Many of us are aware of the data around study abroad and GPAs. Troboff, Cressey and Monty’s work showed that grades while abroad were closely correlated to grades while at home. Sutton and Rubin in their Glossari project showed that students improved academic performance after a study abroad experience. Most of us also know of the anecdotal stories about individual students and how study abroad affected their academic performance.
A larger question to be asked however is given the data around grades and study abroad, why do so many of our institutions have minimum GPA requirements for a student to spend a semester abroad? Wouldn’t more open and transparent information about GPA requirements serve some of those students who might benefit the most from a study abroad experience?
The impact of GPA requirements on access to study abroad was a discussion during The College of Global Studies Guild Meeting in 2015. Guild members spoke up about their own institutional policies and the challenge of GPA requirements. In many cases, students or advisors with a knowledge of study abroad processes were aware that GPA minimums were more of guidelines at many host institutions rather than requirements. Basically, those with experience knew to ask whether GPA requirements were strict. Where does that leave students who may see a website stating a 3.0 GPA and decide that it isn’t possible for them to study abroad? Is this an unintended barrier to those students who might not have as much advising support or knowledge of the system and processes?
Initiated by the discussions with Guild members, The College changed how it displayed information about required GPAs on its website. We now promote recommended GPA which is really what in the past we would have labeled as Required GPA, and GPA for consideration which is a minimum to be considered for admission. Our goal is to let students who are below the recommended GPA but make the GPA for consideration to have a conversation with us about their suitability for study abroad. We aren’t going to guarantee admission to these students, but we do want to make it clear that we are open to having a conversation with them and they can still qualify for a semester abroad program. In our own Centers where we control the admission process, this GPA for consideration is usually a 2.3. While making GPA requirements for study abroad more transparent is only one small step in increasing access to programs, it’s a step that was easily taken.