Students at the University of St. Thomas are encouraged to incorporate intercultural and international aspects of education into their academic plans. International Education as-sists students in identifying off-campus oppor-tunities that will serve as an integral part of their academic program at the University of St. Thomas. Undergraduate and graduate pro-grams may be available for January, spring or fall (embedded or break options) or summer terms.
These off-campus programs offer one to six-week intensive learning experiences, directed by a faculty member. These programs are by nature experiential, but they are also designed to be rigorous academic experiences. They are often physically demanding as well, and students should not expect a lot of free time. As well, please remember that you are a guest
in another person’s culture, or home. Re-member to be respectful and civil — these values are to be practiced off-campus as well as in the Twin Cities. When you accept a place in one of these courses, you agree to support the policies and procedures de-veloped to help ensure the success of the program. You also have a responsibility to make the program the best possible group, personal and academic experience. Re-member that there are both freedoms and limitations, involved in community member-ship. Students applying for these programs are asked to sign the Off-Campus Study Application, as well as the Short-term Off-Campus Programs Agreement, stating that they have read, understood and will abide by the information contained in this hand-book. These forms are part of the online application
Students are often confused over program sponsorship. Sponsorship means the organization who will be responsible for the academic content and logistical arrangements. For the 2012-2013 academic year, there are a number of different institutions who are sponsors – depending on the program you choose:
Sponsorship of Short-Term Off-Campus
A long-standing local or-ganization, the Higher Education Consortium on Urban Affairs (HECUA) offers semester, academ-ic-year, and short-term programs.
Short-term programs may be sponsored by other organizations with the approval of International Education. Sponsors will be noted on the specific program literature. The Upper Midwest Association
for Intercultural Education is a consortium of six institutions that share undergraduate stu-dents and faculty: Augustana College (SD), St. Ambrose versity (IA), St. Catherine Uni-versity, Elmhurst College (IL), Gustavus Adolphus College, and the University of St. Thom-as. All travel arrangements are coordinated by Seminars Inter-national, Inc., based in Chicago, and enrollments are coordinat-ed by their Minnesota office. St. Thomas students must apply through International Education in order to participate in UMAIE
St. Thomas sponsors its own graduate and under-graduate programs. St. Thomas faculty are re-sponsible for the academ-ic content of the course, and International Educa-tion manages the enroll-ment and logistical ar-rangements.
UMAIE
UST
HECUA
Philosophy of Short-Term Off-Campus Programs
What You Need
To Know:
Short Term Off-Campus Programs
Undergraduate Policies and Procedures
2012-2013
Policies for Participation 3 Academic Information 4 Responsibilities and
Discipline 5 Enrollment Information 6 Financial Matters 7 Financial Aid 8 Health Information 9 Travel Information 10
Policies for Student Participation in Short-term Programs
"From this, I realized just how important it is to explore
and travel new lands and to discover the infinite opportunities there are in the
world for me." Participation in off-campus study is not a right but an opportunity for which students must have institutional approval. There are established criteria for participation and a process for applying for a program. Furthermore, off-campus study takes careful thought and planning, and the time to do both, especially when students select programs that are not spon-sored or co-sponspon-sored by the University of St. Thomas and with which we have no familiarity. In fact, for such programs, we have a special petition process.
7. A student is expected to conduct him/herself in a responsible and ma-ture manner at all times. This includes being sensitive to members of the group and to the group as a whole, as well as to cultural norms and behav-ior.
8. The Rules of Conduct of the Uni-versity of St. Thomas apply while dents are off-campus. Therefore, stu-dents will be subject to disciplinary sanctions for conduct, that is detri-mental to the good of the University or which discredits the University. 9. Exceptions to requirements for par-ticipation may be granted at the dis-cretion of the staff of International Ed-ucation.
Academic Matters
10. If a student fails to show satisfac-tory interest in the academic aspect of the program, the faculty director will warn the student of possible loss of course credit and will record the stu-dent’s academic failure, if the warning is not heeded.
11. A student is required to attend all classes and scheduled excursions and events.
12. A student is obliged to follow the directions of the faculty director. Trav-eling with a group of people requires organization and coordination. Sched-ules for site visits, movement at air-ports and train stations, and other areas concerning travel arrangements will often necessitate a certain
regi-mentation that the faculty director must impose.
13. Faculty directors have full authori-ty to act on behalf of the Universiauthori-ty of St. Thomas’ administration in any matter concerning the academic pro-gram, travel procedures, student per-sonnel, and financial matters that fall within the limits of the program budg-et. The director may decide that a student must be separated from the program because of violation of rules, or for conduct that could bring the program or the university disrepute. Separation from the program will re-sult in the student being sent home at the student’s expense and loss of academic credit.
Financial Matters
14. Students will be billed by the Uni-versity of St. Thomas for the cost of the program plus an Off-Campus Study Fee.
15. A student’s account in the Busi-ness Office must be current or receive special clearance prior to participating in an International Education pro-gram.
16. Students are subject to the can-cellation policy of their specific pro-gram.
17. Students are responsible for re-viewing individual program descrip-tions to know exactly what is and what is not included in the program fee.
Criteria for Participation
1. A student should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 when applying for a short-term pro-gram. Individual programs may re-quire a higher GPA and prerequisites. 2. Students may not apply for, main-tain an approved application, nor par-ticipate in an International Education program while on academic or con-duct probation. Disciplinary records may be a consideration for approval in off-campus programs.
NOTE: If a student is placed on aca-demic or conduct probation after be-ing approved, the student will be noti-fied that they are no longer eligible to participate in off-campus study and will be subject to the cancellation fee schedule.
3. Students must complete at least one semester at St. Thomas before studying off-campus.
4. A student must complete an online application and receive approval for their program from International Edu-cation.
5. Upon review of a student’s com-plete dossier, International Education reserves the right to require an inter-view with the applicant and the Study Abroad Advisory Committee to deter-mine final approval.
6. Falsification of any information on personal data forms (e.g. listing an inaccurate GPA) may result in dis-qualification of participation.
Thinking
about study
abroad?
Bao Vang
Kaija Wilson
“The opportunity to study abroad is something that every student should take
advantage of. It's really important to learn about and experience another
Requirements for Short-term
Programs
Students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and who are in good disciplinary standing are eligible to study off-campus.
Additional eligibility requirements may differ for each program. Specific re-quirements are listed on individual program descriptions.
Course Credit
Short-term programs usually carry four (4) undergraduate credits unless indicated on the program description. Students approved to study off-campus by International Education are guaranteed elective credit for their course work off-campus in which they receive a passing grade (D- or better). Certain courses have been approved to meet UST undergraduate core, major, minor or allied requirements. If you wish to use any short-term pro-gram to fulfill specific requirements that it has not been pre-approved for, it is your responsibility to obtain the approval signature of the appropriate department chair or designated facul-ty member. Students should use a
Course Approval Record form, availa-ble from International Education. Keep in mind that appropriate aca-demic committees have reviewed courses.
Grading
St. Thomas poli-cies state that all
courses must be assigned a letter grade by their faculty director. If your professor is not from St. Thomas, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the director that he/she requires a letter grade before departure.
Taking Courses S-D-R
St. Thomas does allow students to take courses S-D-R according to St. Thomas policies in the current course catalog. All S-D-R requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before departure.
Program Evaluation
Students are required to complete an online evaluation for their off-campus study experience sent by email at the conclusion of their program.
Auditing Courses
Students may not audit short-term programs.
Registration
International Education will register students for all January and summer Term programs. Students cannot register or drop their off-campus program through Murphy. You will not be registered if:
your UST student account is not current (paid to date)
you have a health hold or other type of hold on your record
you have applied for a course for which you have not fulfilled the prerequisites or sought depart-mental permission, if required For spring/fall embedded programs, students register for the regular se-mester course via Murphy.
Transcript Notation
All students who are approved by In-ternational Education to study off-campus will have a notation on their transcript including the program name, and country(ies) in which their coursework was completed.
Non-degree students
Non-degree students (interested par-ticipants 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 staff of International Education. Please notify International Education immediately if you are not a degree-seeking student at the University of St. Thomas.
Participants’ family members and friends are not allowed to accompany undergraduate short-term programs.
Need for Academic or
Physical Accommodation
Off-Campus
Students in need of academic accom-modation due to a disability must have formally registered with the UST Enhancement Program-Disability Ser-vices in order to request accommoda-tion off-campus. Note the following process for making such requests when going off-campus:
1. Student has the UST Enhance-ment Program formally docuEnhance-ment the need for accommodation (students must present documen-tation of their disability to the En-hancement Program before the office can verify need for accom-modation off-campus).
2. Student requests that the director of the UST Enhancement Pro-gram submit a letter to Interna-tional Education outlining the spe-cific accommodation(s) request-ed.
3. If the student is participating in a non-UST program, International Education forwards the request on to the program sponsor or or-ganization abroad.
Student 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. Kim Schumann is the Director of the Enhancement Program – Disability Services 651-962-6315,
good judgment if consuming alcohol at private homes or other accommo-dations.
7. Students are responsible for know-ing U.S. customs laws regardknow-ing the possession of alcohol upon returning to the U.S. (e.g., you must be 21 years old to legally bring alcohol into the U.S. from abroad).
Disciplinary Rights and
Pro-cedures for Study Abroad
Programs: Academic and
Non-Academic
In all study abroad and U.S.-based off-campus courses and programs, students are subject to the University of St. Thomas Rules of Conduct as stated in the Student Policy Book. In these cases the faculty or staff person who is in charge of supervising the off-campus program will have the full authority of the Dean of Students (for non-academic violations) and the ap-propriate academic dean (for aca-demic violations) to adjudicate disci-plinary violations of the Rules of Con-duct. When feasible, the faculty or staff person in charge should make every effort to informally resolve prob-lems that arise. However, if a formal process is required, the following pro-cedures for adjudicating violations of the Rules of Conduct will be followed. (The internal disciplinary processes and procedures described in the Stu-dent Policy Book do not apply to an off-campus program).
1. The staff or faculty member who administers the program onsite will notify students of alleged violations in writing.
2. A meeting will be held between the student accused and the faculty or staff member after the student re-ceives the violation letter to determine
Community Expectations
The University of St. Thomas is a pri-vate, comprehensive, regional Catho-lic university and is a community of scholars. As such, it expects all mem-bers of its community, regardless of age, to act reasonably, responsibly, maturely and appropriately at all times both on and off campus. Students are subject to disciplinary sanctions for conduct which occurs on or off cam-pus when that conduct is detrimental or disruptive to the purposes and/or goals of the university. Violations of academic policies cited in the Univer-sity Catalog or violation of policies cited in this Policy Book may result in disciplinary sanctions as outlined within this Policy Book.
Statement on Responsible
Use of Alcohol Off-Campus
1. A student abides by the laws of the country in which they are studying. 2. A student does not miss any scheduled event due to the effects of alcohol consumption.
3. A student does not engage in inap-propriate behavior toward other indi-viduals, or destructive behavior to-ward property that is the result of al-cohol consumption.
4. A student does not engage in be-havior that causes embarrassment to the other members of the group, the faculty members or the hosts as a result of alcohol consumption. 5. Students in a group do not facili-tate, encourage or ignore a fellow stu-dent who is abusing alcohol. Stustu-dents are encouraged to discuss issues re-lated to alcohol abuse by other mem-bers of their group with the faculty or program director.
6. Students are encouraged to use
if the student violated the Rules of Conduct.
3. After the meeting, the faculty or staff member will determine whether or not the Rules of Conduct have been violated and, in consultation with the International Education staff and the Dean of Students or the appropri-ate academic dean, determine sanc-tions, if applicable.
4. The student will receive a decision letter stating whether it has been de-termined that the student violated the Rules of Conduct and the appropriate sanction, if any. A copy of the deci-sion letter will be forwarded to the appropriate academic dean for inclu-sion in the student's disciplinary file. 5. There is no appeal of discipline occurring in connection with a study abroad program. Faculty or staff in charge of the administration of the program have full authority for impos-ing sanctions, includimpos-ing sendimpos-ing the student home prior to the completion of the class or program.
6. In extreme cases, the faculty or staff member who oversees the class or program may, in consultation with the International Education staff and the Dean of Students or appropriate academic dean, immediately suspend a student from the program and send the student home at the student's ex-pense. The decision of the faculty or staff member is final. Due to the unique nature of an off-campus pro-gram, disciplinary decisions made by faculty or staff during study abroad programs are not subject to review by the Dean of Students. However, noth-ing precludes the dean from taknoth-ing further disciplinary action if circum-stances warrant.
Student Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures
enrollment, students may be placed on a wait list. When a cancellation occurs, the program sponsor notifies students of acceptance immediately. If no can-cellations occur by the final deadline, students will be contacted and deposit refunded. There will be no monetary refund for the required passport/ID photos.
Confirmation of Program
Status
Programs are confirmed as soon as the minimum number of students for each individual program is reached. Decisions as to whether programs with low enrollment will be offered will be made two weeks before final applica-tion deadline.
Transferring Between
Programs
Students enrolled in a UMAIE spon-sored program may transfer between UMAIE programs, on a space available basis, until the application deadline. Students may transfer between UMAIE and UST programs on a case-by-case basis, with permission of the Interna-tional Education staff. In order to change programs the student must e-mail studyabroad@stthomas.edu and request their application be transferred to the desired program. Students en-rolled in programs that require a nonre-fundable deposit will lose their deposit if they transfer to another program.
Applying for More Than One
Program
Students may apply for more than one program but no more than two. Howev-er, students may not apply for more than one UMAIE-sponsored program. When applying for more than one pro-gram, two applications must be submit-ted (deposits are exceptions).
If you are accepted into two January Term programs at the priority deadline, students must choose a program and inform the IEC in writing by June 15. After the priority deadline, students will have two weeks from the date of ac-ceptance into the second program to
Application Dates
J-term 2013: Mar 26-Oct 3, 2012*
Summer 2013: Nov. 30,
2012-March 8, 2013
*
*Individual program deadlines may vary. See the application checklist for priority deadlines.
How to Apply
All students must apply online at stthomas.edu/studyabroad. Login username and password are identical to Murphy. Select ‘Apply for a Pro-gram’ to search for a program and begin an application.
Anapplication is considered binding and all cancellations must be submit-ted by e-mailing
studyabroad@stthomas.edu from the student’s UST e-mail account. The date that such notification is received is considered the cancellation date.
Deposit
A $500 deposit is required to hold a place in a program and should be submitted on the date of application. The deposit is to be made to the Uni-versity of St. Thomas and submitted to the Business Office in person or online. If a student is not accepted into a program, a deposit refund will be credited to their account.
Once Accepted
Students will receive notification that an application decision (accepted, waitlisted, denied) has been made via their UST email account. They will then login to their online application to review the decision and, if accepted, approval details. Students will receive final paperwork the semester before departure.
Wait-Listed Students
If a program reaches its maximum
inform the IEC of their program choice. Failure to abide by these time limits could result in cancellation from both programs.
FERPA and Off-Campus
Study
The Family Education Rights and Pri-vacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as
amended, affords students the right to authorize the release of education information to third parties. Interna-tional Education requests that stu-dents authorize the release of educa-tion informaeduca-tion to third parties by signing the Off-Campus Study Appli-cation. Students sign to the following statement and direct questions to In-ternational Education: I understand that the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, affords students the right to authorize the release of education information to third parties. I also un-derstand that studying off-campus may involve circumstances that re-quire the University of St. Thomas to release certain information to third parties, but for which it may be diffi-cult to obtain my prior written permis-sion. For these reasons, I herewith authorize university officials to release my education information to parties who, in their judgment, have an inter-est in the off-campus program con-templated by this document provided that those officials, in their judgment, are acting in my interests as well. This authorization is valid from the time I submit this signed document to Inter-national Education through a period of one semester after my program ends.
Comprehensive Program Fee
Costs listed are approximate and are based on a mini-mum number of students per program. Every effort is made to operate the program at the stated price. Howev-er, with fewer than the minimum number of participants, costs may be increased or the program cancelled. All pro-gram sponsors, including the University of St. Thomas, reserve the right to adjust fees due to dollar devaluation, fuel surcharges and general inflation.
The program fee includes tuition, round-trip transportation from MSP to program location; airport transfers; transpor-tation to most program activities; visas (where required for U.S. citizens); CISI insurance for international programs (see page 8); meals as indicated; planned excursions, administrative costs; lodging, primarily in triple rooms in hotels, pensions, university dorms or family homes (where indicated); Roommate assignments are of the same gen-der.
Exclusions
Expenses and items not specifically mentioned herein are not covered, including but not limited to; passports; local subway, bus and tram fares; departure taxes (except U.S.); optional entertainment & excursions; room service charges; porter’s fees; laundry and cleaning; telephone & fax; personal tips; transportation to and from point of course departure.
Off-Campus Study Fee
A $250 off-campus study fee is charged for short-term programs, guaranteeing the posting of credit, keeping a student’s records up-to-date, and allowing St. Thomas to make program payment and to bill the student’s account. All students who study off-campus through a UMAIE pro-gram in either January or May/June will be charged both the Off-Campus Study Fee ($250) and the UMAIE Fee ($200). The Off-Campus Study fee will be forfeited for any student who cancels or returns early from their program
after their account is billed for off-campus study.
Payment Schedule
January Term
Students will be billed in December. Charges will appear on the St. Thom-as eBilling statement issued in December. The balance of payment is due in January.
Summer Term
Students will be billed in May. Charges will ap-pear on UST eBilling
statement issued in May. The balance of payment is due in June.
Spring/Fall Embedded
The tuition cost of the course will be billed to student ac-counts as usual. The program fee will be charged in Febru-ary (spring) or October (fall).
Wait-Listed Students
Please reference the Wait-Listed Students section on page 5 of this document.
Cancellation Fees and Refunds
January Term
There will be no cancellation fee through September 17, 2012.
From September 18 — November 1, the $500 depos-it is wdepos-ithheld.
After November 1, students will lose the full deposit and there is a possible loss of entire program fee.*
Summer Term
Through March 15, 2013, no cancellation fee.
March 15—29, loss of $500 deposit
After March 29, no deposit refund and possible loss of entire program fee*
Spring Embedded
There will be no cancellation fee until February 1, 2013.
After February 1, the deposit and program fee are non-refundable.
*A refund for students who withdraw after the final cancella-tion deadline is based upon recoverable costs. 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. There is no monetary re-fund for passport/ID photos.
No refund is given to students who wish to omit portions of the itinerary.
Cancellations due to medical emergencies or U.S. govern-ment shut down (such as passport offices) do not guaran-tee a full refund, and in some cases, may involve no refund.
How to Cancel
All cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Interna-tional Education Center by e-mailing
studyabroad@stthomas.edu from the student’s UST e-mail account.
Studying off-campus can be very ex-citing. You are embarking on a life-changing experience and making an investment in your future.
Like any investment, studying off-campus requires careful planning, diligent management, creativity and perseverance. The rewards will last you a lifetime.
January Term/Summer
Ses-sion Financial Aid Eligibility:
Financial aid at St. Thomas is typically offered for the academic year with half of the funds awarded for the fall semes-ter and the other half awarded for the spring semester. January Term cours-es are counted as part of the spring semester enrollment period for financial aid funding. Most students use their full eligibility for financial aid in the school year leaving little eligibility for summer session.
A student is expected to use personal funds to make any required study abroad deposits for January Term and/or summer session and have suffi-cient funds to cover all personal ex-penses associated with the program. Obtain the cost information for your pro-gram on the study abroad website: studyabroad.stthomas.edu.
To apply for January Term or summer financial aid, submit either a January Term or summer financial aid applica-tion to the financial aid office. The Jan-uary Term application is available to download from the financial aid office website in early November; the summer application is available to download in early April.
Most financial aid funds require that you enroll as a full-time student each se-mester to receive the aid funds offered. Provided you remain enrolled in your January Term course as of the 10th day of spring semester classes, your com-bined registration for January Term and spring semester will be used to deter-mine your spring semester financial aid eligibility. Your financial aid funds may be reduced, returned or cancelled if you
withdraw or do not enroll in the number of credits that your award was based upon.
In the summer, most financial aid funds require that you enroll as at least a half-time student to qualify. Your combined registration for all summer sessions will be used to determine your summer fi-nancial aid eligibility.
Supplemental Loans
A student may request consideration for supplemental educational loan funds to assist with the additional expenses as-sociated with the short-term program expenses. Loan terms, eligibility re-quirements and approval are deter-mined by the lender selected. Visit the undergraduate financial aid website for private and Federal Parent Loan op-tions.
Loan funds received prior to the posting of any off-campus study charges will first be applied to current charges. If your student account is paid in full, the Business Office will issue a credit bal-ance refund. You may request that the Business Office hold loan proceeds on your student account to be applied to your future off-campus charges.
For January Term: A student is en-couraged to submit a supplemental loan application in the summer requesting the total amount desired for the upcom-ing school year, includupcom-ing your short-term expenses. One half of the loan funds will be disbursed to your student account following the 10th day of each semester provided you continue to meet all eligibility criteria at the time of each disbursement. You may apply for a supplemental loan one semester at a time if you prefer to budget on a term-by- term basis.
For Summer session: A student is encouraged to submit any supplemental loan application before May 1. Loan funds are disbursed in installments that correspond with the last day to officially register for the classes for each ses-sion(s) you will attend provided you con-tinue to meet all eligibility criteria at the time of each disbursement.
Study Abroad Scholarships
University-sponsored and private study abroad scholarship opportunities are available. Visit the scholarship section of the Study Abroad website for infor-mation, eligibility criteria, application materials and deadlines. Select “Costs & Financial Aid” at
studyabroad.stthomas.edu.
Recipients of the City of Minneapolis Scholarship, Dease Scholarship, Full-tuition Science, Math and Engineering Scholarship, Three Sixty Journalism Scholarship and some ROTC ships may request to use their scholar-ship for an off-campus study opportuni-ty. As soon as your registration is com-plete, submit a January term or summer financial aid application to the financial aid office.
Spring/Fall Embedded
Pro-grams
Funding for any course that includes an optional or required short-term program during a break is extremely limited. If you are concerned about how you will finance this opportunity, meet with your personal financial aid counselor before making any deposit or commitment to the program.
Tuition Remission
The employee benefit of tuition remis-sion does not apply to any January or summer session off-campus program. For semester-embedded short-term programs, tuition remission is only ap-plicable to the on-campus portion of tuition and you pay all additional pro-gram fees.
If you attend St. Thomas on tuition re-mission because you have a parent who is employed at one of the Associ-ated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) or at one of the Catholic Col-lege Cooperative Tuition Exchange (CCCTE) schools, and you study over-seas on a program sponsored by your parent’s ACTC or CCCTE institution, you may be able to make arrangements directly with the sponsoring institution to receive tuition remission. The granting of tuition remission is up to the sponsor-ing institution.
a plan of care should you have any problems. If you re-quire a medical alert bracelet wear it during your travels. If you have a chronic disease, become familiar with the words that describe it in your host country’s language. If you have a chronic health condition, identify a health care facility and provider within your host country in case you should need to seek medical care. See your dentist prior to departure.
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 differ-ent medications, prescription or over-the-counter, 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. Reference the on-line Drug Translation Tool on the CISI portal for additional assistance.
Immunizations
Make sure you are up to date on your routine US vac-cinations. This includes MMR, Tetanus, and Varicel-la vaccines (if you have not had chicken pox).
St. Thomas makes the fol-lowing recommendations
to all students studying abroad:
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver spread via con-taminated food and water. The Hepatitis A vaccine is a series of two vaccines administered over six to twelve months.
Hepatitis B is a virus spread through body fluids such as saliva and blood and can lead to significant liver failure. It is a series of three vaccines administered over one year.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord and brain. It is a serious and sometimes fatal infection. It is recommended that all students be immun-ized for meningitis.
Seasonal influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infec-tion, spread via respiratory secretions. It can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes death.
H1N1 Novel Influenza (originally swine flu) is a new form of influenza and is a contagious viral respiratory infection, spread via respiratory secretions. It can cause mild to se-vere illness and sometimes death.
Proof of Sufficient Insurance
Students must verify that they have sufficient insurance coverage while off-campus on their Short-term Off-Campus Programs Agreement and Health Questionnaire.
Insurance Coverage Off-Campus
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 his/her insurance coverage is valid and suffi-cient while off-campus. US-based program participants should use their US health insurance provider for any medi-cal needs while on the program.
Cultural Insurance Services International
(CISI)
Students participating on international short-term programs through St. Thomas will receive coverage through CISI while they are overseas. Your CISI insurance will include*: comprehensive accident/sickness, medical evacuation, re-patriation, 24-7-365 worldwide assistance, a comprehen-sive security evacuation plan, and trip cancellation.
* See the CISI brochure for more detailed information and policy exclusions and maximums.
Upon acceptance you will receive more information on your insurance plan, access to the CISI portal, and your insur-ance card. Please print this card to carry it on you during your time overseas, and contact CISI in the event of an emergency. To learn more about CISI visit
www.culturalinsurance.com.
Note: The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is still available for individual purchase in the International Educa-tion Center. If interested, please see our website to apply.
Mental Health Off-Campus
Studying off-campus 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 Counseling and Psychological Services 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 Pre-scription Medication. This is not the time to stop taking your medication!
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 condi-tions, such as asthma, migraines, seizures, anxiety, de-pression or other chronic health problems, be proactive and consult your healthcare provider prior to departure. Develop
Destination-Specific Health Concerns
Be familiar with health issues in your host country and any country you plan on making a side trip to. Areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have unique health concerns such as Typhoid, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, and others, which require appropriate travel prepa-ration to avoid illness. Appropriate vaccines and medica-tions beyond the above listed routine recommendamedica-tions need to be researched. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) details information regarding immunizations, health risks, and disease outbreaks specific to a destination. A formal travel consultation is recommended for such desti-nations for optimal travel preparation, ideally six or more weeks prior to departure.
Travel Preparation Resources
Consult with your primary healthcare provider regarding your individual health concerns and how to manage any chronic health issues you may have during travel. Confirm your routine vaccines are up to date.
The CDC provides information on both health concerns and vaccine recommendations within a country. The World Health Organization provides additional information on cur-rent heath conditions specific to a country.
The St Thomas Travel Clinic (651-962-6570) provides travel health education, required/recommended vaccines, and prescriptions for recommended medications specific to your destination.
Flight Deviations
Program Fees are based on group arrangements. Thus, a service charge plus any difference in fare will be levied for all flight deviations (with the exception of connecting do-mestic flights to/from MSP). Requests must be in writing.
Passports
The International Education Center provides students with information on where to apply for a passport. Students are responsible for obtaining a passport on their own and ap-plying in sufficient time so as to not jeopardize their ability to travel as planned. Passports must be valid at least six (6) months beyond your return date. Information is available at www.stthomas.edu/studyabroad.
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.
Some short-term programs require a visa. See your pro-gram’s individual course description for details or visit the U.S. Dept. of State website.
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 an application and at least one passport photo.
Web Resources
If want to know more about your destination(s), check out the following web sites.
Travel advisories or warnings: travel.state.gov Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/travel World Health Organization: www.who.int/country/en/ Lonely Planet: www.lonelyplanet.com
If you are not a U.S citizen, contact International Education immediately. Your travel destination may
require that you apply for a travel visa.
Travel Information
Attendance at your respective program orientation is required.
J-term Orientation (UST and UMAIE) will be held in November. Comprehensive UMAIE orientations will be held online during the fall semester.
Summer Orientation will be held about one month prior to departure.
All students will be notified of orientation schedule, dates and locations in the semester prior to departure.
