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Harvard Named In Study-Abroad Probe

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By JONATHAN D. GLATER, The New York Times

Published: January 21, 2008

An investigation of college study-abroad programs by the New York attorney general's office has expanded to include 15 colleges and universities, among them Harvard, Brown and Columbia, according to a senior lawyer in the office.

Investigators for Andrew M. Cuomo, the attorney general, are looking into who at each college is responsible for approving contracts related to study abroad, how each institution selects the programs it approves and whether it has received anything of value from a study-abroad provider, among other issues, according to the lawyer and to representatives of some of the colleges that received the subpoenas and requests.

Questions about study-abroad programs were raised in an article in The New York Times last summer that described how some program providers offer colleges rebates, free and subsidized travel, unpaid seats on advisory boards, help with back-office services, marketing stipends, and other benefits. Critics say the arrangements, which are seldom disclosed, can limit students' options and result in higher prices for those seeking international experience.

The potential conflicts of interest are reminiscent of those created by ties between colleges and student loan companies; the disclosure of those arrangements led to investigations by Cuomo's office and by lawmakers in Washington last spring. The similarity in the relationships has raised questions about other possible conflicts at colleges.

The lawyer also named Fordham University, Manhattanville College, American University and Northwestern University. This is the second wave of subpoenas and document requests from Cuomo's office; the first targeted agencies that provide study-abroad programs.

According to the lawyer in Cuomo's office, the 15 universities were selected because investigators were concerned some had "affiliation agreements" with study-abroad providers or had other relationships with them. Investigators also want to learn more about how students are billed for participating in such programs, the lawyer said.

The goal is to develop a code of conduct to govern ties between colleges and study-abroad providers, similar to the code of conduct Cuomo's office developed that governs relationships between colleges and lenders, the lawyer said.

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