Photo by Carrie Rose Menocal United Kingdom Oce of Overseas Studies Study Abroad Handbook Fall 2013 & Year 2013-2014 OFFICE OF OVERSEAS STUDIES STUDY ABROAD HANDBOOK FALL 2013 & YEAR 2013-2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Student and Parent Responsibilities .................................................................4 USC Policies and Procedures Academic ................................................ ..............................................................5 Eligibility Attendance Academic Advising Evidence of Coursework Interning abroad Registration .............................. ..............................................................6 Drop/Add Final T ranscripts and Grades ..................................................................7 Housing ............................................................... ..................................................7 Returning to USC Housing: Sem e ster A way Housing Form Alternative Housing Options University Resources Newspapers Property Management Compani e s Websites Financial ................................................... .............................................................8 Cost Sheets Deposits Billed Items .............................................................................................9 Exceptions Billing Timeline Withdrawal and Refund Policies Disbursement of Aid and Settlement of Account....................................10 “My program starts before the USC semester!” Accessing Student Account (Fee Bill) Credit Electronic Refund Authorization Financial Aid Deadlines ........................................................................11 Tuition Refund Insurance Practical Matters ...................................... ............................................................11 Passports and visas Preparing to be away ................. ........................................................... 12 Packing your bags ..................... ............................................................13 Travel ......................................... ...........................................................14 Communication ......................... ............................................................16 Money and Banking .................... ...........................................................16 Information Resources ............... ...........................................................18 Exploring Cultural Di fferences ................. ............................................................19 Culture Shock ........................... ............................................................20 Re-Entry ................................................................................................23 Cultural Di fferences and Expectations for Women................................24 Information on Race and Ethnic Dif ference Being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender Abroad..........................25 Information for Students with Special Needs...........................................26 Health and Safety Information for USC Study Abroad Programs Health Insurance and International SOS...............................................26 International Student Identity Card (ISIC)............................................28 Pre-Departure Health and Safety Issues...............................................28 Staying Healthy Overseas ...................................................................29 Security and Safety Abroad ...................................................................33 Safety T ips for W omen ..........................................................................35 Sexual Assault Risk Reduction ..............................................................35 Getting the Most out of Being Abroad ............................................................37 APPENDIX A) USC Campus Contacts ....................................................................40 B) Important Dates C) Forms Checklist ................................................................................41 D) Pre-departure Checklist E) Letter from USC Center for Women and Men..................................42 F) Guidelines for evaluating internships for USC credit .........................43 G) US Department of State Tips for Students.......................................44 H) Health Insurance Coverage Table ....... .............................................47 I ) Stages of Culture Shock Graph ........................... .............................47 J ) List of US Embassies and Consulates Overseas.............................47 CON TAC T INFORM ATION Office of Overseas Studies University of Southern California 823 West 34th St., CLH 201 Los Angeles, C A 90089-0128 Telephone: 213.740.3636 Fax: 213.740.2265 General Inquiries: [email protected] Website: dornsife.usc.edu/overseas-studies Staf f Peter Hilton Associate Director Tel: 213.740.2922 Email: [email protected] Trista Beard Brittany Hart Whitney Huss Advisor Advisor Advisor Tel: 213.821.2342 Tel: 213.740.3657 Tel: 213.740.6996 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Jessi Duston Program Assistant Tel: 213.740.3636 Email: [email protected] STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES □ Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, and In study abroad, as in other settings, encourage others to behave in a similar participants can have a major impact on manner. their own well-being, health and safety through the decisions they make before and □ Accept responsibility for their own during the program and by their day-to-day decisions and actions. choices and behaviors. □ Become familiar with the procedures Participants should: for obtaining emergency health and law □ Read and carefully consider all materials enforcement services in the host country. issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, □ Follow the program policies for keeping cultural, and religious conditions in host program staff informed of their whereabouts countries. and well-being. □ Consider their health and other personal □ Look out for their fellow students, and assist circumstances when applying for or them when necessary. If they notice that an- accepting a place in a program. other’s health or safety is at risk, then bring that to the attention of the appropriate prog- □ Make available to the sponsor accurate ram representative or USC representative, information about physical and mental or others, as deemed necessary. Program health issues as necessary to plan for a and USC representatives are limited by law safe and healthy study abroad experience. in what they can tell students’ parents. □ Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES for the program and participate fully in orientations. □ Be aware that studying abroad will be a time of great independence and personal □ Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance growth for your student, in part as a result coverage and abide by any conditions of taking on some important responsibilities. imposed by the carriers. □ Discuss with the student any of his/ □ Inform parents/guardians/families and any her travel plans and activities that may be others who may need to know about their independent of the study abroad program. participation in the study abroad program. Provide them with emergency contact □ Keep in touch with the student. But keep information, and keep them informed on an in mind that local conditions may prevent ongoing basis. the student from immediately responding to you. □ Be sensitive to local customs and cultural norms in the host country and the home- □ Be aware that the student rather than the stay or dorm. program may most appropriately provide some information. □ Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and □ Remember time differences when phoning emergency procedures of the program. your student. Obey the laws of the host country. □ Understand that if you call us about your □ Be aware of local conditions and customs student, Federal Education Rights of Privacy that may present health or safety risks Act of 1974 (FERPA) may prohibit us from when making daily choices and decisions. responding to you directly. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals. 4 USC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES If the actual courses you end up taking ACADEMIC abroad differ from those listed on your Academic Advising Record form, you must Student Conduct notify your academic advisor and copy While you are overseas on a USC-approved Overseas Studies on the correspondence. study abroad program, the University You are responsible for getting written Student Conduct Code and related documentation from your academic advisor university rules and regulations as stated in regarding your ability to receive major or SCampus still apply to you. minor credit for the new courses. Eligibility If you take courses that do not apply to your major or minor, please keep two things Applicants are required to have a 3.0 in mind. First, not every course abroad is cumulative G PA at the time of application eligible for USC credit (e.g. Winemaking, to Overseas Studies and are expected to Outdoor Education, Batik, etc.). If USC remain in good standing prior to departure. does not offer a similar course, there is a Students must also have no serious student chance that it may not be eligible for USC conduct issues to be eligible for study