Ramapo College is a member of the National Student Exchange (NSE). The organization was established in the 1967-68 academic year with three state-supported campuses in the United States exchanging seven students among their universities. Administrators on those campuses wanted to help students who could not take advantage of studying abroad by providing them the opportunity to learn about new people and new places through study in another part of the United States. Using NSE, students could exchange to state-supported NSE member campuses in other states without having to pay the high cost for out-of-state tuition. NSE has retained that basic idea during its development as it has grown to 177 member campuses placing nearly 4500 students for exchange annually.

While the majority of members are still state-supported, NSE now includes several private campuses. The basic concept, however, remains the same. Students either pay their normal tuition and fees at the home campus or pay the in-state tuition and fees at their host campus. Private campuses usually prefer the plan where students pay tuition and fees at the home campus as they do normally. Each campus determines the fee payment plan under which it can operate. Room and meals are always paid to the host campus. There are some limitations on the program.

• Full-time, matriculated undergraduate student
• 2.75 GPA
• At least 28 credits and not more than 65 credits
• No withdrawals or incompletes in the semester prior to the exchange
• No disciplinary action, the student must be in good standing

Applications must be received by December 15, 2007 for Fall 2008.

If a student is approved for participation, they are accepted on exchange by the host campus on a space available basis. Financial aid is applied for, awarded by, and disbursed from the campus at which students pay their tuition and fees.

Before students leave home for exchange they are instructed to have written approval for courses to be taken along with a determination of how those courses will be accepted into their home campus academic program

With so many attractive and diverse colleges and universities, the major problem for you will be deciding which ones best fit your needs and interests. Each campus has a coordinator who can help make the selection process more comfortable.

There are several resources to assist in that process.

• NSE Directory (available in your home campus NSE office)
  The NSE Directory contains information on the campuses and their locations. It provides details on restrictions, special options, lists of available majors, and costs for tuition/fees and room/meals.
• College catalogs, videos, CD's and other public relations materials (available in your home campus NSE office)
• World Wide Web home pages of the campuses and regions http://www.nse.org
• Parents or other significant family members
• Former NSE students
• Listed below are the colleges and universities holding membership in the National Student Exchange.
  

Ramapo students can apply for participation by contacting Rhoda Leshowitz, Assistant Director of Admissions at (201) 684-7440 or via e-mail at rleshowi@ramapo.edu.