OFFICE OF GLOBAL STUDIES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FACULTY LED SHORT TERM PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 OFFICE OF GLOBAL STUDIES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FACULTY LED SHORT TERM PROGRAMS Policies for Student Participation in Faculty Led Short Term 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 a short term program. 2. Students must be enrolled full time at the University in order to apply for a short term program (first year and transfer students may apply for J term programs once enrolled in school). 3. Students must demonstrate appropriate maturity, good judgment, and intercultural sensitivity. 4. Students' goals for participating in study abroad must be compatible with the goals and objectives of the program selected. 5. Additional eligibility requirements may differ for each program. Specific course requirements are listed on individual program descriptions. 6. Post secondary enrollment option students may not apply for nor participate in a global studies program. 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 time of cancellation. Academic Information Students are required to attend all classes and scheduled excursions and events. Faculty directors have authority to act on behalf of St. Catherine University administration in any matter concerning the academic program, travel procedures, and financial matters that fall within the limits of the program budget. The faculty director may decide that a student must be separated from the program because of violation of rules, or for unacceptable conduct. Separation from the program will result in the student being sent home at the student s expense. Course Credit Short term programs usually carry up to four (4) undergraduate credits. Check the program descriptions for specific credits for your course. Students approved to study abroad by the Office of Global Studies are guaranteed elective credit for their course work abroad in which they receive a passing grade. Course Equivalency Form Some courses have been approved to meet undergraduate major, minor, liberal arts, or core requirements, or graduate program requirements. Contact Global Studies for specific information on approved courses and the requirements they fulfill. If you wish to use any short term program to fulfill specific requirements for which it has not been preapproved, it is your responsibility to obtain the approval signature of the appropriate department chair or program director. Students should use a Course Equivalency Form, available from the Office of Global Studies. Courses taken for elective credit do not need a signature on the Course Equivalency Form. Grades and Credit Study abroad grades and credits are posted on the student s St. Kate s transcript and are calculated into the University grade point average. St. Catherine s policies state that all courses must be assigned a letter grade by their faculty director. Taking Courses S/U St. Catherine s does not allow students to take courses S/U on most short term programs. (All UMAIE and GSJ courses must be taken for a letter grade.) Program Evaluation Students will receive a survey pertaining to their study abroad experience, available at the end of the program. Auditing Courses Students may not audit short term programs.

2 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 asks the O Neill Center to 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. 4. Students should follow up with the study abroad program director on site or with the faculty director, 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. Faculty and staff administering the program will act in consultation with the Office of Global Studies and on behalf of the Office of Student Affairs in administering the University Policies. In order to address behavioral concerns and/or violations of the University Policies in a timely fashion, an abbreviated process, consistent with the philosophy of the St. Catherine University Policies, will be employed. If necessary, the full process will be implemented upon the student s return to campus. The faculty course leaders will use their best judgment in responding to incidents. Faculty will confront incidents utilizing an approach that is in the best interest of the student(s) and program while maintaining consistency with the University Policies. a) Approach student regarding the concerns b) Attempt to reach informal resolution. c) Document the outcome of the conversation. d) In matters where resolution cannot be reached or where the behavior rises to a more egregious level and where more formal approach is initially required, the faculty will consult with the Office of Student Affairs to determine next steps. e) In extreme cases, the faculty director who oversees the class or program may, in consultation with the Office of Student Affairs, immediately suspend a student from the program and send the student home at the student's expense. Enrollment and Application Information Application Dates January Term Courses: UMAIE: early April through early October* SCU faculty led: early April through early October* Spring Embedded: September through mid November Summer: November through early February* *Visit the Global Studies website for specific application deadlines. 2

3 How to Apply All students must apply using the application found on the Office of Global Studies website. Application materials may be accessed and submitted using the Global Studies application. 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. Note that the application is considered binding and all cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Office of Global Studies. Until you receive a confirmation from Office of Global Studies that your cancellation has been processed, you will remain registered for the course and responsible for all program charges. Deposit A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot in an international program (Domestic programs require a $300 deposit). For J term applications, you have the option to pay the deposit in two $250 installments prior to July 31(two $150 installments for domestic). If you complete your application on or after August 1 st (J term applications only) the full $500 ($300 domestic) deposit is required. If you are not accepted into a program, if the course is cancelled, or if you withdraw more than 100 days before departure, a deposit refund will be requested. If you have a balance on your student account the deposit will be applied toward your balance. If you have no balance, the refund will be returned to the credit card that was used to pay the deposit. Once Accepted Students will receive notification of their status (accepted, waitlisted, denied) via their SCU account, and will receive follow up paperwork the semester 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. Wait Listed Students If a program reaches its maximum enrollment, students may be placed on a wait list. When an accepted student cancelation occurs, Global Studies will notify waitlisted students of acceptance immediately. If no cancellations occur by the final deadline, waitlisted students will be contacted and the deposit refunded. Waitlisted students may also withdraw their application at any time for a full refund of their deposit. Orientation Information All short term abroad programs require pre departure orientation. Attendance is mandatory. The Office of Global Studies has a Saturday morning orientation in early November for all J term programs, you will receive more details once you have been accepted into your program. Most St. Kate s faculty led courses will also meet that day in the afternoon. UMAIE J term Orientation consists of several online modules, including a webinar in October or November. UMAIE will send each student the date and time of the webinar as well as dial in instructions. UMAIE students are also required to attend the Saturday morning orientation in early November. In addition to the Global Studies orientation, faculty may schedule additional meeting dates prior to departure. Instructors will notify students directly of the date, time and location. Flight Deviations Course prices are based on group arrangements. All program participants and leaders traveling on a St. Catherine university faculty led program are included in a group airline reservation. Airline tickets are part of the total course cost and are issued in accordance with the travel itinerary for the faculty led course. Individuals wishing to travel separate from the group may request a flight deviation. All deviation requests will be approved on a case by case basis. See the Flight Deviation form for specific details. Requests must be made in writing by the date specified in the program application materials. A service charge will also apply. 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. 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 3

4 purposes (i.e. tourism or study). Not all countries require visas for US citizens. Some short term programs require a visa. See your program s individual course description for details or visit The program sponsor will facilitate obtaining student visas for courses that travel to countries where US citizens are required to obtain a visa. The program sponsor will contact you regarding necessary paperwork. Most visas require at least one or more passport photos. If considering future travel to the same country within one year, please read visa regulations, you may exceed the limits for a tourist visa. If you are not a U.S citizen, contact The Office of Global Studies immediately. You may need to apply for a visa. Registration The Office of Global Studies will coordinate with the Registrar s Office to register students for all January and Summer Term programs. Students cannot register nor drop their study abroad courses through Kateway. Students will be registered for January term courses in late November. If you intend to take more than 14 credits in the Spring Semester when you return from the January term abroad, you will need to submit a request to Take Excess Credits on the Registrar Office Online Forms. Complete this form prior to your Spring registration date, to be approved to enroll in more than 18 credits. If this is not completed you will receive an error message during your registration. You will not be registered if: your SCU student account is not current (paid to date) you have a hold on your record you have applied for a course for which you have not fulfilled the prerequisites or sought departmental permission, if required. Transcript Notation All students who are approved by the Office of Global Studies to study abroad will have a notation on their transcript including the program name. Non degree students Non degree students (interested participants who are not students or who are enrolled at another institution) may apply for a short term program on a space available basis with the permission of the faculty director and the Office of Global Studies. However, all applicants must register for the course and pay the full program fee. Please notify the Office of Global Studies immediately if you are not a degree seeking student at St. Catherine University. Financial Information Program Costs Students are responsible for reviewing individual program descriptions to know exactly what is and what is not included in the program fee. Comprehensive Program Fee Costs listed are approximate and are based on a minimum number of students per program. Every effort is made to operate the program at the stated price. However, with fewer than the minimum number of participants, costs may be increased or the program cancelled. All program sponsors, including St. Catherine University, reserve the right to adjust fees due to dollar devaluation, fuel surcharges and general inflation. The program fee typically includes round trip transportation from MSP to program location; airport transfers; transportation to most program activities; visas (where required for U.S. citizens); lodging, primarily in double or triple rooms in hotels, pensions, university dorms or family homes (where indicated); meals as indicated; planned excursions and administrative costs. Exclusions Expenses and items not specifically mentioned above are not covered, including but not limited to: passports; baggage fees*; local subway, bus, & tram fares; departure taxes (except U.S.); optional entertainment & excursions; additional food or meals not provided; individual room service charges; travel insurance; porter s fees; laundry & cleaning; telephone & fax; personal tips; transportation to & from point of course departure. *Baggage fees vary by airline carrier. Students should review airline baggage policies before departure via the airline s website. Study Abroad Administrative Fee A $150 abroad study fee is charged for short term programs, guaranteeing the posting of credit, keeping a student s records up to date, and allowing St. Catherine s to make program payment and to bill the student s account. The study abroad administrative fee 4

5 will be forfeited for any student who cancels after the refund deadline or returns early from their program after their account is billed for study abroad. Billing Information For an SCU or UMAIE short term course taught completely abroad, students will be billed by St. Catherine University for the cost of the program, the study abroad administrative fee, plus one credit of tuition. For an SCU short term course with an embedded component abroad, students will be billed four credits of tuition plus the program fee. Payment Schedule Payment is due in full by the first day of class each semester for any amounts not covered by financial aid. A 1% finance fee is assessed on the last University business day of each month on any unpaid balance. January Term Courses Students will be billed after December 1. Charges will appear on the St. Catherine s statement issued in December. St. Kate s Faculty led Summer Courses The students will be billed after May 1. Charges will appear on SCU statement issued in June. Fall/Spring Embedded The tuition cost of the course will be billed to student accounts as usual. The program fee will be charged after December 1 (spring) or July 1 (fall). Cancellation Fees and Refunds Notice of cancellation must be submitted in writing to the Office of Global Studies, 305 Derham Hall, globalstudies@stkate.edu. Until you receive a confirmation from Office of Global Studies that your cancellation has been processed, you will remain registered for the course and responsible for all program charges. Students are subject to the cancellation policy of their program. Check your program materials (Short term Billing Agreement) for specific cancellation and refund dates and policy. Depending on the date of cancellation, the entire program fee may be forfeited. If cancellation occurs within 45 days of departure, there is little chance of a refund. Refunds for students who withdraw after the final cancellation deadline are based upon recoverable costs. No refund is given to students who wish to omit portions of the itinerary. 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. Students who cancel 45 days or less before departure, or who return early before the program ends, forfeit the study abroad administrative fee. General Cancellation Policy Once you accept a place in a study abroad course, the program provider makes travel arrangements for you, including expenses such as airfare and hotel accommodations. We must charge you for any nonrefundable costs that the travel provider incurs for you. For example, once your name is on an airline ticket, you own that plane ticket. Notice of cancellation must be submitted in writing to the Office of Global Studies. Until you receive a confirmation from Office of Global Studies that your cancellation has been processed, you will remain registered for the course and responsible for all program charges. The cancellation policy is as follows: 1. If you withdraw up to 100 days before departure, you will receive a full refund of your deposit. 2. If you withdraw days before departure, you will forfeit the entire $500 deposit ($300 for domestic programs) and any non refundable costs that have been incurred on your behalf. 3. If you withdraw less than 60 days before departure, any refund of the program fee is based on recoverable costs. Students may be billed for the entire program cost, including the $150 administrative fee, even if their SCU student account has not yet been billed at the time of cancellation. 4. If cancellation occurs 30 days or less before departure, there will be no refund. Students are encouraged to explore and considering purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Additional information will be sent with program confirmation and can be found in the Health and Insurance sections of this document. 5

6 Cancellation due to low enrollment Programs that do not meet the minimum enrollment may be cancelled prior to the application deadline. If a program is canceled due to low enrollment, students will receive a full refund of their deposit. Emergency Cancellation of or Evacuation from an SCU program If an emergency arises where St. Catherine University must cancel or evacuate from a program, the Office of Global Studies will consult with the travel and program providers to determine if any refunds will be available. Students may receive a refund for part of or the entire program fee. This refund will be based on recoverable expenses available to the Office of Global Studies. The University ensures a good faith effort to reimburse students in the event the University must evacuate or cancel a program, but cannot guarantee 100% reimbursement. Travel Warning Cancellation Policy St. Catherine University uses U.S. State Department Travel Warnings as a guideline in determining whether to allow students to participate in programs 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 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. January Term You are expected to have sufficient funds to cover all deposits and personal expenses associated with your short term program. Your St. Catherine s student account must be current or you will not be registered for the program. The program fee remaining after you have paid the deposit will be charged to your student account after December 1 and will be on your Spring semester billing statement. Any additional financial aid approved for you will be scheduled for disbursement at the same time as Spring Semester financial aid. Current financial aid recipients are encouraged to follow these steps to participate in a January program: 1. Begin the financial aid application process for the following school year by filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) plus a St. Catherine s Financial Aid Application. Applications are available each January and should be submitted by April 15 for priority consideration for funding for the following academic year. 2. Indicate in item 4 of the Financial Aid Application your enrollment plans for each term, including your anticipated credit load. If you decide to study abroad AFTER 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 Schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor as soon as you receive your SCU Notification of Award for the upcoming school year. Bring the following items with you to your appointment: The name of the program and number of credits for which you will be enrolled for January term and Spring Semester; A list of program costs and an estimate of the expenses you will incur that are not included in the program fee. The Estimate of Expenses worksheet from the Office of Global Studies During the appointment you and the counselor will discuss the cost of the January program and Spring Semester at St. Kate s and any student loan options or other financial aid available to you. The Office of Global Studies will monitor your enrollment throughout January Term to ensure you remain enrolled in the number of credits upon which your funding was determined. Any financial aid received may be reduced, returned, or canceled if you enroll differently than initially reported, or withdraw from a course and receive a refund. Summer 6

7 Summer financial aid eligibility is determined based on your remaining eligibility for the prior school year. You are expected to have sufficient funds to cover all deposits associated with your summer study abroad course. You must enroll for at least 6 credits to receive a student loan for a summer study abroad program. While borrowing additional loans can make short term programs financially possible, it is important to understand the impact of the increased level of indebtedness on your monthly repayment obligations. Do you know what your monthly repayment costs will be from all student loan sources? Your student account must be current or you will not be registered for the program. The program fee remaining after you have paid your deposit will be charged to your student account after May 1 and will be on your Summer session billing statement. Any financial aid approved for you will be scheduled for disbursement at the same time as Summer Session financial aid. Important: If you are accepted into a program, but are not approved for any additional funding, you may have to forfeit your deposit if you decide to withdraw from the course. Be sure you understand the program s cancellation policy. Students seeking financial aid to participate in a summer program are encouraged to follow these steps: Begin the financial aid application process for the following school year by filling out the St. Catherine s Summer Financial Aid Application. This application is available each March. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the current academic year will be used to determine remaining financial aid eligibility. Schedule an appointment with your personal financial aid counselor as soon as you decide to attend a summer program, preferably no later than April 15. Bring the following items with you to your appointment: The name of the program and number of credits for which you will be enrolled for Summer Session; A list of program costs and an estimate of the expenses you will incur that are not included in the program fee; The Estimate of Expenses worksheet from the Office of Global Studies. determine if you have any remaining eligibility for Pell Grant funding from the prior year or if you have eligibility for a Minnesota State Grant for Summer Session. The Office of Global Studies will monitor your enrollment throughout the summer program to ensure you remain enrolled in the number of credits upon which your funding was determined. Any financial aid received may be reduced, returned, or cancelled if you enroll differently than initially reported, or withdraw from a course and receive a refund. Embedded Programs St. Catherine s students who enroll in a course that includes an optional or required short term program during a break or at the end of a term are strongly advised to meet with their personal financial aid counselor BEFORE making any deposit or commitment to the program. The availability of additional funding is extremely limited. Tuition Remission The employee benefit of tuition remission does not apply to Global Studies programs, including: All St. Kate s sponsored semester, short term and summer programs All 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. Insurance Information During the appointment you and the counselor will discuss the cost of the summer program and any student loan options available to you. The counselor will also Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) 7

8 Students participating on international short term programs through St. Catherine University (including UMAIE) will receive coverage through CISI while they are overseas. The cost of this insurance is already included in your program fee. Your CISI insurance 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, available under the Learning Content section of your on line application. Upon acceptance to your program, you will receive more information on your insurance plan, access to the CISI website portal, and your insurance card. Please carry the card with you during your time overseas, and contact CISI in the event of an emergency. To learn more about CISI visit In most instances, students will need to pay for medical services and then submit a claim to CISI for reimbursement. It is important to keep any and all receipts to submit with the claim. 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. Health and Medical Information 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. General Health When preparing for your upcoming travel it is important to address general health issues as well as any specific health concerns unique to you, and your destination. Some programs may require a statement of good health, or a physical before you leave. This can be obtained through a healthcare provider. If you have any chronic health conditions, such as asthma, migraines, seizures, anxiety, depression or other chronic health problems, consult your healthcare provider prior to departure in order to develop a plan of care should you have any problems. Mental Health Abroad Study Abroad is an exciting experience that is also challenging and can be stressful. If you have experienced depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns in the past, we encourage you to check in with your counselor or one of the staff at the Counseling Center to make a plan to ensure your success. If you are on any psychotropic medication (e.g. antidepressants, anti anxiety medication, etc.), remember to follow the advice under Prescription Medication. This is not the time to stop taking your medication! Prescriptions If you take a prescription medication you need to arrange for an adequate supply of medication necessary for your travel duration. This needs to be coordinated through your healthcare provider and your insurance company. Keep all medications in their original containers. Do not mix different medications, prescription or over thecounter, in one bottle. Know both the brand and generic names of your medications. Carry a copy of the original prescription with you. If you are bringing controlled substances such as ADD medications or antidepressants, have your healthcare provider provide you with a letter stating they prescribed the medication and you are under their care. Make sure the medications are legal in your host country. This will help you avoid problems at customs. 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 Tetanus All students are advised to ensure 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 immunization recommendations to all students studying abroad: 8

9 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 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 Center for Disease Control encourages college students in closequartered housing situations or residence halls to consider the immunization 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. 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. SAFETY CONCERNS The Office of Global Studies monitors safety conditions of program destinations and will post important updates to the Global Studies Website and, in some more serious cases, by contacting students directly. 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. 9