You are about to embark on a transformative experience. Before
you go, you will need to prepare carefully. This online orientation
is designed to help you prepare yourself for your year of study
abroad. We encourage you to read each topic carefully. Refer to
your IP Participant Guide for more information. Slide 2 If you are
applying for a passport for the first time, you must apply in
person. More information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_ 1738.html.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_ 1738.html You must have
a passport to leave from and return to the United States. Slide 3 A
visa is an immigration document that gives you permission to enter
a country for a specific purpose and for a specified period of
time. Refer to your IP Participant Guide for specific information
about the visa application procedures for your host country. Slide
4 The visa application process is entirely your responsibility.
Applying for and obtaining a visa can be a complex process. Your
visa application will receive close scrutiny and processing takes
time. The Office of International Programs does not set the rules
or control the visa application process. This application is
between you and a foreign government. The California State
University cannot act on your behalf or intervene with the foreign
government and will not be able to speed up processing or alter the
rules. Slide 5 Visas can take a long time to process; you are
advised not to travel internationally prior to your IP program
start date. Work carefully with your travel agent to ensure that
your airline ticket is changeable, just in case you do not have
your visa and passport back when expected. With careful
preparation, CSU IP students are generally issued visas in time to
participate in their study abroad programs. In some cases there may
be delays; in very rare cases, students have been denied visas.
Follow all instructions carefully. Consult your host countrys
Consular website for updates. Slide 6 You are responsible for
making your own transportation arrangements to your host university
abroad. Slide 7 There are group flights to five countries: China,
France (Aix-en-Provence, not Paris), Ghana, Japan and Spain.
Information is included in the online packet students receive from
OIP. It is also available at: www.froschstudenttravel.com
www.froschstudenttravel.com Participation in the group flight is
voluntary for students going to Aix-en-Provence, Japan, Granada and
Madrid. Participation in the group flight is mandatory for students
going to China, Ghana and Jan, Spain. Slide 8 If you choose to
participate in the Group Flight, contact Frosch Student Travel,
submit your reservation form and pay for your flight yourself:
Frosch Student Travel http://www.froschstudenttravel.com Click on
Group Travel in the top right-hand corner (log in with csip (all
lowercase) 1-800-467-5032 Slide 9 If your IP program does not offer
a group flight, you are responsible for making your own flight
arrangements. Past IP students have used the following Student
Travel Agency: Frosch Student Travel www.froschstudenttravel.com
Slide 10 The Resident Director or a host university representative
will meet the group flights at the airport and provide ground
transportation, except for Tsukuba students who take a train
directly to campus. Students who travel independently must arrange
their own ground transportation. Read your IP Participant Guide for
more information. Some host institutions offer an airport pick-up
service. If your host university offers such service, they will
tell you about it in your letter of admission. Slide 11 In general,
you will find that what students wear in California is acceptable
overseas, taking into account the local climate and culture.
Airlines will charge extra for large items, (bicycles, skis). There
is a weight limit for luggage. Contact your airline for details.
The best advice is: Take half as much as you think youll need. Take
a carry-on to include what you might need for a couple of days in
case your luggage is delayed. You must be able to carry your own
luggage. Slide 12 The USA operates on 110 volts. Most of the rest
of the world operates on 220 volts. This means that, when you plug
an American appliance into a foreign outlet, the result is a
damaged appliance. In order to use your electrical appliances in
most foreign countries, you will need to use converters and
adapters. Note: Most modern technological devices, such as laptops
and cell phone chargers, have dual voltage, so you most likely will
not need a converter for such things. You may only need the adapter
to plug it into the wall. World Electric Guide:
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm Slide 13 The CSU International
Programs is a study abroad program. IP is not travel abroad, it is
study abroad. All coursework taken abroad will appear as regular
CSU resident credit on your CSU transcript. Grades earned on IP
will be calculated in your CSU cumulative GPA. Slide 14 While
studying abroad as an IP participant: You are concurrently enrolled
at your home CSU campus and your host university. You do not
register for any classes at your home CSU campus while away. CSU
home campus registration is handled by OIP. You cannot enroll in
on-line courses offered by any CSU campus while an IP participant.
Slide 15 By now, you should be familiar with the IP Bulletin, the
IP catalog, which provides a listing of the kinds of courses
offered at our program sites overseas. You can view the IP Bulletin
for your country on the IP website under Admitted Students.
www.calstate.edu/ip Slide 16 Since there are some academic
formalities that may be difficult to take care of once you are
overseas, you should take care of the following things before you
go: Take all English & Mathematics Proficiency Exams.
Change/Add a major or minor. File a petition for course
substitutions or waivers. Clear up any incomplete grades. Slide 17
Prior to departure, confer with your home CSU campus advisors
regarding your academic plans for the year abroad and agree on how
you will communicate during the year. During the year, the Resident
Director, the IP Onsite Program Assistant or the host university
staff will assist you with course registration. Slide 18 The CSU
academic advisors role is to: Suggest appropriate courses that you
can take abroad. Determine how those courses will be credited
towards your degree. Guide you through the petitioning (course
substitution) process at your campus. OIPs role is to: Report all
courses attempted to your home CSU campus. Slide 19 You can access
the Academic Advisement Form in the Online Forms Packet. Complete
the Academic Advisement Form in consultation with your home campus
advisor(s). Submit the Academic Advisement Form to OIP and keep a
copy for your records. This form will be used by OIP at the end of
your year abroad to communicate the academic credit completed
abroad to your home CSU campus. Slide 20 Completion of the Academic
Advisement form does not replace petitions (or course substitution
requests) that might be required by your home campus in order to
have courses taken abroad meet specific course requirements for
your degree. Slide 21 It is your responsibility to collect course
information including syllabi and other materials from your
instructors at your host university abroad. Upon return, you may
need to show these to your home CSU campus advisors to secure CSU
credit. Even with prior approval, you are strongly advised to keep
your course syllabi, term papers, exams and any other pertinent
materials from the courses you complete overseas, until you
graduate. Slide 22 Undergraduate students are required to carry a
minimum course load equivalent of 15 semester units per term and a
total of 30 semester units for the academic year, plus the
Preparatory Language Program (PLP), where applicable. This
requirement applies to all undergraduate students regardless of the
number of units they need to graduate or the enrollment requirement
of the host university if it differs from the IP requirement.
Graduate students must complete the Preparatory Language Program
(PLP), where applicable, and carry a minimum of 12 semester units
per term, on condition that at least 6 of the 12 units are taken at
the graduate level. Otherwise, they must carry a course load on the
same basis as undergraduates. Slide 23 You are subject to all
academic regulations of your home CSU campuses as well as those of
IP and the host institution abroad. Home CSU campus rules for
academic probation and disqualification apply while you are an IP
participant. You are expected to make normal academic progress and
to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0. (Graduate students 3.0).
Students who fail to meet these requirements or who do not
successfully progress in the program are subject to probation or
disenrollment. Slide 24 OIP converts grades earned abroad to CSU
equivalent grades. A grade will be reported for EACH course
attempted abroad. Grades earned will be averaged in the cumulative
GPA on your CSU transcript. No incomplete grades are awarded to IP
participants. You must complete all course requirements in order to
receive a regular grade. Students who fail to complete all course
requirements by the end of the academic year at their host
institution will receive a grade of WU, which is equivalent to an F
and shall be computed as such in your CSU overall GPA. Slide 25
Subject to home CSU campus restrictions, you may request to have
one course reported CR/NC each academic term. Normally, the CR/NC
option is not approved for academic major or minor requirements.
CR/NC requests must be made at least one month prior to the final
exam. CR/NC option does not apply to language acquisition courses
in countries where the national language is not English, except
where noted. Slide 26 It can take a minimum of four months (and
sometimes longer, depending on specific circumstances) for courses
taken at your host university to be reported to your CSU campus.
Graduating Seniors are given priority but seniors must go with the
understanding that it may not be possible to graduate the term
following their last semester abroad. Your Academic Report will be
sent to your permanent home address. An official report will be
sent to your home campus registrar/records office. Once they post
your courses, units and grades, your CSU transcript becomes the
official record of coursework taken abroad. Slide 27 Students whose
graduation depends on specific courses should note that course
availability abroad cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, graduating
seniors must be open to the idea of returning to their home campus
for additional terms following their participation in IP. The
rewards gained by studying abroad tremendously outweigh the
disadvantages of a delayed graduation. Slide 28 Remember to check
your e-mail account on a regular basis for important messages from
OIP. If you change your e-mail address, please inform OIP. Be
mindful of academic deadline dates (i.e., add/drop deadlines,
deadlines for submission of academic forms, such as credit/no
credit grading forms). Read and review the Academic Arrangements
section of your IP Participant Guide, as well as the IP Bulletin,
now and while you are abroad. Slide 29 No orientation can alert you
to every potential difficulty, but we will provide you with some
background so that you can make informed decisions, both as you
prepare, and while youre abroad. Slide 30 Read IP Literature. Read
Consular Information Sheets. Read State Department Travel
Information. Visit the Office of Tourism. Read the CDC Website.CDC
Website Follow Current Events. Know the Gender Roles of your host
country. Keep others informed of your whereabouts: Inform the
office overseas of any travel plans. Stay in touch with your
family. Slide 31 Exercise & Eat Right. Rest. Limit Yourself to
Your Own Abilities. Understand Your Health Insurance. Slide 32
Participants are covered under a mandatory health insurance policy.
http://csurma.org/Pages/International-Traveler-Resources.aspx You
will automatically be enrolled in this insurance program. The cost
is included in your IP Prepaid Costs. Once abroad, to avoid paying
out-of-pocket for medical care, you must call Europ Assistance
collect at: 202-659-7803 before the doctors visit. Otherwise, you
must pay for doctor visits and prescriptions and file claims for
reimbursement afterward. For emergencies, OIP can assist with
payment. Then you must file a claim and reimburse OIP. The CSU
policy does NOT cover pre-existing conditions. Slide 33 If you
should need emergency medical or travelers assistance while
studying abroad on the IP program, your CSU policy includes
emergency travel assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For
further information on the services provided by Europ Assistance,
please see the brochure, or contact them at: (202) 659-7803 (call
collect) or Stacey Weeks at Alliant Insurance Services at (415)
403-1448 or [email protected] Slide 34 Learn the Local Customs and
Laws. Research and discuss Health and Safety Issues with family
before you go and with the staff overseas when you arrive. Make
Wise Choices. Slide 35 Be aware that whenever a serious incident
occurs to a CSU student abroad, nine times out of ten, one of these
is a leading factor: Alcohol Late-night activities All alone
Alcohol diminishes your ability to make good decisions. Avoid doing
activities alone or late at night if you can do them with friends
or during the day. Slide 36 Your personal health situation. Your
personal habits. The activities you choose to engage in. The places
you choose to go. Ultimately, you are the most qualified person to
keep yourself healthy and safe. Slide 37 Look at your Program Cost
Sheet, located in the IP Participant Guide. Understand what
Pre-paid Costs and Out-of-Pocket Expenses are and which expenses
they cover. Read your Participant Guide for information about how
to pay OIP for your IP Program Costs. Understand the value of your
host countrys currency. What is the exchange rate against the U.S.
dollar today? All students are advised to go abroad with enough
money to cover 2 months worth of expenses. (Note: Students going to
China may need 4-6 months rent upon arrival.) Slide 38 If you are a
financial aid recipient, talk to your Financial Aid Office at your
home CSU campus and find out when and how you will be receiving
your financial aid. Be sure to submit a copy of your financial aid
award letter to OIP, and send OIP a new copy if your award is
changed before you go abroad. You should have a back-up plan in
case your financial aid is delayed. Slide 39 OIP provides every
participant with a copy of Maximizing Study Abroad: A Students
Guide to Strategies for Language and Culture Learning and Use. We
recommend that you make use of this resource to better understand
culture. Take it with you and refer to it from time to time. Slide
40 Culture shock is real and most students do experience some level
of culture shock.The 4 stages of culture shock can be described as
follows: The honeymoon : You arrive and youre in love with the
place! Frustration and confusion: You become very critical of your
host country and the way that things are done. You may even feel
like packing up and going home! Homesickness can be overwhelming.
Adjustment: You feel more comfortable and competent in the culture.
You have positive feelings about interacting with the host
nationals. Adaptation: You have a deep understanding of the role of
culture in peoples lives and can accept differences. You interact
effectively in the host culture now and may have adopted some of
the values and customs of the host culture and made them your own.
Be patient with yourself. Culture shock doesnt last forever. Slide
41 Attitudes and tolerance toward LGBT issues vary from country to
country. Some countries are more welcoming and legally protective
than the U.S., while others may be less accepting and more
restrictive. All students need to be aware of the legal issues
related to sexuality in other countries. LGBT students need to
inform themselves regarding the receptivity and social climate of
the host country and may find this website helpful:
http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/student.htm
http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/student.htm Slide 42
Mexican-Americans in SwedenAfrican-Americans in
ChinaEuropean-Americans in Ghana You may be part of the majority in
the United States, but you may learn what it feels like to be a
minority when you travel abroad. Minorities face challenges all
over the world. Study abroad alumni say that, more often than not,
you will be judged by your citizenship as an American, than by your
ethnicity. See this website for some useful insights:
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/OIP/pdf_docs/divers
ity_st_abroad01.pdf
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/OIP/pdf_docs/divers
ity_st_abroad01.pdf Slide 43 I acknowledge that I have completed
the Online Orientation and I understand that: I must have a valid
passport, and I may need to apply for a travel visa. I must arrange
my own international travel. I do not register for classes at my
home CSU campus. I must enroll in a minimum of 15 semester units
per term while abroad. The IP health insurance policy has a $100
deductible per year. Alcohol diminishes ones ability to make good
decisions. Travel can be dangerous. I am responsible for knowing
the local customs and laws. My personal habits and my own decisions
will have the greatest impact on my overall health and safety. I
must have enough money at the beginning of the year to cover 2
months worth of living expenses. I must make arrangements for OIP
to be paid for my Program Costs. If I am receiving financial aid, I
will send OIP a copy of my financial aid award letter. I will send
OIP a new copy if my award is changed. Culture Shock is real. I
will make every effort to attend one of the IP Pre-departure
Orientations here in California. I must sign and return the Online
Orientation Acknowledgement (next page). Slide 44 I acknowledge
that I have completed the CSU International Programs Online
Orientation. Name: ________________________________________ Please
print:First nameLast name IP Country:
_________________,__________________ CityCountry Signature:
__________________ Date: ____________ Please complete this form
& return to: CSU International Programs, 401 Golden Shore, 6 th
Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802. This is due at least 2 weeks before
your departure.