The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the intercultural development of U.S. and international study abroad students and their experiences in a collaborative online international learning pre-departure study abroad intervention. Garrison, Anderson, and Archer's (2000) Community of Inquiry model influenced the seminar design and data analysis. Data gathered included scores from Intercultural Development Inventories (IDI®), the Community of Inquiry framework, and a phenomenological review of participants' text. This research demonstrated several technical and social challenges of building a virtual exchange Community of Inquiry and how a redesign of the intervention can influence outcomes.