l'euro fort, ca a du bon pour nous, mais pour eux...

As dollar falls, study abroad costs rise

International programs office urges students to consider countries with weak currencies

The declining value of the American dollar is making study abroad a more expensive proposition.

The dollar is hitting record lows against the euro. One American dollar buys only .69 euros. It also buys .48 British pounds as of yesterday. In November 2005, one American dollar bought .85 euros or .57 pounds.

Carol Dickerman, the director of the University's Office of International Programs, said she's worried about the effects the weakness of the dollar could have on study abroad programs.

The places where the dollar is weakest, like Europe, tend to be the places where students want to study most, Dickerman said. She's encouraging students to consider studying in places where the dollar is stronger, like Latin America and Africa.