Study Abroad Pre-departure Orientation A requirement for all
involved: Protects the students The faculty leaders The Study
Abroad staff The university Should be a mandatory requirement prior
to leaving
Slide 5
Study Abroad Pre-departure Orientation Team Effort
Administration Staff Faculty Parents
Slide 6
Campus Wide Event Representatives from: Health and Wellness
Campus Security Accounting or Finance Departments Housing and
Residence Life Dining or Culinary Departments
Slide 7
First Impressions: Unified support for students and families
Faculty involvement important Past participants Students &
parents share experiences Family parents/guardians,
spouses/partners
Slide 8
Basic topics to be covered Academics Health Housing Money
Packing Phones Safety Travel Documents
Slide 9
Academics Differences between academic systems What will
classes be like? What are requirements? What will be expected of me
while Im away? Requirements to return home Will my grades transfer
home? Will I receive credit for my classes while overseas? Can I
drop classes while overseas Can I change to a P/F grade while away?
Will I receive credit if I change classes while overseas?
Slide 10
Health Get any required shots Get a physical prior to leaving
Fill up on prescriptions Dental work completed Use the facilities
available at the foreign institution Counseling Centers help
overcome home sickness Get involved with the new students
surroundings Skype is great McDonalds Fries taste the same
worldwide
Slide 11
Housing Toto this isnt Kansas Expect the unexpected Be
accepting of what you have to a degree Size difference Roommate
issues Cooking, cleaning, caring for yourself Important numbers and
contact names
Slide 12
Insurance This should be a requirement for all international
travelers. Be wary of waiving insurance All student should have
their policy information prior to leaving & share it with
family/safety contact Medical insurance is not travel insurance
Know your process and procedures pay up front for reimbursement or
is it covered in country? Know the evacuation or emergency visit
policy
Slide 13
Money Recognize the currency Know how to convert currency
(XE.com) ATMs -- # passwords Reloadable cards Travel Cards
Travelers Checks Cash US and Foreign
Slide 14
Packing 3-1-1 Carry On Packing vs Shipping vs Overweight
Luggage Electronics: Adaptor vs Convertor What to take: Day
Backpack, suitable weather gear, comfortable, acceptable shoes,
items that represent your school, state, country, culture What not
to take: irreplaceable items, anything that isnt practical and you
wouldnt want to throw away
Slide 15
Phones If the provider has a phone use it why would anyone
waive it? Great for local emergencies Pre-loaded contact numbers
Use for local use only Check with carrier for phone rentals Cheaper
to buy overseas than here Skype, Yahoo, AIM are great
Slide 16
Safety Think safety first Yourself Buddy system isnt for
kindergarten schools only Your property Lock your valuables away
Your housing situation Fire exits, windows, doors Traveling Be
Aware Protect your property Dont stand out
Slide 17
Travel Documents Scan everything passport, visa, acceptance
letter, credit cards, drivers license, ID cards and leave it where
it is safe and accessible (Google Doc) Make copies of everything in
case youll need to present them Know the rules of the countryDo you
need your passport on you at all times or will a copy do?
Slide 18
Global Perspective Program Pre-departure Orientations Leanne
Johnson Assistant Director Global Perspective Program Worcester
Polytechnic Institute
Slide 19
Help students understand Health and safety issues Emergency
contact info, resources, and procedures Host culture Their role
WPI, IGSD, and on-site advisors expectations Logistics (travel,
housing, on-site travel, etc.)
Slide 20
Help us understand Student concerns What students do and dont
know Issues to emphasize and re-emphasize
Slide 21
Mandatory Orientations Orientation I: General International
project center groups & Puerto Rico Safety & Study Abroad
DVD Advisor(s) attendance encouraged Orientation II: Site-specific
Required for all groups Three-part, interactive and engaging format
Advisor(s) and Center Director(s) attendance necessary. Orientation
III: Sexual assault Facilitated by Counseling Center staff Lost in
Translation DVD Discussion and Q&A
Slide 22
Orientation II: Site-specific Circle of Trust (20 to 30
minutes) Snapshot of positives and negatives Social contract
Student behavioral responsibilities To themselves To each other To
the program
Slide 23
Slide 24
Orientation II: Site-Specific Team presentations: (30 minutes)
Topics sent to advisors 2 or 3 weeks ahead of orientation Project
groups/teams present topics Engaging and creative presentations
encouraged Discussion after each presentation Facilitator and
faculty advisors flush out points of emphasis
Slide 25
Presentation Topics Does the WPI code of conduct go with me to
Namibia, really? What other codes and or policies do I need to
worry about? Health and safety issues Where do I go if I get sick?
Can I expect to get sick? What constitutes an emergency? What do I
do in an emergency? Do I need shots? What exactly should I discuss
with my healthcare professional before I go? Getting to Windhoek
passport, visa and entry issues; what do I need and when? Do I need
to worry about what I say when going through customs? Do I need to
carry identification with me? Living in Windhoek - Is it different
than in Worcester? What are my behavioral obligations to my
advisors and the other students? What are my personal dress code
standards? What are my safety concerns? Cell phones, laptops and
staying in touch Do I have to carry a cell phone? How do we make
sure to get a laptop? How should I plan to stay in touch with the
folks back home? Cultural adaptation - What are some of the
cultural adaptation issues associated with living and working in a
culture different from your own? What are some of the issues that
can arise when you return home? How can you prepare yourself to
handle the effects of culture shock?
Slide 26
Sample Quiz Questions There is a list of risky behavior in
which I am forbidden to participate and anything not on the list is
okay. Anyone who visits me can stay overnight in my room when they
come to Windhoek. If my passport gets stolen the U.S. State
Department will not mail a replacement to me in Africa. The ISIC
will pay to return my body back to the States if I should die on
site. I am over 18, so my parents will never be informed of
anything that occurs in Africa. I should surrender my passport to
anyone who asks for it. I can probably expect to contract some sort
of intestinal bug the first few weeks I am on site. All of my
completed paperwork is due in the IGSD before 3:00pm on _______. I
should contact my health insurance provider to determine what I
must do in case of serious illness or injury while overseas.
Slide 27
Orientation III: Sexual assault Facilitated by professional
counselors Lost in Translation DVD shown Real-life, student actors
Discussion Counselors ask students questions. The Las Vegas
mentality Fitting in vs. being nave
Slide 28
On-campus partners Counseling Center Understanding sexual
violence abroad Team/group dynamics dynamics Dean of Students
Judicial review process Faculty advisors Academic prep Introduction
to culture, social issues
Slide 29
Optimally Reinforce: Enthusiasm for the journey and experience
Educate: Personal responsibility Provide: Knowledge and resources
Underscore: Policies and procedures Inform: Students understanding
of what a successful off- campus experience entails.
Slide 30
Debbie DonnellyHrayr Tamzarian
Slide 31
774 international students in 9/10 406 graduate students 160
undergrads 113 ESL students 95 on OPT 2 International Student
Advisors International Orientations Each Year 4 for grads 3 for
undergrads 6 for ESL students
Slide 32
ESL Orientation ESL department placement test in morning Lunch,
catered or we go through cafeteria line in small groups 2 hour
afternoon orientation using simplified language and topics
Slide 33
International Undergrad Orientation Starts 1-2 days before
domestic UG orientation Two parts, each 2 hours Part 1 for those
students new to SNHU, followed by campus tour and shopping trip
Part 2 designed for all undergrads, including those flying up from
ESL
Slide 34
International Grad Orientation Two parts, each 2 hours Part 1:
On Friday afternoon before term starts Designed for intl grads new
to SNHU Part 2: On first day of classes, during open block Designed
for all intl grads, including those flying up from ESL or
undergrad
Slide 35
On-Campus Presenters Used in All International Orientations VP
of Student Affairs Academic Advisors Campus Programming &
Leadership Cousins Program International Students Association
Wellness Center nurses + counselor Bursars Office Public
Safety
Slide 36
On-Campus Presenters Used in Select International Orientations
Residence Life (ESL and undergrads) Community Service (undergrads
and grads) Learning Center (undergrads) Career Services (undergrads
and grads) Library (grads; covered in SNHU 101 course for
undergrads)
Slide 37
Goals of Using SNHU Staff For students: Friendly staff, smiling
faces Awareness of available resources For staff: Reminder of new
international students on campus
Slide 38
Challenges Somewhat more time-consuming to coordinate with
other offices Faculty not available Cant control what they say
(slang, speed, long-winded, etc.) Keeping the message positive vs.
focusing on the donts
Slide 39
Rewards More interesting for students Less for my office to
cover Strengthens inter-office dialogue and collaboration
Slide 40
Mandatory attendance? Family participation? Campus offices
support? Insurance coverage? Safety items? Ice breakers or
discussion starters?
