Although University international studies programs currently remain largely unaffected by heightened conflict in the Middle East, State Department travel warnings, coupled with high national security, may jeopardize students' future plans to study overseas.
According to William Quandt, vice provost for International Affairs, there are no students currently studying in the Middle East with University-sponsored programs.
Although the University is not recalling any students overseas, messages were sent yesterday informing all students studying abroad of the heightened national security alert.
"We're obviously trying to be as attentive as we can without pushing alarm bells," Quandt said. "We're not nannies, but when there is a change in security, or a change in the international situation or a change in University policy, we let everyone know."
International Studies Office Director Rebecca Brown said conflict in Iraq has had little effect on student interest in future study abroad programs in areas outside the Middle East.
"Students are still registering like crazy," Brown said. "Students often have a small opportunity to study abroad and it's too wonderful an opportunity to miss."
Two University-affiliated study abroad programs planned for this coming summer may be jeopardized due to their proximity to the Middle East, Quandt said.
Go-ahead for a Morocco-based program is dependent on future assessments of the region's stability, he said.
"We're watching closely, but so far we don't see any need to make a decision that would jeopardize the program," Quandt said.
A summer Arabic language program partnering the University with Yarmouk University in Jordan likely will be suspended this summer, according to Quandt.
"As long as there is a [State Department] travel warning, we're almost certainly obligated to not go forward with the program," Quandt said.
Program director and Arabic language professor Mohammed Sawaie said interest in the program is significantly lower than in years past.
"We usually have more applicants," Sawaie said. "We have not received many [this year] and that leads us to believe people see the writing on the wall and stay back."
The study abroad program in Jordan typically attracts between 30 to 60 applicants. This year, Sawaie said he has received only two applications.
The program was suspended for a year in 1991 as a result of the Gulf War.
Although study abroad programs in the Middle East may be suspended, University recruitment efforts in the region have not been discontinued.
Director of International Admission Parke Muth said he visited Jordan in November to recruit students.
"We have really been trying to recruit these students at a time when there has been a lot of hesitation about it from other schools," Muth said.
Despite Muth's efforts, this year and last year the University witnessed a drop in applicants from the Middle East, particularly Lebanon, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
According to Muth, students in Jordan expressed concerns that schools in the United States would not want them enrolling.
Muth said he credits the drop in Middle-Eastern applications to visa-related problems, as well as the current tensions in the region.
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