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Today, perhaps more than ever, international understanding is essential to world peace - understanding between faiths, between nations, between cultures. We need each other - as friend, as allies, as partners - in our struggle to uphold common values and to fulfill common needs.
--U. N. Secy. General Kofi Annan |
Information for Parents
Safety ... Immunizations ... Health Insurance ... Expenses ... College of Business Scholarships ... Preparation ... Housing...Open letter for Parents...
More information from Office of Intl. Education Safety
The College of Business makes every effort to establish our exchange programs in areas of political stability and openness to Americans. We have strong relationships with host colleges and communicate several times weekly with students and coordinators throughout the exchange period.
Students should:
- register with the U.S. Consulate when they arrive in their host country;
- keep up-to-date on U.S. travel advisories for any country they might travel to by reviewing http://travel.state.gov/;
- avoid political demonstrations, large crowds and gatherings;
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Office of Overseas Citizens Services 24-hour Emergency Number:
888-407-4747 |
- maintain a low profile and avoid American hangouts;
- keep local host organizations and roommate informed of their whereabouts and keep informed and alert of local issues and news;
- avoid using illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, and associating with people who do while abroad. Student under 21 years can legally drink alcohol in the country of their exchange!
Parents should:
- Make a list of people to call in case your student is hurt, along with copies of his/her insurance papers, passport and names of any medications to avoid.
- Obtain and carefully evaluate health and safety information related to the program, as provided by the sponsor and other sources.
- Discuss safety, behavior issues, insurance needs and emergency procedures with your student.
- Keep in touch with your student.
- Read consulate information sheets, public announcements or travel warnings for the exchange country as well as other possible travel destinations.
- Familiarize yourself with the different means of sending currency to the country of study such as western union, bank wire transfer, etc.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which your student is traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, students are subject to its laws.
- Familiarize yourself with services that U.S. Consulates and embassies can and cannot provide your student.
- Understand that the College of Business advising office is limited on the type of information we can legally pass along to you. We are bound by FERPA laws that protect student confidentiality.
Immunizations
All student immunizations must be current. No additional vaccinations, beyond standard university immunizations, are required.
OSU enrolls all study abroad students in a mandatory medical insurance program. This program is intended to supplement and not replace personal insurance policy coverage and/or national health care coverage required of the exchange program:
Insurance coverage includes:
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travel assistance services by Assist America
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medical evacuation (return of a sick or injured person to the USA)
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repatriation coverage (return of a body in the event of death overseas)
OSU Study Abroad Insurance is convenient. Students are automatically enrolled once accepted to a Study Abroad program. Cost of insurance is billed directly to student OSU accounts at the start of the term.
For questions regarding coverage, claims, or other details, please contact Wells Fargo Student Insurance Services directly:
Wells Fargo Student Insurance Services
11017 Cobblerock Drive, Suite 100
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
800-853-5899 or 916-231-3399
Fax 916-2313398
www.wellsfargo.com/studentinsurance
If you withdraw from a COB exchange program, you must notify us in advance of the start date of your exchange term abroad. Failure to notify COB of your withdrawl from the program could result in you being charged the full price of student insurance.
Tuition is the same and living expenses are similar in all exchange countries to a term at OSU. Estimated expenses per term can vary from $5500 to $9500 including tuition, passport fee, visa fee, plane tickets, travel and living expenses such as rent, food, haircut, etc. The primary difference between exchange countries are personal travel/airfare expenses. See sample budgets.
PLEASE NOTE: Financial aid will not be available for students until classes start at OSU. Students who participate in a fall term exchange typically begin their classes abroad in August, which means students will attend classes for more than a month before financial aid is available to them. The student MUST make financial arrangements to cover living and school expenses during this period of time.
College of Business Scholarships
The College of Business has competitive scholarships available to participating students. Financial aid also applies. Currently, all business students selected to participate in an exchange receive a stipend. Interested students should apply for these scholarships using the COB scholarship application found on this website. Scholarship money is deposited directly into the student's account to help off-set tuition costs.
Preparation
The College of Business holds a mandatory orientation class the term prior to departure. This one-credit orientation class meets weekly for seven weeks. Goals of the class are to:
- acquaint students with the local customs and culture,
- complete the necessary paperwork,
- meet the other participating students,
- encourage students to be an activie participant in their host culture
- discuss safety issues and
- select appropriate course work.
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
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Week 1
Introductions
Review materials
Airfare options
Safety information
Travel arrangements (guest speaker) |
Week 2
Financial aid (guest speaker)
Budgeting
Complete visa applications |
Week 3
Current Event presentations
Transfer of grades
Register for classes |
Week 4
Travel/Life in other countries
Housing options |
Week 5
EU Orientation (guest speaker)
Study abroad panel with past participants |
Week 6
Cultural presentations
How to travel smart and succeed overseas (guest speaker) |
Week 7
Cultural presentations
Wrap Up/Final questions |
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Housing
Australia: Students make their own living arrangements, usually in an apartment close to campus.
Austria: Students live off-campus. Student living facilities in Vienna are university-approved dorms throughout the city. Most are conveniently located close to campus.
Czech Republic: On-campus facilities are available. Students are assigned to double rooms and roommates are typically other international students.
Denmark: Students live in a single, private room with a shared bath, kitchen and living area. Other tenants are international students. Housing arrangements are made through the international office with students receiving notification of their address prior to departure.
Germany: Facilities are located both on campus or off, within a five-minute walk to the college.
 Hong Kong: On-campus facilities are available. Students are assigned to double rooms and roommates are typically other international students.
Norway: University operated facilities are located close to campus. Students are assigned to double rooms and roommates are typically other international students.
Sweden: Housing is assigned before students leave the states. The facilities are a short walk or bike ride to campus.
Thailand: The international office recommends specific housing facilities once a student arrives and assists in making arrangements.
OPEN LETTER TO PARENTS/FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN A COB EXCHANGE PROGRAM
March 2008
Dear Parent or Guardian;
As you know by know from your discussion with your son/daughter, they have been accepted as a participant in the College of Business international exchange program. Study abroad can be a valuable and personally enriching part of the university experience.
While our past exchange participants have enjoyed a safe and healthy time abroad, it is important to remember that petty theft, traffic accidents, illness, injury and crime all exist overseas, just as they do in the U.S.
To help insure student health and safety, the College of Business works closely with the Office of International Education. We encourage you to explore the resources on their website: http://oregonstate.edu/international/ All OSU students participating in a study abroad program are enrolled in mandatory health insurance. Information on the policy, filing claims, and benefits can be found here: http://oregonstate.edu/international/studyabroad/students/gone/health/insurance
We want to encourage you to work with your student to formulate a plan, so that should a crisis occur, you are well prepared. Please discuss this letter with your student, and feel free to contact our office if you have additional concerns or questions about the upcoming opportunity. We hope you find the following recommendations helpful:
ยท In case of injury; have your student carry a list of people to call, along with copies of his/her insurance papers, passport, and names of any medications to avoid. You should also keep a photocopy of his/her passport on file at home.
- Obtain and carefully evaluate health and safety information related to the program, as provided by the sponsor and other sources.
http://www.www.globaled.us
www.bus.oregonstate.edu
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html
- Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding your student.
- Keep in touch with your student.
- Be aware that some information may most appropriately be provided by the student rather than by the program.
- Read the Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements or Travel Warnings (http://travel.state.gov) for the exchange country as well as other possible travel destinations.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs for the countries your student will be visiting. Remember, while in a foreign country, they are subject to its laws. The U.S. Embassy can offer only limited assistance such as referral to a local attorney.
- Students should avoid using illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, and associating with people who do while abroad (http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/drugs/drugs_1237.html ). Be aware that in many countries, the legal drinking age is under 21.
- Become familiar with the different means of sending currency overseas such as Western Union, bank wire transfer, etc.
- Careful financial planning is very important. Most financial aid can be applied towards a study abroad, and students must contact the Financial Aid office for details. However, the money will not be accessible to the students until classes begin at OSU. Our FALL TERM exchange partner schools typically begin their semesters in August. This means that out-going students will arrive at their exchange campus in the summer and not have access to financial aid until the end of September/early October. The financial aid implications for our SPRING term exchange is not as large of an issue because students leave the U.S. after the spring term begins at OSU.
- It is recommended that your student register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate upon arrival in country (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ ).
- The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can also assist American students abroad and their families in the USA in emergency cases. There is a 24 hour number to call (888)407-4747 .
- There are certain things that consular officers at American embassies cannot do for American citizens abroad. (http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1231.html).
Thank you for taking the time to review this letter with your student. Should you have any questions regarding our international exchange programs, please feel to contact our office.
Sincerely,
Carol Leder (leder@bus.oregonstate.edu) & Nancy Homan (homann@bus.oregonstate.edu)
Exchange Coordinators |
