ACTR; Why talk about problems in the open?

[Emily Johnson]

I was an ACTR Advanced Research Fellow in fall 2006 and found ACTR 
staff in Moscow and Washington D.C. helpful, flexible, and very 
pleasant.  They dealt with paperwork efficiently and made every effort 
to help me-- even with problems that were not directly related to my 
research project.  I have participated in a total of four ACTR 
programs--student programs, graduate student programs, and also 
postdoctoral research programs.  In all cases, I have been very 
satisfied.


Dr. Emily Johnson
Associate Professor
Dept. of Modern Languages, Literatures & Linguistics
University of Oklahoma
780 Van Vleet Oval, Room 206
Norman, OK 73019
phone: (405) 325-1486

On Sunday, December 2, 2007, at 04:03  AM, Dustin H. wrote:

> Dear All:
>
> First of all, I have chosen to address this in public because these 
> problems
> are related to both recent, current, and future participants who might 
> wish
> to study abroad in Russia.  This is an open forum and the questions are
> pertinent to all involved: from the students to the teachers and
> administrators.
>
> These issues are important, since students do have a choice in 
> selecting
> their study abroad program.  Unfortunately, they do not often have the
> choice of finding out in-depth information about these programs, other 
> than
> comments from previous students.  Not all previous students write 
> commentary
> about their experience on the program, and often negative commentary 
> is not
> posted for future students to view, thus creating a one-sided argument 
> for
> the program at hand.
>
> Additionally, sometimes it is best if an organization takes a look at
> outside evidence rather than conducting its own studies or surveys, 
> which
> may not reveal the relevant facts of the issues or problems within 
> their own
> realm.
>
> I would like to note again that I have heard nothing bot negative 
> comments -
> each time - about this organization and their programs in Russia.
>
> It is great to hear positive comments about the ACTR, however I feel 
> that
> positive commentary from recent participants would be much more valid 
> than
> someone who has attended the program 15 to 20 years ago.  Why?
> Organizations change, as do people.  I'm sure the ACTR was better run 
> during
> those years in comparison to the present day – otherwise, there would 
> not be
> broad criticism about different aspects of the ACTR programs.
>
> Recently I have received more negative feedback, and given permission, 
> I
> will send it to the appropriate people.  I will contact ACTR, but I do 
> feel
> that people have the right to know more about the minuses of this 
> program.
>
> Again, it is great to hear positive thoughts about the ACTR: but do you
> actually believe that this program is flawless and has no issues to be
> resolved, which may then trickle down and affect the students on these 
> study
> abroad programs?
>
> Best,
>
> Dustin Hosseini
>

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