LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Out-sourcing Article Misleading

To the Editor: *Outsourcing will be used selectively, and only in those areas where it can demonstrably improve services and reduce costs while at the same time serving the specific needs of the University community. *We will enter outsourcing arrangements only with organizations with world-class reputations and progressive human resources practices. *We will monitor and review the effectiveness of all outsourcing arrangements on an ongoing basis to make sure that services are being improved and costs are being reduced. *While selective outsourcing will continue to be pursued as one restructuring strategy, many of Penn's administrative operations will never be out-sourced. They will, however, be scrutinized regularly to make sure they are serving the campus community well and aggressively managing costs. Part of good, effective management here at the University of Pennsylvania and at other Ivy League universities includes a periodic review of all business operations to make sure the best methods possible are being used. We owe our students, their parents and our faculty nothing less. John A. Fry University Executive Vice President PENN Abroad Aids Students To the Editor: Sarah Giulian's June 13th column entitled Welcomed with Alienation illustrates some of the many problems student abroad alumni face when they return to their home campus. Changes in themselves, changes in friends, broadened experiences and the idea that "life continued at Penn" without them are all part of what many students experience during what is called the "re-entry" period. While everyone's experience is different, study abroad can have a powerful effect. We have seen students change majors, schools and life ambitions. The unfortunate side of this is that it is often difficult -- even for close friends and family members -- to relate to a study abroad returnee if they haven't gone through the process themselves. As the article points out, talking about your skiing trip in the Alps gets a different reaction than talking about your skiing trip to the Poconos. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to change people's reactions. However, for anyone interested in either going abroad or finding out about re-entry and how to deal with it, our office provides the following resources to try to help students through this time: *Information about re-entry in our handbook The Practical PENN Abroad, which is give to every Penn Abroad student prior to the start of their study abroad program; *Two pre-departure orientations that address re-entry as the last stage of "culture shock," which many study abroad participants experience; *A Welcome Back reception for all returning Penn Abroad participants; *The Re-entry Conference where returning students can meet with other study abroad returnees from the Philadelphia area to talk about their experiences, both abroad and at home, learn about career options in international fields and discuss ways to get back into the swing of life in the States; *The Peer Counselor program that provides opportunities for returning students to talk to others who are interested in studying abroad and want to hear all their stories; *The CHAMP program, where students volunteer to host international students studying here at Penn and introduce them to our culture; *Passport, a student-run magazine devoted to the topic of study abroad experiences to which students can submit articles, poetry, photos, etc. or b part of the editorial staff; Information about all of these programs can also be found on our web page at http://pobox.upenn.edu/~oip. Student suggestions are encouraged The most important thing to remember about re-entry is not to succumb to the feelings that you should clam-up or tell your stories using "ambiguous places." You need to talk, and if the people you're talking to don't' understand, then find others who will. We hope thatÿ any student experiencing re-entry shock will feel free to come in to our office and talk. Hopefully Sarah's column will heighten the understanding of the friends and classmates of other students who will be returning from study abroad programs this summer and fall. PENN Abroad Office of International Programs