I’m not usually negative on here, but…does everything have to be about squeezing OOS students for more money?
First let me say this: My son Loves UVA. And, as part of the Rodman Scholars program in SEAS he truly loves his engineering education as well.
But (now it’s me as the parent speaking)… One of THE selling points for UVa for Engineering (for us) was the Rodman program, and one of THE biggest selling points of the Rodman program is the Global Ingenuity 21 program - a 2-3 week summer program with Volkswagen in Germany that you have an opportunity to participate in one time as a Rodman Scholar.
The (repeatedly) quoted additional out of pocket cost for each Rodman student involved in the program? Roughly $2000 - and this was repeated many times prior to his coming to UVa and during his first 2 years there.
Until… he was recently told that the University is now apparently going to recognize this as an official summer course (instead of a special Rodman program) that requires Out of State Rodman Scholars to pay $6500 in additional tuition to participate in this trip! What an absolute crock. He’s worked hard over 2 years to save the promised $2K cost of the program, which is now completely out of reach for him simply because he’s an OOS student. Already tens of thousands in debt to UVa (and financial aid doesn’t cover this) - this additional expense is simply not possible, and So incredibly disappointing.
Boo UVa! This just feels like a seriously broken promise (couldn’t you have grandfathered current students in if making a change of this magnitude?), and taints the relationship for me as a parent. Very frustrating.
Have you tried to appeal to the Dean? If it is not an actual out of pocket cost to UVa, they might be willing to grandfather you in at the lower rate, based upon past promises .
Thanks Charlie. We just heard about it, and my son has not yet had a chance to speak with the Dean or anyone else about it yet - but I know that is on his list of things to do. He was still in the “disappointed” phase when we talked, and hadn’t yet hit his “corrective action” phase.
That is disappointing to say the least. I seem to recall when D went that it was somehow affiliated with study abroad and was run through that office. Even though VW covers the vast majority of the costs, our personal costs were definitely higher than $2k - airfare was not inexpensive and there was definitely some type of tuition/cost payment to UVA at the time. It seems it’s now an official three credit technical elective, which it was not previously - wonder how the structure of the course is changing to justify the three credits? Has your son talked with Elzey about this?
This is news to me. Nothing has been said in this office about the change, so it must be coming from the School of Engineering?
[Dana Elzey](http://www.virginia.edu/ms/people/faculty/elzey.html) oversees the VW program. Dana is a wonderful, student-focused man who would move a mountain for his students. All the Rodman Scholars know Dana and can go to him about anything. Encourage your son to go see him.
Please update me if I’m incorrect but I thought I understood that the VW trip is no longer offered at all because the 5-year contract came to an end. Am I wrong?
