OFFICE OF GLOBAL STUDIES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AFFILIATE PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 OFFICE OF GLOBAL STUDIES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AFFILIATE PROGRAMS Policies for Student participation in Affiliate Semester, Academic Year, Summer, and January Programs Eligibility In order to be accepted for a study abroad experience, students must meet the following eligibility requirements: 1. Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and must have at least a 2.50 overall GPA when applying for the affiliate program. 2. Students may not apply for nor participate in a Global Studies program while on academic or disciplinary probation. 3. Students must be enrolled full time at the University and have completed two semesters on campus in order to participate in a study abroad program. 4. Students must demonstrate appropriate maturity, good judgment, and intercultural sensitivity. 5. Students' goals for participating in study abroad must be compatible with the goals and objectives of the program selected. 6. Complete applications must be submitted by October 1 for spring programs and by March 1 for summer, fall, or yearlong programs. If a program has an early application deadline, it is the student s responsibility to meet that deadline. 7. Coursework completed on a study abroad program approved by the Office of Global Studies is considered in residence. Courses taken on affiliate study abroad programs during the senior year will meet the St. Kate s residency requirement. 8. Transfer students applying to study abroad must complete two semesters as full time SCU students and meet all other requirements before undertaking any semester or yearlong off campus study. (Transfer students may apply for January or summer study abroad programs at any time.) 9. Students must attend all orientation meetings prior to departure. Academic Information Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and who are in good disciplinary standing are eligible for semester or yearlong study abroad programs. Additional eligibility requirements (such as language proficiency or a higher GPA) differ for each program. Once approved by Global Studies, students must be accepted into their specific program. Global Studies strongly encourages all students to include study of the host language (if other than English); to take a course in the host language; or, in English speaking countries, to take a course on the history or culture of the country. Conduct Probation Students who are placed on conduct probation after being approved but prior to departure may become ineligible to study abroad. In such an event, students may be subject to cancellation fees or no refund of program costs, depending on the program s policies. Grades and Credit Students studying abroad for either a semester or a year are registered at St. Kate s as full time students and are required to earn at least 12 semester credits each semester. All students approved by Global Studies will have the course titles, credits, and grades from abroad posted to their SCU transcript. Grades submitted to St. Kate s in a system other than letter grades will be converted based on a grading scale approved by SCU. Taking Courses S/U Students may opt to take one course per semester with S/U grading. The S/U option is not allowed for major, minor, or Core 1000 or Unless stated by the major department, the S/U option may be elected for required supporting courses. See the SCU catalog for other requirements. To take a course S/U, students must make arrangements with St. Kate s, not with the study abroad program. Students will continue to take the course for a letter grade on the program or university abroad. At the end of the semester abroad, St. Kate s will record the appropriate S or U grade. Letter grades of C or above 1

2 are recorded as S. To take a study abroad course S/U, you must make a request online at the Registrar s website. S/U requests must be made by the end of the 11 th week after classes abroad begin. Check with Global Studies for specific dates and S/U request deadlines and to verify if a course can be taken for S/U grading. Course Equivalencies Credit earned on affiliate study abroad programs may be applied towards liberal arts, major, or minor requirements with the approval of the department chair. Department chair signatures ensure the course(s) will fulfill specified graduation requirements. Without a signature, there is no guarantee of academic progress within a specific department. Credit that does not have a specific approval to meet a requirement will normally transfer as general elective credit towards graduation. Course Equivalency Forms are found on the Global Studies application. s can also be accepted for faculty approval of course equivalency if the approval comes from the faculty St. Kate s . The must specify the affiliate program course title and the equivalent St. Kate s course title and course number or the liberal arts core requirement that the course is meeting. Courses taken for elective credit do not need a signature; Students only need to indicate that the course will be an elective. Course equivalencies are best obtained prior to departure. After completion of a study abroad term, course equivalencies are not guaranteed. Students are required to declare their major(s) and minor(s) prior to departure to ensure course approvals will apply to degree program. If the major or minor requirements change while abroad, the student will have already received approval for the course under the previous catalog. If the student is considering an ACTC major or minor, meet with the ACTC advisor in the Academic Advising office, and at the ACTC school to build study abroad courses into their degree plan. Internships Students may earn credits on an internship abroad. Internships may fulfill academic requirements with the approval of the appropriate department chair. Most international internships are unpaid and will require a special visa to work in the country. The maximum number of credits a student can earn in experiential education (including internships) is 32 credits towards graduation. Transcripts from Abroad Students are responsible for making all necessary arrangements for their program to forward a transcript to the Office of Global Studies. Be aware that transcripts can be delayed from some programs abroad. Sometimes such delays are unavoidable and beyond the responsibility of SCU. SCU cannot post credit until an official transcript is received from abroad. Contesting Grades from Abroad If a student believes that a grade has been recorded in error from the program abroad, it is the student s responsibility to contact the program directly and request a revised transcript be sent to SCU. No changes will be made by SCU without official documentation from the program abroad. Program Evaluations Students will receive a survey pertaining to their study abroad experience, available at the end of the program. Senior Residency Requirement The SCU Senior Residency requirement states that 24 of the last 32 semester credits must be completed at SCU or an ACTC college. Students who study abroad on a program approved by Global Studies fulfill this requirement while studying abroad, since students remain degree seeking SCU students while abroad. Need for Academic or Physical Accommodation Abroad Students in need of academic accommodation due to a disability must formally register with the O Neill Center for Academic Development in order to request accommodation abroad. Note the following process for making such requests when going abroad: 1. Student has the O Neill Center formally document the need for accommodation (students must present documentation of their disability to the O Neill Center before the office can verify need for accommodation abroad). 2. Student requests that the assistant director in charge of Resources for Disabilities in the O Neill Center submit a letter to Global Studies outlining the specific accommodation(s) requested. 3. If the student is participating in an affiliate program, the Office of Global Studies forwards the request on to the program or institution abroad. 2

3 4. Students should follow up with the study abroad program, making sure to talk directly with the program director once on site, and follow any further procedural instructions as advised. Contact the O Neill Center at , Room 21, Coeur de Catherine. Student Code of Conduct and Community Expectations The mission of St. Catherine University provides for excellence in education through the search for truth and justice. In accordance with this mission, the University expects all students and faculty to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and personal conduct both on and off campus. Students are responsible for upholding the expectations expressed in the University Policies regardless of their geographic location. The procedures outlined in the University Policies apply for all incidents. The procedures outlined in this policy are supplemental to the University Policies listed in the Academic Catalog. Statement on Responsible Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs Abroad 1. A student must abide by both the laws of the country in which she/he is studying and the St. Catherine University Policies. 2. While laws in different countries may vary, expectations for student behavior associated with alcohol and other drugs do not change. 3. Many countries have laws regarding alcohol and other drug use that are more severe than laws in the United States. In some countries, penalties for drug consumption and/or possession can be severe. Consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs and/or behavior while under the influence, may lead to a violation of local laws. 4. A full expression of behavioral expectations with regards to alcohol and other drugs can be found in the University Policies as published in the Academic Catalog. Disciplinary Rights and Procedures While traveling abroad, students are subject to the St. Catherine University Policies as stated in the Academic Catalog. Program faculty and staff administering the program will consult with and/or inform the Office of Global Studies and the Office of Student Affairs regarding behavioral concerns or violations.if necessary, the full process will be implemented upon the student s return to campus. Application and Enrollment Information All students must apply using the application found on the Office of Global Studies website. All materials required on the application checklist must be submitted before the deadline to be considered a completed application and be reviewed for acceptance into the program. Affiliate application materials must be complete by the application deadline for Global Studies, even if the affiliate program has a later deadline. Note that the application is considered binding and all cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Office of Global Studies. The date that such notification is received is considered the cancellation date. Petition For Non Affiliate Program If a student cannot find a program to meet specific needs and objectives for study abroad from the SCU list of affiliate programs, the student may petition to use another program. Petitions must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Studies and the Global Studies Advisory Committee. A successful written petition will clearly demonstrate the sound academic and cross cultural quality of the alternate program and a compelling reason why the student wishes to enroll in the program. SCU requires a transcript issued by an accredited U.S. academic institution or a nationally recognized degreegranting foreign institution in order for credit to be awarded. Note: Students must start this process well in advance of program and SCU internal deadlines as it takes time to review. To petition for study abroad on a program not on the Global Studies list of affiliate programs: Global Studies will evaluate the petition based on a list of requirements and ask the committee to review the petition All students applying for programs not on the affiliate list must complete a petition even if there has already been a petition for the same program. Once a petition has been approved, all policies and procedures for affiliate programs will apply to the student and her petitioned program. 3

4 Once Accepted Students will receive notification of their status directly from their program provider and should notify the Office of Global Studies immediately in order to get started working on additional follow up steps and paperwork before departure. These follow up items must be completed before the deadlines listed in the notification so as not to jeopardize participation in the program. Follow up steps include medical clearance, insurance information, and arrangements for making a payment, among others. Students will also be required to complete additional steps and paperwork for their program provider, which is why prompt attention to these details following acceptance is important. Orientation Information All students participating in affiliate programs must participate in the Global Studies pre departure orientation. The Office of Global Studies has a Saturday morning orientation in early November for all Spring programs and mid April for all Summer, Fall and Academic Yearlong programs. You will receive more details on the date, time and location once you have been accepted into your program and have begun working on follow up steps. Family members are invited to a session during the Saturday orientation. To invite a family member or guest, please the Office of Global Studies at least 2 weeks prior to the orientation date. A second pre departure orientation will be scheduled during a week day afternoon. Occasionally these two sessions may be flipped in order. Some affiliate program providers may conduct a predeparture on line orientation webinar. You will receive details regarding this session directly from your program provider. Upon arrival, all affiliate program providers will conduct an introductory on site orientation specific to your program. This on site orientation will contain valuable academic and safety information. It is an essential requirement to program participation and students must make arrangements to arrive in ample time to attend. Passports The Office of Global Studies provides students with information on where to apply for a passport. Students are responsible for obtaining a passport on their own and applying in sufficient time so as to not jeopardize their ability to travel as planned. Information on how to apply for or renew a passport is available on the US Department of State website under the Travel tab. Visas A visa is an authorization stamped into your passport by a foreign government. It permits you to enter the country in question for a specific length of time and specific purposes (i.e. tourism or study). Not all countries require visas for North American visitors. Students participating in affiliate programs will receive information, guidance and timelines for applying for a visa directly from their chosen program provider. Global Studies can provide students with some support in assembling and reviewing the necessary application materials to begin the process of obtaining an immigration visa. Please note that neither the University nor the Office of Global Studies can offer legal advice or ensure the issuance of a visa. That decision is solely up to the host country issuing the visa to the student. Students must adhere strictly to visa guidelines and timelines. In most cases, the process to obtain a visa should be initiated visas 90 days prior to the program start date, but some will require more time. Registration For Study Abroad Semester The Office of Global Studies will coordinate with the Registrar s Office to register each study abroad student for the number of credits they plan to take abroad. Students do not register themselves through Kateway for study abroad. Students studying abroad must remain registered as fulltime SCU students (minimum of 12 credits) for the duration of their time abroad. The Office of Global Studies will register students in May for Fall and Summer term and in December for Spring semester. Students will not be allowed to drop a study abroad registration without the permission of the Office of Global Studies. Students who cancel from their study abroad program after registration must inform Global Studies in writing of their cancellation. If they withdraw completely from the University, the Registrar's Office will inform the Office of Global Studies. Once the student has been registered at SCU for a total number of credits that they will attempt to earn abroad, 4

5 any change to that credit total should be immediately reported to the Office of Global Studies as well as with their Financial Aid Counselor as a change in credit total may impact aid allowance. Students who change the number of credits they are taking abroad who do not update their registration at SCU may face financial penalties upon return. For Return Semester Students studying abroad will register through Kateway for their return semester at SCU. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth registration process for your return to campus: Make sure you have your SCU ID# and PIN with you abroad. Check your SCU account regularly. Your registration time will be sent, as usual, to your SCU account prior to the opening day of registration. Make certain that you observe the time zone difference. You will not be able to register if you have a hold on your record. Before you go abroad, check to make sure you do not have any registration holds. ACTC Course Requests To register for an ACTC course from abroad, the St. Kate s Registrar at registrar@stkate.edu with all the specific course information in the registration request, including course name, department name, course number, course schedule, and prerequisites. The Registrar will then send you a confirmation . It will be the student s responsibility to check her Student Schedule to verify she has been registered for the ACTC course. Be aware that the Registrar will not accept a registration request from a non St. Kate s address. ACTC registration is open during the two week priority registration period and then closes until classes begin. Students abroad will need to make their registration request during this priority registration period or wait until the first day of class. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Program Costs Students are responsible for reviewing individual program information to know exactly what is and what is not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for paying all program fees, including application fee, initial deposit, and all on site costs. Students may apply financial aid to affiliate program fees. Program Billing Application fee (if required): students pay the program application fee at the time of application Initial program deposit (if required): students pay this deposit directly to the affiliate program once they are accepted to the program. A deposit is usually required to hold a student s place in the program, and is often non refundable. Deposits are usually in the range of $300 $500. Program fee balance: students are responsible for making payment to their program by the program s payment deadlines. For using financial aid funds, a student must give the Office of Student Accounts a copy of the program invoice plus completed copy of the Financial Aid/Student Billing Agreement in order for Student Accounts to forward applicable financial aid to the program on the students behalf. St. Catherine University Fees The following fees will be charged to all students applying for affiliate programs. Students participating in affiliate programs do not pay any tuition fees to SCU. Application Fee All students will pay a $30 non refundable application fee, due at the time of application. Study Abroad Administrative Fee A study abroad administrative fee is charged for all study abroad programs, guaranteeing the posting of credit, keeping a student s records up to date, and allowing St. Catherine s to forward financial aid funds to the program and to bill the student s account. The fee is $250 for the first semester; $100 for the second consecutive semester; and $150 for summer programs. The study abroad administrative fee will be forfeited for any student who cancels or returns early from their program after their account has been billed. Student Technology Fee All students are also charged an SCU technology fee of $175 each semester and during the summer if registered for summer credit. Cancellation Fees and Refunds Students are responsible for knowing the cancellation policies for their programs. Review carefully any program information on cancellation and refund policies. Students are responsible for financial aid payments made to the program on their behalf. Notice of cancellation from a program must be submitted in writing to the Office of Global Studies, 305 5

6 Derham Hall, Students are subject to the cancellation policy of their program sponsor. Depending on the date of cancellation, and especially if cancellation occurs near the departure date or after the program begins, the entire program fee may be forfeited. Cancellations due to medical emergencies or U.S. government shut down (such as passport offices) do not guarantee a full refund, and in some cases, may involve no refund. Travel Warning Cancellation Policy St. Catherine University uses U.S. State Department Travel Warnings as a guideline in determining whether a SCU student may participate in an affiliate study abroad program in the country in question. The State Department has three levels of information: Consular Information Sheets, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings. Travel Warnings indicate that U.S. citizens are advised against travel in a given country, or that they should leave the country if already on site. St. Kate s will use State Department Travel Warnings as a guideline when considering approval for a program or a student application to a program. St. Kate s also reserves the right to cancel its own programs or its approval of students' participation on affiliate programs in countries with severe safety issues but without the issuance of a U.S. State Department Travel Warning. The U.S. State Department information may be found at The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding cancellation and reimbursement of any payments; students may incur a financial loss. St. Kate s will offer advice on arranging departure from that country (perhaps to a third country). Student may incur costs associated with change in travel plans. The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding reimbursement of any recoverable costs and the possibility of completing the requirements for earning academic credit for the program. Note that students may incur a loss and/or may not be able to earn credit (full or partial). Trip Cancellation Insurance Because cancellations prior to departure, even for most medical reasons, do not guarantee a refund, students are strongly encouraged to consider trip cancellation insurance. Information will be made available to you in your on line application materials. Financial Aid Like any other type of investment, studying abroad requires advance planning, careful management, creativity, and perseverance. Students may use financial aid funds to study abroad; however careful planning is essential. Most St. Catherine s financial aid is awarded on a semester basis. Applying for Financial Aid for Study Abroad Carefully review the following information and feel free to visit with a Financial Aid counselor. Affiliate Study Abroad Programs: If St. Kate s withdraws its approval of a program in a country for which a student is preparing to study due to the issuance of a Travel Warning: The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding cancellation and reimbursement of any payments or deposits; students may incur a financial loss. Global Studies will advise and assist the student in finding another suitable program if time allows, or; Global Studies will advise the student on registering for on campus classes. If St. Kate s withdraws its approval of a program in a country for which a student is currently studying due to the issuance of a Travel Warning: Apply for financial aid for the year you wish to study abroad. All applicants must complete a St. Catherine University Financial Aid Questionnaire and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal Application. Forms are available each December and should be submitted by April 1 for priority consideration for funding for the following school year. Promptly respond to any request for additional information. Indicate in item 7 of the Financial Aid Questionnaire your enrollment plans for each term. A semester student should indicate the term(s) she will be abroad as well as her anticipated credit load for Fall semester, January term, and Spring semester. A trimester student should indicate the term(s) she will be abroad as well as her anticipated credit load for Fall trimester, Spring trimester, and Summer Trimester. If you decide to study abroad AFTER 6

7 you have submitted your financial aid application to the University, notify the financial aid office, in writing, of the changes you wish to make to item 7. Inform the Financial Aid Office, in writing, of your anticipated expenses for each term by completing Table 5 of a Special Circumstances application. Obtain this form from the Financial Aid Office. Accept or Decline the funds awarded to you on the Financial Aid Award Notice and follow the instructions to obtain each type of fund that you accept. Awards are prepared in late spring and continue on a rolling basis throughout the summer. Allow 8 to 12 weeks after your completed application is received for your award to be prepared. If you decide to study abroad AFTER you've received your award, you must request that the Financial Aid office review your application for a revision. They will prepare a revision 4 6 weeks after receiving your Special Circumstances Form and your note informing them of the changes in your enrollment plans for the year. Inform the Financial Aid Office of the receipt of any external scholarship funds you have received from your study abroad program. Meet with a Financial Aid counselor to discuss the specific steps you must take to receive each fund awarded to you. Tuition Remission and Student Employment funds are not portable and cannot be used to defray the costs of a study abroad program. Meet with the Student Accounts Office to make arrangements where to send any funds that will be directly credited to your student account. Funds can be sent to your program, to you, or to your parents. Financial aid packets for the following school year will be available in December. Remember to reapply by the April 1 priority date. Steps to Take to Receive Funding After you receive your financial aid award you must meet with a Financial Aid counselor to review the steps you take to receive all funds offered to you. A few of the common financial aid programs are outlined below. Federal Pell Grant Submit a complete, signed Student Aid Report to the Financial Aid Office. Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Complete the loan application process at least 3 months before you leave the country. You must make arrangements to sign your check(s) or grant power of attorney to someone else to do this for you. Federal Perkins and/or Nursing Loan Contact Trina Bartok in the Student Accounts Office to sign the required promissory note BEFORE you leave the country. Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF) Complete the loan application process at least 3 months before you leave the country. You must leave a signed, notarized SELF Power of Attorney form with the Financial Aid Office. Working Abroad Under no circumstances should students plan on earning essential income while studying abroad. While it may be legally possible to work for pay in some countries with a student visa, there is virtually no way of ensuring a position before departure or once abroad. Tuition Remission The employee benefit of tuition remission does not apply to abroad programs, including: All St. Kate s semester, short term and summer programs All affiliate semester, yearlong and summer programs All UMAIE sponsored programs. Exception: For semester embedded short term programs, tuition remission is only applicable to the on campus portion of tuition. Students must pay the program fee which is in addition to tuition. If a student attends St. Catherine s on tuition remission as the result of participation in the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) or Catholic College Cooperative Tuition Exchange Program (CCCTE) [i.e, a parent works at one of the eligible institutions], the same rules of tuition remission apply: it does not apply to study abroad. Students who study abroad on an overseas program sponsored by the tuition remission exchange institution where their parents work (i.e., ACTC or CCCTE) may be able to make arrangements directly with the sponsoring institution to receive tuition remission. The granting of tuition remission is up to the sponsoring institution. 7

8 RESIDENCE LIFE Housing for Study Abroad Students returning to campus Students who are abroad and wish to sign up for on campus housing for the following term may do so by completing the on line Housing & Dining Agreement. Contact Residence Life at if you have questions. To ensure housing options for Spring semester, complete the H&DA by October 1. For Fall housing, watch the Residence Life website in early February or contact Residence Life. If you will not have internet access while abroad please make arrangements with Residence Life before your departure. Please check your St. Kate's account as Residence Life will communicate with you to keep you aware of deadlines and procedures. Stay informed about oncampus housing at If there is a discrepancy in your class status due to credits completed abroad, Global Studies may confirm the completed credits with Residence Life. CANCELLING FROM STUDY ABROAD Refund and Cancellation Policies If a student must cancel from an affiliate program at any time after being approved by Global Studies and accepted by the program, or withdraws once the program has begun, it is the student s responsibility to: Notify both the program and the Office of Global Studies in writing immediately Register for SCU courses as soon as possible. Notice of cancellation must be submitted in writing and submitted to the Office of Global Studies or to globalstudies@stkate.edu. It is each student s responsibility to carefully review and understand the cancellation and refund policies for her program. Students are responsible for all financial aid payments made on their behalf by St. Kate s to the program. Withdrawing from most programs close to or after a program has begun often results in forfeited deposits or pre paid expenses and, at times, no refund of fees. The study abroad administrative fee will be forfeited for any student who cancels or returns from abroad after her account has been billed for study abroad. Individual circumstances will be reviewed by the Director of Global Studies for this fee to be waived. HEALTH AND MEDICAL INFORMATION Proof of Sufficient Insurance Students must verify that they have sufficient insurance coverage while abroad by completing the Insurance Coverage Form in their on line application. Insurance Coverage Abroad Many students find that the medical coverage they have at home may cover them while abroad, or with some variance or a higher deductible. It is the student s responsibility to make sure their insurance coverage is valid and sufficient while abroad. Be aware that many study abroad programs include health insurance as part of the program fee, so students may be covered by multiple health insurance policies. Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) Students participating on semester or yearlong programs abroad enroll in the St. Kate s CISI health insurance policy prior to departure. (Students covered by St. Catherine health insurance are not required to enroll in CISI but have the option to do so.) CISI insurance is a primary health insurance policy and can be purchased for the time a student will be studying abroad. The policy will include*: comprehensive accident/sickness coverage, medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, worldwide assistance, and a comprehensive security evacuation plan. * See the CISI brochure for more detailed information and policy exclusions and maximums. Travel Clinic The St. Catherine Health and Wellness Center is a certified travel clinic and you can contact them at for more information regarding immunizations, fees, and other health preparations. Recommended and Required Immunizations Students are advised to determine whether any immunizations are required of their host country early in the process of preparing to study abroad. Typically, it is developing countries that are most likely to require proof of immunization. Information on illnesses and immunizations such as malaria, yellow fever and cholera may be obtained by visiting the Center for Disease Control s web site at 8

9 Tetanus All students are advised to verify that their tetanus immunization is current (within past 10 years) before going abroad. Tetanus immunizations are available to SCU students for a small fee at the SCU Health and Wellness Center. As per Minnesota state law, a hold is usually placed on the record of any student who does not have record on file of a tetanus vaccine within the past 10 years. St. Catherine s makes the following recommendations to all students studying abroad: Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B St. Catherine s advises students to be immunized for Hepatitis A & B before going abroad. Hepatitis A is a virus spread through contaminated food. Immunization is recommended for all travelers. The Hepatitis A series consists of 2 shots, six months apart. Hepatitis B is a virus spread through body fluids such as saliva and blood and can lead to significant liver failure. The only protection at this time is the immunization. The Hepatitis B shot is a 3 part series in intervals of shots one week and six months following the first one. Meningitis It is recommended that all students also be immunized for meningitis. Meningococcal infections usually have severe consequences and may be fatal. The Centers for Disease Control encourages college students in closequartered housing situations or residence halls to consider the immunization. Typhoid Typhoid fever is an acute, life threatening febrile illness caused by bacteria. Risk is greatest for travelers to South Asia and developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Typhoid vaccination is not required for international travel, but it is recommended for travelers to areas where there is a recognized risk of exposure. Vaccination is particularly recommended for those who will be traveling in smaller cities, villages, and rural areas off the usual tourist itineraries, where food and beverage choices may be more limited. Prescription Medication Make sure the medication you use is available and legal to use in the country where you are going. If not, find out what steps you may need to take in order to gain approval for its use. Learn what documentation you will need in order to bring your medication through customs. Transport all medications in their original, labeled containers along with documentation of the prescriptions. Make sure your medications are available in the same dosage you take at home. If they are not, find out what the implications may be and if there are appropriate substitutes. SAFETY CONCERNS Students will receive pertinent information regarding safety from their program provider prior to departure and upon arrival on site. Additional preparations and research can be done prior to departure by consulting the US Department of State Travel website. Specific country information can be found here, including the most up to date travel alerts and warnings. All students are highly encourage to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Benefits to enrolling in this program include: Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans. Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. Family members and loved ones can also enroll in the program to receive these updates as well. Students are encouraged to register their study abroad program destination, as well as any side trips they may take while overseas. 9