Brown has submitted the financial and enrollment data from its study abroad programs that were subpoenaed in January by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who also requested information from 14 other schools. None of the information on the University's programs for the last three years shows any ethical breaches or improper practices, said Beverly Ledbetter, vice president and general counsel for the University.
"Brown has a very robust study abroad program because we believe it is valuable for students. ... (Some other schools) don't so they have very small programs," Ledbetter, the University's top lawyer, said. "My belief is they picked schools with large programs" to subpoena.
Cuomo began an investigation in August after a New York Times article revealed objectionable practices at some colleges. The article found that universities' study abroad officials often have exclusive relationships with providers and steer students toward these programs in exchange for cash incentives or perks, such as travel benefits or seats on the advisory boards of those providers.
Ledbetter said that there exists little potential for improper practices because the University approves specific study abroad programs and not providers - which may offer a number of programs in different countries - and does not have students concentrated in a small group of programs.
She explained that because some schools approve all programs run by specific providers and offer fewer options to students there is an incentive to form agreements that does not exist at the University.
Brown students are offered about 120 different study abroad programs through OIP. Very few of the programs have more than 12 University students studying with them at any given time, Ledbetter said, and many have only four or five.
In addition to programs run by the University and pre-approved outside programs, students can petition to have any other program approved.
"Our students can go on any program as long as it meets academic and safety standards," Ledbetter said.
Harvard, Cornell, Columbia and American University were also among the 15 schools that received subpoenas from Cuomo. Connecticut's attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, took similar steps shortly after Cuomo's subpoenas were delivered, sending letters that asked for records on the study abroad programs of 10 schools in his state, including Yale. A lawyer in Cuomo's office told the Times in January that the schools subpoenaed by the New York attorney general were selected because of concern that some had "affiliation agreements" with study abroad providers.
Some of the providers had already received subpoenas from Cuomo, including four that currently offer their services through Brown, The Herald reported Nov. 29.
Brown submitted information on the number of students studying abroad and the programs they participated in for the last three years sometime around March 1, Ledbetter said. Because of the large volume of information being submitted, Ledbetter does not expect a response for two or three months.
This inquiry is similar to the one made by Cuomo's office last year into agreements between colleges and student loan providers, Ledbetter said.
Out of that investigation, a code of conduct was developed for these relationships. A goal of the current investigation is to create similar guidelines, John Milgrim, a spokesman for Cuomo, told the Chronicle of Higher Education earlier this year.
The Office of International Programs does not directly address the subpoena on its Web site, but it does state that "Brown has never received discounts or commissions from, nor has it ever entered into exclusivity contracts with approved program providers. ... Brown has never participated in, supported, or promoted the practice of offering special pricing or incentives to increase enrollments with program providers."
OIP Director and Associate Dean of the College Kendall Brostuen declined to comment for this article.
