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APPLICATION
Application deadlines are as follows:
• January Term & Spring Courses: November 16, 2007
• Summer Courses: February 29, 2008
Students may apply to individual Short-Term Abroad programs via the online application. Students must complete all fields of the online application, and specify to which program they are applying. Students may apply to more than one program by submitting a separate application for each. Applications will be forwarded electronically to each faculty director for review. Acceptance to the program is determined by the faculty director, who notifies the Office for Study Abroad (OSA). Once a student is accepted to a program, s/he will receive further instructions about how to register for the course.
REGISTRATION
Registration deadlines are as follows:
• January Term & Spring Courses: November 23, 2007
• Summer Courses: March 7, 2008
To register for a Short-Term Abroad program, students (or the faculty director) must submit three forms to the OSA:
1) Short-Term Abroad Registration Form
2) Participation Agreement
The Office of the Vice President and General Counsel requires a signed copy of this form on file for each student prior to departure. Failure to return this form may jeopardize the student’s registration and eligibility to earn credit in the course.
3) International SOS, Proof of Online Registration
Registration for Short-Term Abroad courses is accomplished via paper registration only, and is not available via GWeb. Submission to the OSA of the completed and signed paper Registration Form is considered the student’s registration for the course, regardless of when the registration is entered into Banner.
WITHDRAWAL/REFUNDS
A student’s submission of the Short-Term Abroad Registration Form (not the online application) constitutes a financial commitment to participate in the program. Students who withdraw will be subject to the following withdrawal and refund policy:
• Withdrawal after the Registration Deadline: 100% refund, minus $500 fee
• Withdrawal 2 weeks before start of program: 50% refund, minus $500 fee
• Withdrawal 13 days before program: No refund
If a student must withdraw from the program, s/he must do so by submitting a Registration Transaction Form, initialed by the faculty director, to the OSA. A student cannot withdraw from the program after it has begun. .
CANCELLATION
The university reserves the right to cancel programs without notice. If cancellation occurs, all applicants will be notified immediately and will receive a full refund of any program deposit and all tuition and fees charged by the university. The university is not responsible for the cost of airline tickets and other travel expenses purchased directly by students, and will not reimburse for such expenses in the event a program is cancelled. Students are advised to purchase refundable airline tickets and/or trip cancellation insurance covering all travel expenses not billed through the university, as they accept the risk associated with these items themselves.
ELIGIBILITY & PAYMENT
Student applications may be considered from GW students and others with appropriate academic preparation.
Students from the Washington, DC consortium schools are eligible to participate in Short-Term Abroad programs. Students from consortium area schools must pay the full program fee, including tuition. Students may not register through the consortium.
Students who are GW employees, if accepted to the program by the faculty director, are eligible to participate in Short-Term Abroad programs, and their tuition benefits are handled accordingly through Student Accounts. However, GW employees must pay full program fees for costs not associated with tuition. GW employees are responsible for contacting the GW Benefit Services office to determine their eligibility for tuition benefits.
PREDEPARTURE HEALTH & SAFETY ORIENTATION
All students participating in a Short-Term Abroad program must attend an OSA pre-departure health and safety orientation conducted by OSA staff. The orientation meeting times will be announced at the start of each semester. If a student is not able to attend the scheduled pre-departure health and safety session, then it is his or her responsibility to obtain and read any orientation materials, obtain the required health insurance, and complete any required forms, including emergency contact and participation agreement forms, distributed at the pre-departure session.
As required by the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, we also must have a signed Participation Agreement on file for each student prior to departure. Failure to return this form may jeopardize the student’s registration and eligibility to earn credit in the course.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Short-Term Abroad participants are automatically enrolled in two mandatory insurance plans (International SOS & CISI). This insurance covers students only during the time they are abroad with the program. International SOS covers ONLY medical evacuation and repatriation. CISI provides coverage for accidents and sickness. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by either insurance policy. If you have existing medical conditions that will require treatment while abroad, the OSA recommends you check with your existing insurance plan to determine if you are covered while overseas or obtain supplemental coverage.
INTERNATIONAL SOS TRAVEL INSURANCE
The George Washington University has contracted with a company called International SOS (SOS) to provide worldwide assistance and evacuation services for all GW faculty, staff, and students traveling abroad for university-related business. The services provided by International SOS range from telephone advice and referrals to full-scale evacuation by private air ambulance.
The International SOS website contains an online Personal Locator form for inputting travel and destination information. All travelers must complete the form so that this information is available to International SOS and GW on-call staff should you need to be located in the event of a crisis or emergency.
You will be provided with an International SOS membership card. You should carry this with you at all times. It includes the telephone numbers of the three major worldwide International SOS Alarm Centers to contact in the event of an emergency.
CULTURAL INSURANCE SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (CISI)
CISI is insurance specifically designed for students studying abroad. CISI provides health coverage for accidents, sickness, non pre-existing medical conditions that may arise, and emergency medical reunion. It covers students in any country overseas, except their country of citizenship. Students will be provided with a CISI membership card at a pre-departure orientation session. You should carry this with you at all times. It includes emergency phone numbers and instructions for submission of claims.
NON-PARTICIPANTS ACCOMPANYING STUDENTS,
FACULTY & STAFF OF GW ABROAD PROGRAMS
Non-participants accompanying students, faculty, or staff of GW Study Abroad Programs are not eligible to attend class sessions or other program-related activities during the study abroad program. Class meetings, site visits, field trips, dinners, receptions, program-provided transportation, and all other program-related events are open only to those registered in the academic program, program faculty, and staff. Please be aware that the university will not provide any support services or assume any responsibility for accompanying non-participants.
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