International Programs Participant Guide 2013-2014
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International Programs Participant Guide 2013-2014 Japan Tokyo The California State University CSU OFFICE OF 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: Danielle Pattee Table of Contents Student Policies and Procedures Work . 20 What About Alternates? . 5 Registering at the U.S. Embassy . .20 How Involved do I Have to Be? . 5 Emergency Number . 20 Communicating With The Office of International Programs (OIP) 5 Academic Arrangements IP Website . 5 Introduction . .21 Deadlines . 5 Academic Planning . 21 Moving Before You Go? . 5 Availability of Courses . .21 Do I Have to Register at my CSU Campus? . 5 Courses Crediting . 22 Nonresident Students . 5 While You Are Abroad . 23 Transfer Students . 6 Academic Reporting . .23 Renewal Students . 6 Assessment and Grading Systems . 24 Students with Dependents . 6 Academic Policies . 24 Payment of CSU Tuition Fees . 6 Frequently Asked Questions . 27 Housing Policies . 6 Withdrawals . 6 Finances Refunds . 7 Financial Planning . .29 Student Conduct . 7 Explanation of Cost Estimate . .29 CSU International Programs Alcohol Policy . 8 The State of California Keeps Cost Down CSU International Programs by Contributing Toward the Program Costs . .30 Statement on Sexual Harassment . 9 Changes to Program Cost . 30 Intercultural Gender Relations . 9 Financial Data Form . 30 Privacy of Student Information . 9 W-9S . 30 Nondiscrimination Policy . .10 Payment . .30 Financial Aid - Procedures . 30 Preparing For Your Year Financial Aid - Disbursement . .31 Ready to Go? . 11 When Can You Expect Your Financial Aid? . .31 Consular Information . 11 OIP Emergency Loans . 31 Passports . 11 Certification of Enrollment . .31 Visa . 11 The Visa Application Process: Your Responsibility . .11 Health and Safety Abroad Non-U.S. Citizens . .12 Health & Medical Issues . 32 Transportation . .12 Health Conditions Overseas . 32 Photographs . .13 Health Insurance . .33 International Student Identity Card (ISIC) . .13 Adjustment & Personal Safety . 33 Pack Light! . .13 Consular Information . 34 Electrical Appliances . .13 Final Note . .34 The Tokyo Program Agreement Arrival . .15 Nondiscrimination Policy . .35 Orientation . 16 Privacy Rights of Students in Education Records . 36 Registering For Classes . .16 STUDENT’S COPY . 37 Housing . .16 PROGRAM COST ESTIMATE . .40 Special Events/Planned Activities . .18 Withdrawals . .41 Computer/Internet Access . .18 Refunds . .41 Telephones . 18 Money Matters & Banking . 18 Ward Wallach Memorial International Scholarship . .18 Books on Japan . 19 Climate . 19 Vacation Travel . .19 2013-2014 Calendar . 19 Mailing Address in Japan . .20 Health Care Facilities . .20 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? online resources: • Being an “alternate” means your on the waiting list. 1. Online Form Packet – Forms and deadlines • Alternates must complete all forms and make all pay- 2. The IP Participant Guide – Program details and poli- ments as if they were regular participants. cies • You will be informed immediately if your status chang- 3. The IP Bulletin – Academic Program es. Deadlines How Involved do I Have to Be? • At the top of your “Online Form Packet ” there is a Check- • Being part of an established program involves commit- list including all deadline dates. Please use it. ment. • It is not necessary to send materials by overnight mail. • At times, you will be expected to behave as a member If you mail materials on the deadline, that’s OK. No need of a group, such as at the on-site orientation and in oth- to call us if you’ll be a day or two late. er group activities. • Generally, you’ll have a great deal of independence, but Moving Before You Go? you must remember that your actions may affect your Anytime there is a change in your address, telephone, cell group or future groups. phone or email between now and departure, send us a Change of Address /Contact Information form. This form Communicating With The Office of is included in your Online Form Packet. International Programs (OIP) Do I Have to Register at my CSU • From now on, all questions about your participation Campus? in the program should be addressed to OIP. No. Do not register for classes at your home CSU campus • When making inquiries, we ask that you, and not your while you are on IP. OIP arranges this for you. parents, contact us. • OIP is located in downtown Long Beach at the CSU Of- Nonresident Students fice of the Chancellor, not on the CSU, Long Beach cam- • Nonresident students are subject to nonresident tu- pus as some mistakenly assume. Our address is: ition fees. CSU International Programs • Participants are selected without regard to national 401 Golden Shore, Sixth Floor origin, citizenship, or residence status. In a competitive Long Beach, California 90802-4210 situation, however, priority is given to applicants who Tel: (562) 951-4790 have not had extensive intercultural experience. For all pre-departure questions: [email protected] • Resident aliens are advised to check with the US For all academic questions: [email protected] immigration officials on the possible effects of resi- dence outside the US. • We will communicate with you by email, so read your email frequently. • Visa students must check with both their home country consular offices and the consular offices of their IP • Inform us if you change your email address. country to determine if any restrictions exist that might IP Website prevent participation. • Students who are, or have been, citizens of their IP All Participants are expected to read the following country may have additional restrictions or require- International Programs Participant Guide 2013-2014 Tokyo, Japan 5 ments placed on their admission by the host govern- after initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify ment and/or university. Ask the consular officials. any listed fees, without notice, until the date when instruc- tion for a particular program has begun. All CSU listed fees Transfer Students should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees. If you will be entering a CSU campus for the term you are going abroad, you must provide OIP with two items: a copy Housing Policies of your letter of admission to the CSU, and an updated tran- script from your former college. These items must be sent • Requests for exceptions to mandatory, program- to OIP no later than June 15. arranged housing must be submitted to OIP in writing by May 1. Renewal Students • Married students and students with dependents may be required to find their own housing. IP is designed as a one-year experience; however, some will want to spend a second year overseas in the same program • Students must fulfill all financial & legal aspects of any and are called “Renewal Students”. This is only possible for housing arrangements made on their own. undergraduate students and only in these IP countries: • If students begin the year in program-arranged hous- Chile, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain ing, they may only move out if: (Granada and Madrid) and Sweden. Renewal applications o The on-site owner/manager concurs and the student will be considered taking into account the following factors: has met the terms of the lease or agreement. • The renewal applicant does not take the place of an o The move will not jeopardize the availability of eligible first-time participant. housing for the following year. • Graduate students are not eligible to renew. o The CSU Resident Director or IP Program Representa- • The overseas center and host university can accommo- tive approves. date the student and assume the additional academic o Any applicable penalty or quittance fees are paid. and administrative responsibilities. o Any refund to the student for prepaid housing • The renewal applicant has the support of the overseas fees will be made only to the extent that the Resident Director or Program Assistant or host univer- housing authorities are willing to release IP from sity representative, home campus administrators, and commitments made on behalf of the student. the academic advisor. • Termination of a host family arrangement organized by • The renewal application is received in OIP by March 1. OIP before the end of the year may be accompanied by an assessment of two or more months’ rent. Students with Dependents • If a student moves out of program-arranged hous- • If you will be accompanied by your spouse, domestic ing for personal convenience, or is ejected as a re- partner and/or children, complete the Information sult of misconduct, IP is not responsible for securing for Students with Accompanying Dependents form, replacement housing. found in your Online Form Packet.