“The departments don’t really understand or don’t really believe Harvard’s new approach, and so they’re kind of a little bit hesitant about encouraging students to do so,” Alston said.
Though last year’s policy changes made things simpler, Alston said, the process remains too complicated, and still involves too many meetings and forms.
Matthews, a religion concentrator, said she thought the policy itself will not encourage undergraduates to go abroad, but that it will factor into the extensive planning that precedes a student’s departure.
Alston, however, said she thinks the new policy reflects the administration’s commitment to foreign study.
“It just shows that the school is actually serious about encouraging people to go abroad,” she said. “In theory they would encourage it, but there weren’t any structures set up to make it easier for you.”
—Staff writer David B. Rochelson can be reached at rochels@fas.harvard.edu.