Christine Perry hadn’t thought about studying Spanish until she stumbled across a CD by the famous Mexican-American gospel and pop singer Jackie Velasquez.

“I became infatuated with the language and the Spanish world became a fascination for me,” Perry said.

Last summer, Perry, a N.C. Central University Spanish junior, had her first chance to immerse herself in the language.

Along with 10 other NCCU students, she went to Mexico for a one-month study abroad program at the Universidad Interna-cional in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

“It doesn’t matter how much you study a language and the culture,” said Perry. “Until you become a part of it, you’ll never really get the full effect of what’s being taught.”

The Department of Modern Foreign Languages has used the UI program for more than 8 years. 3

But now students and foreign language faculty fear that the study abroad program at UI stands a chance of being terminated if program evaluations required by the Office of International Programs are not completed.

Emmanuel Oritsejafor, director of the Office of International Programs, e-mailed the 9-page program evaluation to Cristina Cabral, study abroad program coordinator, to forward to students.

Oritsejafor said the program needs to be evaluated in order to improve student-learning skills.

Some students are questioning the timing and length of the evaluation.

Spanish senior Dorothy Debnam, a student who participated in this year’s UI program, said she thinks the evaluation should have been conducted while she was in Mexico.

Debnam also said that the 9-page evaluation could be much shorter.

“It is ridiculous,” she said. “I’m just not going to do it.”

Oritsejafor maintains that evaluation is crucial.

“There is no commitment to canceling the program, but there’s a commitment to evaluating it,” said Oritsejafor.

“The evaluation has nothing to do with the continuation of the program, but it has to be done.”

But Cabral said she thinks the program is in jeopardy.

“By this time last year, preparations were already being made toward the 2006 summer abroad trip,” said Cabral.

According to Cabral, student recruiting and housing negotiation for the program started last fall.

“So far, no arrangements or funds have been made for 2007,” said Cabral.

According to Oritsejafor, the program is being delayed because certain faculty-oriented decisions must be made before the international affairs office can make a standard decision about the program.

“There are so many things still pending,” said Oritsejafor. “There was a discussion about who will lead the program.”

At the same time Oritsejafor has finalized a different program in Orisaba, Mexico.

This program will serve advanced students in bilingual and communication disorders in the School of Education.

The UI study program was established in 1998 by Thomas Hammond, previous chair of the modern foreign language department.

Hammond said the department knows the program best, not the Office of International Programs.

“The department of foreign language should be the one making the cancellation decisions,” said Hammond.

“Whether or not the program continues should not be solely based on whether students evaluate the program or not.

“What we really need is a director of study abroad, not the office of international affairs assuming all study abroad programs,” Hammond said.

One hitch that frustrated students in the study abroad program this summer was that the group did not receive a promised $250 stipend until the group had been in Mexico for two weeks.

Oritsejafor said that the University required him to apply the stipends as scholarships on student accounts.

“I don’t think the school should have sent students overseas without stipend money,” said Spanish senior Eve Huggins.

“I loved the trip, but I did not like the administration part of the program.”

Steve Moore, a Spanish senior who participated in the 2005 summer program,

said their trip was well organized.

“Last year with Dr. Hammond was great,” Moore said.

“He stayed on top of everything.”

“[Last year] we got our stipends of $714 before we left for the trip.

“This year you had to fill out all this paperwork, yet things were so disorganized. I think the department should be left to handle their thing.”

Moore said he would have participated in this year’s study abroad program, but it was too disorganized.

Oritsejafor was nominated last year as interim director of the office of international programs.

He has developed several study abroad programs in Liberia, Kenya and Ghana.

“I’m proud to say that we’re moving in the right directions,” he said.

“The content of learning needs to be evaluated. It’s like you’re going to class and can’t evaluate your teacher.

“We need to find the quality so we can improve the program.”

Patrice Marks, who assumed the chair of the department of modern foreign language position this summer, said she doesn’t know the details of the interaction between the department’s study abroad program and the office of international programs, but she sees an advantage on both sides.

“I am the greatest advocate of study abroad and give full credit to it,” said Marks.