Some people feel overwhelmed when deciding which program to go on. IEP recommends that the applicant consider what factors are most important in a program. The following are important questions to be answered by the participant before deciding on a country or program. IEP encourages the applicant to consider all of the options, but to start by eliminating a few programs that do not fit his or her needs. Your student ought not be alarmed if as they search, their priorities start to change!

My son or daughter would really like to…

• Take a certain type of course overseas
• Live in a particular country or region
• Learn another language
• Study during a certain time of the year
• Live with a local family
• Live with students
• Other important factor

To view the courses offered in each location, select a study abroad program under a particular country or the Study page, then click on the courses link.

IEP partners with reputable universities overseas. Courses are taught in English at most destinations. In non-English speaking destinations, advanced language students also have the option of taking classes in the native language. All study programs are accredited by Jacksonville University. For all overseas programs, students must have their courses approved by their home college or university.

An official Jacksonville University transcript will be sent free of charge upon completion of the program to the office or department that the student designates on his or her Emergency Contact form. Depending on the program, processing a transcript can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks.

Additional requests for transcripts can be made at any time. There may be an additional charge, depending on the shipping option selected. This charge is the sole responsibility of the student. Download a transcript request form. If your student does not know their JU Student ID number, they can leave the space blank. Only program participants may request an official transcript.

As your student prepares for his or her study, internship or volunteer program, they may look to you for support and advice. If the idea of your son or daughter traveling overseas makes you uneasy, or if this is the first time they have been outside of the United States, take the time to go over your student’s individual health and personal safety with them. Risks associated with traveling can never be eliminated totally. However, your son or daughter has the ability to make decisions as they live and travel in a foreign country that will drastically reduce the possibility that they will become a victim of crime, accidents or illness.

We encourage you to discuss health and safety with your student and point them towards the resources on their home campus or in your community that will help them prepare for their overseas experience. Keep in mind that no matter how much you have researched health and safety, your student is ultimately the one participating on the program and needs to enter his or her program with the mindset of personal responsibility and preparedness.

IEP is committed to offering the necessary resources to students, parents, advisors and faculty as they relate to in-country emergency contacts and support services, travel and medical insurance, country-specific information, and additional web resources. Prior to departure, all students will be issued a packet with information about the, program details, health & safety issues, culture shock & re-entry, transportation, accommodation, and more.

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Most people experience the ups and downs of cultural adjustment in what is commonly known as “culture shock.” A student, intern or volunteer will go through stages of loving the new culture, and having difficulty accepting why things are done differently than what he or she is used to. More serious troubles might include bouts of depression and doubt. Again, this is a normal process for travelers. The best way to cope with culture shock is to try to remain open, and to be an observer and a learner.

The study, internship or volunteer program may take place in a country where English is the second or third language spoken. In fact, not everyone is going to speak English. Therefore, it is important to learn some basic conversational phrases at minimum. This communicates respect for the culture and an effort to integrate into the local community.

Experts have suggested that there are four stages of culture shock:

• Initial euphoria
• Irritability and hostility
• Gradual adjustment
• Adaptation

Almost everyone experiences culture shock to some degree. It can be frustrating and confusing. But there are positive steps that can be taken to minimize the impact. If you suspect that your son or daughter may be experiencing the “irritability and hostility” phase of culture shock, you can encourage them by reminding them of the following:

Realize that this is normal and that you will live through it. Be open-minded and ready to learn. Realize that there are different ways to do things and readjust to think in terms of “different” and not “better” or “worse.” Research your new culture. You can begin today by reading as much as you can about the culture that you will be experiencing. Look for logical reasons for behaviors in the new culture that you may find strange. With a little analysis, you may find that these different behaviors don’t seem so strange after all. Above all, flexibility, humor, humility and open-mindedness will be your most valuable traits. These may have even been the key qualities that led you to travel in the first place! Keep a journal or find a way to positively express the way that you are processing the new culture.

Program participants will have free time to travel on all study, internship or volunteer programs. This includes participation in local and domestic activities as well as travel outside of the host country.

Independent travel can be an extremely rewarding experience for students, as they have a chance to explore the cultures of their host country and surrounding areas. However, the risks of independent travel are the sole responsibility of the participant.

What may be safe travel arrangements for one individual may not be a safe travel arrangement for another due to individual maturity, experience, and personal limitations. Students should be candid and realistic about their ability to travel independently and exercise all safety precautions while making travel arrangements. IEP recommends that the students discuss and inform their independent travel arrangements with their parents and home study abroad advisors.

IEP staff and affiliates may verbally give examples of past students who have traveled independently or distribute literature highlighting typical destinations in a particular city or country. However, any discussion between a student and an IEP staff member or affiliate regarding independent travel is not a personal recommendation or endorsement. All literature and discussions on personal travel are meant to be resources for the student to enable them to make independent decisions regarding personal travel.

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Alcohol

In most countries, the legal drinking age is 18 years or younger. This naturally means that most students participating on a study, internship or volunteer program will be of legal drinking age. However, it is important to note that abuse of alcohol is grounds for dismissal from a program (please see Code of Conduct) at the discretion of the on-site staff or faculty member. Abuse can be defined as any action that puts the participant or others in danger as the result of intoxication. It is important for students to avoid public intoxication and to be aware that they are also held liable for their actions in the United States and at their home institutions.

Drugs

The possession and/or use of illegal substances is prohibited at all times on all programs. The use of illegal substances is grounds for immediate dismissal at the cost of the participant.

Excursions

In the event that a participant may need medical attention during an excursion, the local staff member or faculty will accompany the participant to a medical facility. In the instance that the staff member or faculty is the only adult-member accompanying the group, then that member may grant leadership to one of the program participants. The chosen participant will work with the staff or faculty member to determine the continuation of the excursion and establish a meeting point at which the group will reconvene with the member. In most instances, the staff or faculty member will guide the group back to the program headquarters or lodging while they take the medical victim directly to the appropriate facilities.

In-Country Staff

IEP utilizes in-country staff in all of our program locations. On most programs, these individuals are native to the area and have been working with students for a considerable duration of time. The in-country staff meets each individual student upon arrival, conducts an orientation session specific to the area with them, and discusses safety protocols for their entire duration of their program. Each staff member has home and cell phone numbers, which are provided to all participants. Staff members are on hand to work with participants if an emergency, psychological or health concern arises. Staff members will work with the student in-country and immediately contact the US office to advise of the situation overseas. On all programs, staff members are responsible for the typical issues that arise on the home university campus as well as the risks that arise due to living in a foreign country and an unfamiliar locale. On short-term faculty-led programs, the faculty member provides the in-country support and expertise as it relates to program related activities and excursions.

Program and Location Selections

All program locations are carefully considered and reviewed prior to accepting participants on any given program. The Study Abroad Advisory Board Committee at Jacksonville University has accredited all academic programs prior to the addition of the location site. IEP staff members review site locations annually and make necessary adjustments and improvements on existing programs.

Lodging

IEP utilizes various housing options in all program locations. In certain locations on-campus housing is utilized and an on-campus residential life office is on hand 24-7 to handle any housing concerns that may arise. In those locations where apartments or homestays are utilized, the in-country staff members are the immediate contact for all emergency situations. All housing options have been visited and approved prior to housing participants in their desired locations. Homestay families are given strict interviews and chosen based on their police background check and local recommendations.

Medical Facilities

Prior to departure, all staff and faculty members are given information on local medical facilities and in-country procedures on administering a student under medical emergencies. Hospital locations and procedures are discussed as well as insurance information provided to all program participants.

Parents/Guardians

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under the applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights are transferred to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

Upon applying, all students are asked if information can be released to parents upon request from their parents/guardians. In the event of an emergency or health concern the participant involved would be requested to immediately contact their parents/guardians by the in-country staff member.

Program Dismissal

If a student is asked to leave the program due to disciplinary reasons, no refund will be given and the student will be responsible to pay for their return arrangements. The following warnings will be issued by the in-country staff or faculty member at their discretion. In the event of severe misconduct, IEP reserves the right to dismiss a participant without the verbal or written warning at the cost of the participant.

A verbal warning will be issued to the participant and an email detailing the verbal warning and participant’s response will be sent to IEP’s office in Jacksonville, Florida. A written warning will be issued to the participant and the IEP office staff. See below for the procedure for dismissal.

• The IEP in-country staff member will discuss the situation with the participant and go over waivers and pre-departure details with the participant.
• The IEP in-country staff member will then have the participant sign a document stating they have been asked to depart the program for disciplinary reasons, previously signed on the program waivers.
• The IEP in-country staff member will contact the IEP emergency phone to inform the IEP staff that the individual will be departing from the program.
• The IEP staff member on call will inform the rest of the IEP team of the situation and contact the participants home institution, if participating in a study abroad program.
• For all JU students, the IEP staff member on call will contact the Vice Presidents Office at JU to inform them of the situation. In the case of a non-JU student, the IEP staff member will notify the emergency contacts listed by the student.
• The student is officially off the program and responsible to pay for 100% of the costs of property damages, airfare, all ground transportation, and any other costs incurred.

Registration with Embassies

IEP registers all program participants with the appropriate US Embassies in country. In the event of an emergency, in-country staff members will work with the local consulates to aid in the emergency procedures for US citizens traveling abroad.

Transportation

IEP uses the same guidelines when arranging transportation for any given program as when choosing a desired location. IEP only arranges transportation to/from a destination and within a country with companies that are valued as safe and reliable. The selected companies are chosen based on prior safety records, insurance coverage and their overall company responsiveness to our program needs.

Travel

IEP provides each program participant with travel insurance on all study, internship and volunteer programs abroad. Each participant will be issued an insurance card prior to departure, which is proof of the insurance. This card cannot be used as a form of payment or as an official claim in-country. Should a student wish to submit a claim, they will have to do so upon their return to the United States. Travel insurance provides coverage for baggage delays, passport replacement, and 24/7 travel assistance worldwide.

Medical

In many cases, a participant’s home insurance provider will cover the student, intern or volunteer while traveling overseas, however, IEP advises students to contact their home medical insurance provider to confirm what coverage is available to them. In the event that a participant’s home medical insurance provider does not carry international medical insurance, IEP issues a list of study abroad medical providers that participants can use during their program. In some instances, such as Australia and New Zealand, Overseas Student Health Coverage is required for visa purposes and students will be billed directly by the overseas institution for the coverage. IEP provides for the following medical coverage: emergency medical evacuation, accidental death & dismemberment, repatriation of mortal remains, in-hospital indemnity-sickness, and accident medical maximums. Please contact IEP for specific coverage information.

Additional information about insurance coverage for overseas programs, visit Insurance Abroad.

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An emergency is any situation where the participant’s health and safety have been compromised. This includes medical emergencies and hospitalization, crime incidents, sexual assault, natural disasters, missing persons, political upheaval or evacuation, death, etc.

Prior to departure, all students will also be issued emergency contact information with a 24/7 IEP Emergency line, in-country contact, and the local embassy or consulate. Additionally, specific instructions are given to the students about what to do in an emergency (What To Do In An Emergency). All IEP staff members and faculty are committed to doing everything in our power to act immediately and appropriately if an emergency occurs.

Take note that students are instructed to contact their in-country staff members and the 24/7 IEP emergency contact number prior to notifying their parents. In the case of a true emergency, the trained in-country staff are better equipped to secure your son or daughter’s safety. Students are strongly encouraged to notify their parents after the appropriate authorities have been notified.

If a family emergency or some other emergency occurs in the United States during the time when your student is abroad, please notify IEP’s office immediately so that we can in-turn notify our in-country staff and take necessary action. The IEP emergency number can also be utilized in the case of a stateside emergency situation. Emergency Contact Information.

For all other non-emergency related issues, please contact our office.

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People who have lived abroad often find that the adjustment to returning home is more difficult than their adjustment to the foreign culture. Why? Expectations play a major role. We expect to have some difficulty when we go to a new place, speak a different language and learn the rules of a different culture . . . But home?

While you may know your home, you may not realize how much you have changed after being gone. In adjusting to life in a new culture, your perceptions, habits, and maybe even values have changed, perhaps without your awareness, to fit in with the cultural context of your host country. At the same time, you've probably carried around in your head a wonderful mental picture of your home environment. All of a sudden, when you get home, reality just doesn't measure up to that picture.

This is a common occurrence, and the best way of addressing it is simply to be aware of the source of your negative feelings. Be assured that in time, you will be able to incorporate an appreciation for the positive aspects of each culture at home as well as abroad.

Family members and friends are often surprised by the behavior of returnees. Their expectation is that the same person who boarded the airplane one year ago will be returning. Especially if they have never been abroad, your parents and friends probably don't understand the magnitude of the study abroad experience and the changes it will cause in a person. By the same token, you may have maintained an ideal mental image of your loved ones while abroad, an image that is shattered when you return and see them "warts and all."

Remember the different lifestyle you have been leading. If you had a host family, you may have become accustomed not only to their lifestyle, but their values and norms as well, which are probably different from those of your own family. Whether or not you lived with a host family, you have probably become very independent, structuring your life just as you wished. Now that you're home again, you will be expected to conform again to the lifestyle of your family, giving up some of that freedom. As a result, you may interpret your parents' involvement in your life as overprotective and restrictive.

Communication is the key to overcoming this problem. Tell your parents how you are feeling. Share with them information about cultural re-entry, and ask them to be patient. They will be eager to help you and will wait for you to adjust. This does not mean that you have to renounce your experience and give up everything you've learned! Learn to strike a balance between the old and new, just as you did when first adjusting to your host country's culture.

Good friends should also be willing to understand that you have gone through some changes, and that coming home presents some difficulties for you. However, you may find that you have grown apart from some friends, that you no longer have the same interests, or that your old friends don't meet the needs that you have. It may become necessary to find new friends. Seek out other students who have studied abroad. They will be able to relate to your experience and provide you with the support you need to get through re-entry.

Don't be offended if your friends don't appear very enthusiastic about your stories. You are speaking of people and places with which they have no connection. There is also the possibility that some people might be jealous of the opportunity that you have had, and they might think that you are bragging or "showing off." Also remember that time didn't stop while you were gone. Life went on and there are issues with which your friends are concerned that have nothing to do with your time abroad, but which are as important to them as your experience is to you.

When asked about your time abroad, keep your stories brief and general. Avoid going into too much detail about the people you met or about complicated issues which people who haven't been to the country would know nothing about. Avoid excessive comparisons between the U.S.A. and your host culture. Arrange your photos and slides so that people can get a good overall idea of your experience and show them if asked.

One suggestion is to find a more receptive audience. Visit your study abroad office and International Center and talk to the staff. They're always interested in hearing about the experiences of students abroad. Take advantage of opportunities to meet other study abroad alumni. They are generally more interested and more capable of understanding your experiences than people who stayed home, and will also be looking for someone with whom to share their stories. Working as an IEP returnee to giving presentations in language classes, there are numerous ways for you to share your experience with others.

*The text in this section was taken from the International Center at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

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• Are IEP study abroad programs academically sound?
• I will be financing a part/all of my child’s program. How can I make a payment?
• My child has not contacted me in a while, or at all. What should I do?
• If there is an emergency, how can I contact my child in country?
• How does IEP prepare students to go abroad?
• What other colleges and universities does IEP work with?
• I do not see my question listed here. Who do I contact?

Are IEP study abroad programs academically sound?

The Study Abroad Advisory Committee at Jacksonville University reviews each foreign institution and study program carefully to ensure that academic integrity and standards are upheld in each location. In order for a new study abroad site to be approved, the committee reviews the courses and CV’s of the faculty members that teach the courses. The Study Abroad Advisory Committee is composed of the Vice President of Academic Affairs - Dr. Lois Becker, the Dean of Arts and Sciences - Dr. Douglas Hazzard, Assistant Photography Professor - Ginger Sheridan, Faculty Chair - Dr. Janet Haavisto, and the Division Chair of Social Sciences - Dr. Raymond Oldakowski.

I will be financing a part/all of my child’s program. How can I make a payment?

You can pay online, by personal check or money order, or in person at our Jacksonville University office in Gooding 105. Please visit Deposit/Program Payment Options for more information on payments. Invoices and invoice receipts will be sent to the address and email listed on the participant’s application, unless otherwise specified by the applicant.

My child has not contacted me in a while, or at all. What should I do?

It is normal for students not to contact their parents as much overseas as they would in the United States. There are several reasons for this. It is more difficult to make international phone calls, your son or daughter is operating on a different time zone, holiday breaks are 1-2 weeks longer than American university breaks and they may be traveling, and many students are simply having a good time exploring their new environment. However, your son or daughter may not know that you are concerned. Contact them again and emphasize your concern. If they do not respond, contact IEP’s office via email or phone and we will contact the resident director in-country, who will relay the message to your child to call or email you as soon as possible. If your child still has not contacted you, IEP will confirm your son or daughter’s whereabouts and safety through the in-country resident director and continue to urge your son or daughter to contact you until they do so.

If there is an emergency, how can I contact my child in country?

Any time an emergency has taken place; contact the IEP 24/7 emergency line immediately. IEP will inform the in-country resident director who will locate your son or daughter as soon as possible. Many students choose to purchase or rent a local cell phone while in-country. Be sure that you have their number on hand after they receive it. Additionally, your son or daughter will receive a magnet with the IEP emergency line and in-country emergency contact information during the pre-departure orientation meetings and/or in the pre-departure packet. If your son or daughter has not given you the emergency contact magnet, please request that they do so.

For more information about emergencies, please click here.

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How does IEP prepare students to go abroad?

Prior to departure, each student receives one-on-one advising and assistance. IEP holds a pre-departure orientation at Jacksonville University for every study abroad program. A detailed and comprehensive pre-departure packet is issued to every IEP participant prior to his or her program. All non-Jacksonville University students receive a phone call to review the pre-departure packet information by phone and to ensure that an IEP staff member answers the student’s questions. Students from other universities are encouraged to attend the pre-departure sessions sponsored by their home campus, when offered. Additionally, IEP launched a brand new website in July 2008 with new information and resources to help students, interns and volunteers prepare to go abroad.

What other colleges and universities does IEP work with?

IEP has sent students from over 200 colleges and universities overseas. For a list of these institutions, please request a catalog be sent to your office. IEP seeks to work together with any college or university that is willing to collaborate to send students overseas on study, internship and volunteer programs. IEP alumni include students from local community colleges, private institutions, large state universities, and Ivy League schools.

I do not see my question listed here. Who do I contact?

Please feel free to contact us any time by visiting our contact page and sending an email or calling our office at Jacksonville University.

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