Beginning Fall 2004, students will be able to apply their financial aid and scholarships to study-abroad programs, according to University Administration officials. This announcement, made two weeks ago by University President Jehuda Reinharz to the university community via e-mail, represents a major change in study abroad and financial aid policy."What the University thinks is most important is having a system that is equitable," Dean Michelle Rosenthal said. Rosenthal said the University felt that the current policy made it difficult for students who received financial aid to study abroad. Now, she said, all students who elect to study abroad will pay their Brandeis tuition whether or not it is reduced.

Reinharz, in his e-mail, said the change was recommended to him by a University committee. "It is my hope that this new policy will increase student participation in the very valuable and rewarding experience of study abroad," he said.

"It's great," said Samantha Raizen '05, who will spend next semester in Australia, of the policy change. "Going abroad is an irreplaceable experience and everyone who wants to go should be able to."

Raizen, who will not be affected by the change, said her education abroad will cost a bit more than a semester at Brandeis. She is in a minority of students who spend more to study at a foreign locale.

Students' biggest critique of financial-aid portability is that for students who receive little or no aid, studying abroad was often less expensive than studying at Brandeis.

Rosenthal said that students who enjoy this advantage have next year to study abroad and pay the possibly cheaper tuition to the institution. "The reason that this policy doesn't begin until 2004 is so students that do not have financial aid can plan," she said.

The portability applies to both need and merit-based financial aid and can be used toward a semester or entire year of study abroad at an approved study-abroad destination. The portability concept was adopted by many of Brandeis' "peer institutions" such as Wesleyan, Smith, Brown and Columbia.

"We were one of the few schools to have a policy like this still in place," she said.

While exact details of the policy change have not yet been determined, students will most likely have to pay their technology fee - to access e-mail and other services while abroad - and a registration fee, which Rosenthal said she thinks will be "in the neighborhood of $200."

Rosenthal said response to the new plan has generally been good. "There have been a couple clarifying questions and excitement from students," she said.