South Africa
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International Programs Participant Guide 2014 South Africa Office International Programs 401 Golden Shore, Sixth Floor Long Beach, California 90802-4210 Tele: (562) 951-4790 Fax: (562) 951-4983 www.calstate.edu/ip This Participant Guide is designed to assist you with your preparation for your year abroad. We encourage you to share this information with your family and friends so that they can share in your experience. The Guide is revised annually and we welcome your suggestions. Leo Van Cleve, Director Editor: Dana Roson Production Staff: Danielle Pattee Table of Contents Student Policies and Procedures Mailing Address in South Africa . 18 Health Matters . 19 What About Alternates? . 5 South African Health Insurance . 19 How Involved Do I Have to Be? . 5 Work . 19 Communicating With The Office of International Programs (OIP) . 5 Registering at the US Embassy . 19 IP Website . 5 Emergency Numbers . 19 Deadlines . 5 Moving Before You Go? . 5 Academic Arrangements Do I Have to Register at my CSU Campus? . 5 Introduction . 20 Nonresident Students . 6 Academic Planning . 20 Transfer Students . 6 Availability of Courses . 20 Payment of CSU Tuition Fees . 6 Courses Crediting . 21 Housing Policies . 6 While You Are Abroad . 22 Withdrawals . 6 Academic Reporting . 22 Refunds . 7 Assessment and Grading Systems . 23 Renewal Students . 7 Academic Policies . 23 Students with Dependents . 7 Frequently Asked Questions . 26 Student Conduct . 7 Finances CSU International Programs Alcohol Policy . 9 Financial Planning . 28 CSU International Programs Explanation of Cost Estimate . 28 Statement on Sexual Harassment . 9 The State of California Keeps Cost Down by Intercultural Gender Relations . 9 Contributing Toward the Program Costs . 28 Privacy of Student Information . 10 Changes to Program Cost . 29 Nondiscrimination Policy . 10 Financial Data Form . 29 Preparing For Your Year W-9S . 29 Ready to Go? . 11 Payment . 29 Consular Information . 11 Financial Aid - Procedures . 29 Passport . 11 Financial Aid - Disbursement . 30 Visitor’s Study Permit (Visa) . 11 When Can You Expect Your Financial Aid? . 30 The Study Permit (Visa) Application Process: Your Responsibility 12 OIP Emergency Loans . 30 Non-US Citizens . 12 Certification of Enrollment . 30 Transportation . 12 Health and Safety Abroad Photographs . 13 Health & Medical Issues . 31 International Student Identity Card (ISIC) . 13 Health Conditions Overseas . 31 Pack Light! . 13 Health Insurance . 32 The South Africa Program Adjustment & Personal Safety . 32 University Application . 15 Consular Information . 33 Registering for Classes . 15 Final Note . 33 Arrival & Orientation . 15 Agreement Housing . 16 Nondiscrimination Policy . 34 Food . 16 Privacy Rights of Students in Education Records . 35 Computer/Internet Access . 16 STUDENT’S COPY . 36 Telephones . 16 PROGRAM COST ESTIMATE . 39 Money Matters & Banking . 16 Withdrawals . 40 Introduction to South Africa: Guides, Documentaries, Refunds . 40 Films, and Books . 16 Climate . 18 Local Transportation . 18 Vacation Travel . 18 2014 Calendar . 18 The Participant Guide • Your Participant Guide provides information about your study abroad program, specifically about: o Important Country-Specific information o Academic Arrangements o Finances/ Program Costs o Health & Safety • Participation in IP requires considerable commitment on your part. We expect you to read your Participant Guide as it was written to assist you as you prepare to study abroad. The CSU International Programs: An Overview • IP is the most affordable study abroad option for CSU students. o IP is supported by State funds, so participants pay the same CSU tuition fees had they remained at their home CSU campuses. • All academic credit earned abroad counts as CSU resident credit. • Participants gain firsthand knowledge and understanding of other areas of the world through a year of academic study. • Staff are available at all locations abroad to provide orientation and to assist students on a daily basis. Student Policies and Procedures What About Alternates? Resident Director or on-site staff first. If necessary, e-mail OIP at the addresses listed above. We can usually resolve • Being an “alternate” means you’re on the waiting list. matters quickly, as we are aware of your special status as • Alternates must complete all forms and make all pay- an IP student. ments as if they were regular participants. • You will be informed immediately if your status changes. IP Website All Participants are expected to read the following How Involved Do I Have to Be? online resources: • Being part of an established program involves commit- 1. Online Form Packet – Includes forms and important ment, and there are rules that you must obey. deadlines. • At times, you will be expected to behave as a member of 2. The IP Participant Guide – Outlines policies and a group, such as at the on-site orientation and in other procedures and gives advice on personal preparation. group activities. 3. The IP Bulletin – Describes the academic program and • Generally, you’ll have a great deal of independence, but provides internet links to course descriptions. You will you must remember that your actions may affect the need this information in order to complete your group or future groups. It is important to develop a sense Academic Advisement Form. of responsibility toward the CSU IP. Deadlines Communicating With The Office of • At the top of your “Online Form Packet” there is a Checklist International Programs (OIP) including all deadline dates. Please use it. • From now on, all questions about your participation • It is not necessary to send materials by overnight mail. in the program should be addressed to OIP. If you mail materials on the deadline, that’s OK. • When making inquiries, we ask that you, and not your parents, contact us. Moving Before You Go? • OIP is located in downtown Long Beach at the CSU Office • It is very important that we always have your current of the Chancellor, not on the CSU, Long Beach campus as address/telephone. some mistakenly assume. Our address is: • Anytime there is a change in your address, telephone, cell CSU International Programs phone or e-mail address between now and departure, 401 Golden Shore, Sixth Floor please send us a Change of Address /Contact Information Long Beach, California 90802-4210 form. Tel: (562) 951-4790 • This form is included in your Online Form Packet. For all pre-departure questions: [email protected] For all academic questions: [email protected] Do I Have to Register at my CSU For all student financial questions: [email protected] Campus? • We will communicate with you by e-mail, so read your • No. Do not register for classes at your home CSU cam- e-mail frequently. pus while you are studying abroad. • Inform us if you change your e-mail address. • OIP arranges for you to be concurrently enrolled over- seas and at your home CSU campus. • Issues at your home CSU campus can sometimes arise while you are overseas,. If this happens, talk to the CSU • Once you return, registration will once again be your International Programs Participant Guide 2014 South Africa 5 responsibility. housing arrangements made on their own. • If students begin the year in program-arranged hous- Nonresident Students ing, they may only move out if: • Nonresident students are subject to nonresident tu- o The on-site owner/manager concurs and the student ition fees. has met the terms of the lease or agreement. • Participants are selected without regard to national o The move will not jeopardize the availability of origin, citizenship, or residence status. In a competitive housing for the following year. situation, however, priority is given to applicants who o The CSU Resident Director or IP Program Representa- have not had extensive intercultural experience. tive approves. • Resident aliens are advised to check with the US o Any applicable penalty or quittance fees are paid. immigration officials on the possible effects of resi- dence outside the US. o Any refund to the student for prepaid housing fees will be made only to the extent that the • Visa students must check with both their home country housing authorities are willing to release IP from consular offices and the consular offices of their IP commitments made on behalf of the student. country to determine if any restrictions exist that might prevent participation. • Termination of a host family arrangement organized by OIP before the end of the year may be accompanied by • Students who are, or have been, citizens of their IP an assessment of two months’ rent. country may have additional restrictions or require- ments placed on their admission by the host govern- • If a student moves out of program-arranged housing ment and/or university. for personal convenience, or is ejected as a result of misconduct, IP will not stand responsible for securing Transfer Students replacement housing. • The terms of lawful leases, signed by students, and as If you are a transfer student (entering a CSU campus for the interpreted by local officials under the terms of host term you are going abroad), you must provide OIP with two country law, take precedence over IP’s housing policies. items: a copy of your letter of admission to the CSU, and an Students are subject to the full range of civil penalties updated transcript from your former college. These items for abuse of property or evasion of contractual obliga- must be sent to OIP no later than October 15 tions abroad in the same way they are subject to such provisions at home. Where legitimate debts arise from Payment of CSU Tuition Fees accepting accommodations owned or managed by the • Do not pay tuition fees to your home CSU campus. host universities, or other public entities associated These are included in your IP Program Costs. with these universities, such debts may become debts owed to the Board of Trustees of The California State • You will make IP program payments to OIP in Long University and to the State of California.