Ever since the University canceled its Israel study abroad programs in April 2002, students hoping to spend a semester in Israel have not been able to make that dream a reality -- but this may not be the case for long.
According to Deputy Provost Peter Conn, the University is currently reviewing the policy and will be making a decision about whether the ban should be lifted within the next two weeks.
A year and a half ago, students studying in Israel were told to come home as soon as possible before the semester ended because of escalating violence in the Middle East and a State Department advisory warning Americans that travel to Israel could be dangerous. Since then, students have not been allowed to study in Israel for credit -- either through a Penn program or on their own -- during the academic year.
The process to review the policy began last week when the Provost's Task Force on Study Abroad -- which includes the four undergraduate deans and staff from the Office of International Programs -- met with several faculty members from the Jewish Studies Program and other relevant departments to discuss the policy.
"We spent... the better part of an hour discussing the questions that are raised by faculty and students concerning our current policy and whether we should be making a change," said Conn, who chairs the task force. "On all sides of this... we tried to make sure that all of the points of view were thoroughly reviewed."
According to Joyce Randolph, director of the Office of International Programs, the University usually discusses issues like this with Penn faculty and also consults scholars in the home country.
"Since the suspension took place 18 months ago, the senior administration decided it was timely to revisit the issue in consultation with faculty here," Randolph said.
She added that students and their parents have been writing letters asking the University to reconsider its policy ever since the cancellation was announced last year, with approximately 20 letters coming in within the past several weeks.
Conn said that issues of safety and security as well as academic relevance are being discussed, adding that "different people have different views on the weight that should be placed on these questions."
According to Jewish Studies Undergraduate Director Kathryn Hellerstein, the academic opportunities that students studying Hebrew or Jewish Studies or Middle Eastern Studies can find only in Israel are well worth reinstating the Israel abroad programs.
"There are really great scholars and great libraries... and wonderful professors and classroom experiences, as well as the cultural milieu which offer a lot to students in a variety of disciplines," she said, adding that her own visits to Israel have changed her own sense of the world.
Hellerstein also said that it is important that the University maintain its relationship with the main universities in Israel.
However, according to Political Science Professor Ian Lustick, the safety issues outweigh the academic richness that a semester in Israel could offer.
"Penn students lose tremendously from the current policy of not allowing Penn credit for study in Israel," Lustick wrote in an e-mail. "However, as long as the State Department warns Americans to avoid traveling to Israel because of the security situation there, it will probably not be possible or advisable for Penn to change its policy."
Still, Lustick added that Penn should continue to develop programs in Israel where the security situation is less serious, such as Ben-Gurion University, located in the southern city of Be'er Sheva.
Program under fire Oct. 13, 2000: U. recommends that students studying in Israel return home when violence hits West Bank. Spring 2002: State Department releases several advisories for travel in Israel due to escalating violence in the Middle East region. April 4, 2002: U. suspends abroad programs in Israel. Nov. 2003: U. will decide whether to reinstate study abroad in Israel.
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