Note: This article has been updated to ensure accuracy of information.
On September 23rd, Champlain College announced its changes to the legacy study abroad program.
Via email to students and staff, with an accompanying Instagram post, the school announced that it would trade its sister campuses in Montreal and Dublin for a partnership with Temple University’s exchange program. The new abroad program will include locations in Japan, Italy, and Spain.
The news came as a shock to many, including staff and faculty on campus, who reportedly received the information only minutes before students. A further information session was held for staff and faculty, including adjunct professors who were not included in the initial email.
In response to the initial Instagram post, many students commented their disappointment about the new program, including Jan Ruiz, a senior computer science major who wrote, “Sad to think how many students I’ve advertised and encouraged to seek the Dublin Abroad program after my own personal experience. What a shameful rug pull for incoming students. Champlain Dublin was an extremely transformative time in my life, and that milestone could not have been met without all the Dublin staff and the people of Ireland itself.”
The Dublin staff included director and professor Stephen Robinson. Robinson, a leader on campus since its opening in 2008, said via LinkedIn, “Hundreds and hundreds of students have spent a semester with us, learning about and immersing in Ireland, growing as individuals, making new friends, and gaining professional and intercultural experience. It has been a transformative experience for all of us, but it will sadly come to an end after the Spring 2026 semester. But we leave a massive legacy to be remembered.” He went on to thank the Dublin community and the abroad program team members.
Meanwhile, some students are excited about the prospects of new abroad options, but are hesitant about changes in financial aid, which would go through Temple University.
Financial Aid Concerns and Studying Abroad Outside The Sister Campuses: Amanda Woods
Like many who come to Champlain College, I thought I was going to spend my semester abroad in Dublin. However, I ultimately decided to spend my semester abroad in Aotearoa, New Zealand, through Champlain’s exchange program with the Auckland University of Technology. Why did I make this choice? At the time, it was so that my partner and I could study abroad together in a way that didn’t interfere with our schedules too much (this was before students in any major could study abroad at any campus either semester). Now, reflecting on my experiences abroad, I am so grateful that I made this choice. This is nothing against the former Dublin or Montreal campuses; both were amazing opportunities for those who wanted to stay within the “Champlain bubble.” I am even a Montreal summer program alum. My experience in Aotearoa, New Zealand, was full of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and I left my time abroad with a deeper appreciation for indigenous cultures, which was a fundamental aspect of my studies abroad. This experience also forced me outside of my comfort zone because I needed to adapt to a new university, new city, and new culture with only a few resources at my disposal.
Now you might be wondering, why does this matter, didn’t only the Montreal and Dublin campuses get shut down? Not exactly. Champlain previously had multiple exchange programs in Aotearoa, New Zealand; Scotland; the Bahamas; and a few more locations. When applications opened for summer 2025-spring 2026 study abroad, it was announced that only third-party applications, Freeman, and the abroad campuses were accepting applications. There was no mention of any of the exchanges. Combined with the overall chaotic experience that was our Aotearoa, New Zealand cohort being sent abroad, leads me to believe that these options are no longer being provided. No press release, no announcement. Years-long partnerships with these universities were just gone.
Overall, this aligns with the college’s messaging around these programs, as they were rarely ever talked about as an option. I found that the exchange experience, if done correctly, was a fantastic budget-friendly way to study abroad that combined the benefits of staying with Champlain with a third-party program. Although the new Temple program is somewhat similar to the exchange program, I’m nervous that students won’t get the same cultural integration that came with the exchange program since you are studying at a US-based university. This could limit who might even be interested in studying abroad.
I’m also concerned about the student financial logistics. According to the announcement, federal financial aid will transfer, and Temple will be offering Champlain students scholarships. There is information about Temple’s non-student scholarships available on the Champlain College abroad webpages for current students. According to Champlain, Federal and state financial aid are transferred to Temple programs. However, for students applying to the Gilman Scholarship, a congressionally funded program, it felt like the resources to assist with applying were moving to the back burner. It’s another aspect of study abroad that Champlain rarely talks about.
There are also smaller details like exchange rates, flight costs, and cost of living that play a role in these changes. This is extremely important because cost is a major factor in the decision to study abroad. My and my partner’s experiences were made better by the money provided to us through the Gilman Scholarship and how simply the financial logistics of the exchange were explained to us. I believe that any student who wants to study abroad should be able to, regardless of financial background. However, this new Temple program might create a financial barrier for those who want to study abroad.
At the end of the day, I will always be pro-study abroad. If you have the ability to, always do it. It’s a major reason why I chose Champlain. If I weren’t graduating, I would have even considered looking at some of the new Temple summer programs because of the filmmaking opportunities. What I do have issues with is how Champlain approached the announcement of these programs. By glossing over the sunset of the sister campuses and not acknowledging the likely end of the exchanges, the college is failing to highlight why so many students chose Champlain in the first place.
A Closer Look at Temple and Responses: Kat Robinson
On September 23, President Alex Hernandez notified students that Champlain was “expanding” our study abroad opportunities. Many students felt the opposite, including me. Hernandez appeals to first- and second-year students, those who would not have the opportunity to visit the closed campuses, even though the Montreal and Dublin programs were advertised to incoming students up until this fall.
Though this specific announcement was unexpected, it wasn’t out of the question for those involved in Study Abroad. The Study Abroad program at Champlain has been reduced over the past few years. Last year, the semester programs in Scotland, New Zealand, and the Bahamas were discontinued. Coordinator Martha Moreno-Linares said that she left Champlain because the co-coordinator position was eliminated, and she was overwhelmed with managing the program by herself. I anticipated the closure of at least one campus this year; it would likely be Dublin because a key professor decided to leave the program. I thought Montreal would be preserved for a few more years because it had more opportunities for gaming students, the majority of Champlain. Game majors are indeed very disappointed with the news, because Montreal offered diverse and interesting opportunities in the industry.
Hernandez reported that the abroad campuses were not worth the expense, especially when colleges are expecting the class of 2029 to be the smallest class size in recent years. The partnership with Temple, however, will simply shift that cost to the students. Because Champlain students are both not Temple students and likely not Pennsylvania residents, their tuition is nearly double. A summer program in Great Britain at Temple for a non-Pennsylvania resident can cost $8,478 in tuition alone, whereas a summer in Dublin cost $6850 (as of 2024) in tuition, housing, excursions, and insurance. When asked about this discrepancy at the Study Abroad Forum on October 22, the coordinator replied, “[T]hat’s probably including travel costs.” It does not. The cost breakdown on the Temple Abroad website clearly separates tuition and estimated travel costs. Other Temple programs have a cheaper tuition, varying by location, but the additional program fees are thousands of dollars. I encourage anyone interested to check out the scholarships offered to non-Temple students.
Several students I have spoken to about the September 23 announcement found it to be apathetic. It was an academic upset for students expecting those opportunities in Dublin and Montreal. The Study Abroad Forum revealed that the decision to shut down the campuses was made earlier than and independent of the Temple partnership. It makes me wonder how much care was put into this Temple decision? One student at the forum was worried about whether their major would be represented through Temple. While the Registrar’s Office had reportedly “completed a program-by-program crosswalk for the offerings at Temple, which can be accessed by Advisors, Program Directors and the Registrar,” it still doesn’t feel reassuring. They did make sure Game students knew that Temple Japan had a great program for them.
I’m glad the Game majors may have been assured, but the rest of us matter, too. It seems that Champlain made an unfortunate but necessary decision. The administration attempted to make it seem like a good thing to appease a mass audience, which is where they erred. Students are rightly upset by the lack of communication, disruption of course planning, and the increase in cost. I don’t care about the other stakeholders when I am the one paying tuition. These are sweeping decisions that affect students the most, and they don’t even consult us.
Further Information
Students hoping to learn more about the Temple University partnership can contact the study abroad office or Provost Monique Taylor. A virtual information session for students regarding the new program was hosted on November 5th at 4 PM.
Edits and updates to this article:
The Crossover initially reported that the summer program in Dublin costs $4,975 and is twice the credits as the Temple program. The program is $6850 and both are 6 credits.
The Crossover initially reported, “Students are also now forced to study abroad in the ‘Champlain bubble.” The exchange programs are open to students around the world, but are still U.S. based campuses.
The Crossover initially reported, “It isn’t fully outlined how much aid will be available for those who want to study abroad.” There is now information about Temple’s non-student scholarships available on the Champlain College abroad webpages for current students. And according to Champlain, Federal and state financial aid transfers to Temple programs.
The Crossover initially reported, “It’s not clear if there will still be the same resources available for those looking to apply for the Gilman Scholarship.” For student’s applying to the Gilman Scholarship, a congressionally funded program, it felt like the resources to assist with applying were moving to the back-burner.
The Crossover initially reported, “Coordinator Marth Moreno-Linares left Champlain.” Ms. Moreno-Linares first name is “Martha.”
The Crossover initially reported, “The Study Abroad program at Champlain has been reduced over the past few years to cut costs.” According to the school, “The Scotland, New Zealand and Bahamas MOUs (memorandums of understanding) expired and were not renewed based on an extensive analysis of demand over several years, rather than as a cost cutting measure.”
The Crossover initially reported, “Not only does this make me wonder why Abroad staff were kept in the dark until the announcement email…” Study Abroad staff were informed about the changes to the Montrweal and Dublin campuses in advance of the emails sent to the community on September 23, 2025.
The Crossover initially reported, “One student at the forum was worried about whether their major would be represented at Temple, and the faculty offered little reassurance.” The faculty reported that the Registrar’s Office had completed a program-by-program crosswalk for the offerings at Temple, which can be accessed by Advisors, Program Directors and the Registrar
The Crossover initially reported, “The event was announced at noon on the same day via an email from Student Affairs.” The event was available on the view, campus digital signage, and @champlainedu Insatgram event highlights starting Oct 23rd.
