
- If you are interested in any of the above options or have other ideas, please contact the Off-Campus Study Coordinator in the Career and Community Learning Center at 612-626-2044.
Related policies/information
Career and Community Learning Center
National Student Exchange
HECUA
Residency Rule, Section 2.5
Registration, Section 5.2
Advising Transfer Students, Section 8.3
Forms/Instructions
Adviser approval form
