Outside Review
National Student Exchange
University of Louisville
2010
Reviewer:
Kelly Green Crume
NSE Coordinator
University of Kentucky
109 Miller Hall
Lexington, KY 40506-0035
kelly.crume@uky.edu
859-257-3044
National Student Exchange Program Review
University of Louisville
July 7, 2010
Introduction
The Director of the Student Activities Center along with the National Student Exchange
Coordinator invited me to come in as an outside consultant to review the National
Student Exchange program. This review is part of a larger unit review. Prior to my arrival
I was provided with the CAS Self-Assessment Guide for Campus Activities Programs.
I am qualified to review the program because I coordinate the same program at the
University of Kentucky, which is also a research University. The National Student
Exchange program at the University of Kentucky has seen a great amount of growth in
recent years. I have coordinated the program at the University of Kentucky for nine years
and served as a mentor to other coordinators across the country.
A date for review was scheduled for July 7, 2010. On the visit day I met with the
following people:
Tim Moore, Director, Student Activities Department
Sharon Mudd, Program Coordinator, Sr., Student Activities Department
Jenna Braun, Coordinator, Arts and Sciences Advising
Melissa Stordeur, Assistant Director, Arts and Sciences Honors Program
Michelle Clemons, Assistant Dean of Students, Student Affairs
Overview of the program
National
“The National Student Exchange is a not-for-profit, tuition-reciprocal consortium which
provides affordable inter-institutional study away opportunities for students enrolled at its
member campuses. NSE membership includes nearly 200 colleges and universities in the
United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. NSE has
provided exchange opportunities to more than 94,000 students since its founding in
1968.”
Tuition Reciprocity/Tuition Payment Plans
Plan A The student pays the resident (in-state/in-province) tuition and mandatory fees of
the host campus directly to that campus.
Plan B The student pays normal tuition and mandatory fees (e.g., health services, student
activities) fees to their home institution. If the student is not a resident of the
state/province of their home university, the student continues to pay non-resident/out-ofprovince tuition to their home campus while on exchange. While at their host institution,
Plan B students do not pay the university's tuition or mandatory fees, but are expected to
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pay fees which are assessed as a condition of enrollment in courses (e.g., laboratory fees,
art supplies).
Participating campuses may choose to operate under one or both payment plans. Current
institutional, board, or state or provincial policies, including existing reciprocity models,
may set a precedent for and/or govern whether one or both of these plans can be utilized.
Utilization of both tuition payment plans offers the most flexibility to
both the student and the participating member campus.
Room and Meals
Room and meals are always paid to the student's host college or university.
Exchange Parameters
• Each participating campus determines the number of students it will send and receive,
as well as the parameters related to the balance in the numbers of outgoing and incoming
students.
• Exchanges are made multilaterally across the consortium eliminating the need for
individual:individual and campus:campus exchange requirements.
• Placements are not banked.
• Campuses do not owe spaces to other consortium members from year to year.
Coordinating the Program
1/3 of all member campuses house the NSE program in the Study Abroad office. Other
campus offices which house NSE are:
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student services
student activities
off-campus programs
residence life
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academic affairs
honors programs
admissions
undergrad academic advising
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enrollment management
multicultural programs
international programs
This information came from www.nse.org
University of Louisville
At the University of Louisville the National Student Exchange program is participating
on payment plan B and is housed in the Student Activities Department. The coordinator
position is the responsibility of the Promotion and Program Coordinator. University of
Louisville participates with the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Island
campuses and does not participate with the Canadian partners.
Overall Impression
Following my visit to campus I came away with an overall impression of the National
Student Exchange at the University of Louisville. After meeting with several front line
student staff members from across campus I feel that while staff are aware of the program
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and think it’s a great opportunity for students they do not feel it is their place or
responsibility to promote the program. I also came away with the feeling that the program
is under valued by most decision makers on campus.
The program seems to fit well with the mission and the structure of the Student Activities
Department but as the departmental demands grow the time allowed for NSE is
shrinking. The current coordinator has a passion for the program and does a great job
with the time she has but that time is very limited. Under current structure I fear the
program will continue to fall to the bottom of the importance list.
Strengths of the program
 Under current structure the National Student Exchange has a knowledgeable,
excited, organized coordinator that sees the value in each experience NSE
provides
 National Student Exchange fits well with the missions of the University and the
Student Activities Department
 The experience for the participating students is invaluable and life changing
Areas for improvement
 Time and dedication to the program
 Awareness of the program and benefits to the students and the University
 Promotion and campus out reach
 Student involvement
Recommendations for improvement
 Decide where or with whom the National Student Exchange program can thrive
and grow.
 Actively recruit students to participate in the program through targeted marketing
 Use former NSE participants to promote the program.
 Make faculty and the general university population more aware of the program
benefits
 Provide more staff time to the program
Optimal model
The optimal model for coordinating the National Student Exchange according to the
National Student Exchange Campus Program Administration guide is: “A campus NSE
program is only as effective as the ability of the campus coordinator to manage the
responsibilities of the program and to work effectively with those offices that keep the
students matriculated and in satisfactory status at the campus.” It further states that, “The
coordinator must be an individual who is effective in accomplishing the tasks necessary
to ensure administrative support for the program. The institution should provide the
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coordinator with financial, clerical, and other support necessary to efficiently perform
his/her NSE responsibilities.”
One very successful campus, University of New Mexico, attributes program success to
several factors. A few of the key factors include: dedicating 25% of his job duties for
NSE purposes, having an assistant and clerical help, marketing to targeted student
groups, and capitalizing on state specific scholarships.
Below are some specific marketing and promotional ideas from successful NSE
campuses.

Send direct marketing emails to all students on your campus that qualify for the
program. This is not only inexpensive but does not take a lot of time.
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Attend dean, director, advisor, and faculty meetings to inform them about NSE
and the benefits to them/their students.
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Promote the fact that scholarships and KEES money can be used while the student
is on exchange.
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Recruit and train an NSE Promotional Team of former participants. They can
speak in classes, to student organizations, in the residence halls, hang posters
around campus, wear shirts that say, “Ask me about NSE” and more.

Remind key decision makers that NSE fits the mission of the University in several
ways including: transforming theory into practice, retaining students that might
otherwise transfer, engaging students and connecting them to a larger community,
Benefits to the University of Louisville
Because the University of Louisville draws a majority of students from Kentucky, this
program is a great way to diversify the student population. NSE can help the student get
out of their comfort zone and experience life in a different culture.
The program can be used as a very effective retention tool. Some students are disengaged
for whatever reason and are unhappy and/or considering leaving the University. Others
feel that they want something more from the college experience. When front line staff are
working with these students mentioning NSE as an option to, “do something different,”
“get away for a while,” “take classes not offered at U of L,” can keep those students
enrolled and returning.
The students that leave the University serve as ambassadors for the University. They will
meet other students that may be interested in attending U of L.
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The National Student Exchange program fits well with the stated mission of the
University.
Conclusion
While the University of Louisville is managing the program under the current structure it
is not functioning to its fullest potential. The National Student Exchange appears to be
undervalued and in need of new life. The several front-line staff that I spoke to saw the
value and the benefit to the students but didn’t feel they could do much to help. That
attitude must change for this program to be successful. I believe the University of
Louisville needs to take immediate action to ensure that the National Student Exchange
remains and is able to thrive on campus.
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