TO THE EDITOR:
As a world-class institution, UNC should have a great study abroad department, but my experiences with the Study Abroad Office were stressful and frustrating rather than exciting, and I’m not the only one who feels that way.
First of all, the website is not visually appealing and is difficult to navigate.
Secondly, the staff is not as knowledgeable as it should be. The adviser I spoke to couldn’t tell me anything about the programs that weren’t on the website.
The director of the petitioning told me that she had never had a petition approved. She also claimed “statistics are not useful in petitioning,” and failed to produce an average representing the likelihood of my petition approval. Barely anyone in the office, besides the receptionist, is outwardly friendly or encouraging.
The Study Abroad Office also has the self-righteous idea that it caters to all student needs, when in reality it is unsupportive of any student who steps outside the listed offerings or asks unwanted questions.
When I asked for information about the department, I wasn’t told anything, because it was classified as “internal procedure.” They value their bureaucratic rules and procedures more than student needs and interests.
But as students are the consumers of their product, the Study Abroad Office should put students first.
I’m calling for a much nicer website, a better-trained, more passionate staff, more transparency about procedure and more attention paid to student concerns.
