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General Information

Study Abroad is an exciting opportunity for students to experience different cultures and develop their own self awareness. Northwood University makes every attempt to provide a safe, fun, and secure study abroad environment. There are some general considerations about study abroad that every student and parent should know.

Safety and Security

Safety is a prime concern of all who are involved in Study Abroad programs - participants, their families, advisers, institutions that send students abroad, those that host them, and the staff of all organizations that operate programs. There are risks that are unique to the overseas setting, and when those rare incidents occur, the impact on participants and their families is often more profound because of the unfamiliarity of the context and the distance that separates participants from their primary sources of consolation and support. While abroad, students should keep in contact with their family - to provide reassurance and let them know of safe arrivals, departures, etc.

Northwood University Generally:

• Cannot eliminate all risks from the study abroad environments or provide or pay for medical services or health care.
• Cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
• Cannot prevent participants from engaging in illegal, dangerous or unwise activities.
• Cannot assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for participants.

Students and Parents Should:

• Read and carefully consider all materials issued by Northwood University that relate to study abroad programs.
• Consider their health and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in the program.
• Make available to the sponsor any personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.
• Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in class sessions and orientations.
• Privately obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage for traveling abroad and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.

Insurance

In general, it is highly recommended that students review their personal insurance coverage before traveling abroad. Insurance should cover sickness, hospitalization, accidents, repatriation, and any civil responsibility. As part of the program fee, Northwood University will purchase, on behalf of the student, MANDATORY airline accidental death insurance and a limited preferred health plan for international travel. Students are responsible for any other health insurance, and they should check with their insurance provider as to coverage for health and medical insurance while traveling abroad.

Northwood University cannot assume any responsibility for your medical expenses while you are abroad.

Northwood University strongly recommends that students NOT rely solely on the insurance that is purchased by the University.

Health Considerations

Students should think carefully about their health in term of studying abroad. In general, there is little health risk in traveling to any of the sites and countries included in Northwood University study abroad programs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ maintains information on health risks related to travel abroad and makes recommendations as to any recommended precautions or vaccinations. It is the student's option and responsibility to initiate any contact with a physician regarding travel abroad or to obtain any vaccinations prior to departure.

Students who are taking prescription medications should take a copy of the original prescription and enough medication to cover the duration of their time abroad. Medications should be carried in the original container. Students who have a chronic health condition such as asthma or diabetes should consult with their physician prior to traveling abroad.

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General Eligibility for Group Study Abroad Programs at Northwood University

1. You must have successfully completed at least 48 term hours at Northwood University (e.g., be in your sophomore year), or, if a transfer student, have successfully completed the equivalent of 48 term hours and completed at least one term at Northwood University. Students typically apply for Study Abroad programs as juniors or seniors.
2. You must have fulfilled any course prerequisites for academic credit associated with Study Abroad programs.
3. You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. GPA is a factor in acceptance for some of the limited enrollment programs, so those with higher cumulative GPA's will often be the first accepted into the programs. Students on academic probation are not eligible for study abroad programs.

NOTE: Students must be in good academic standing during the program itself. If students are in good standing when they apply for study abroad, but are put on academic probation between the time of application and the starting date of the program, the student becomes ineligible to participate in Study Abroad.

Specific programs may have additional eligibility requirements (these will be noted in the individual program application and information pages and packets).

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General Eligibility for Exchange Programs at Northwood University

1. You must have successfully completed at least 96 term hours at Northwood University (e.g., be in your junior year), or, if a transfer student, have successfully completed the equivalent of 96 term hours and completed at least one term at Northwood University. Students typically apply for Exchange programs as juniors or seniors.
2. You must have fulfilled any course prerequisites for academic credit associated with Exchange programs.
3. You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Students on academic probation are not eligible for exchange programs.

NOTE: Students must be in good academic standing during the program itself. If students are in good standing when they apply for exchange programs, but are put on academic probation between the time of application and the starting date of the program, the student becomes ineligible to participate in the exchange.

Specific exchange programs may have additional eligibility requirements (these will be noted in the individual program application and information).

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Honors Program

Honors students, having completed 16 credit hours in honors courses, may apply for honors admission to the following group study abroad programs:

• Term in Europe (TIE)
• Term in Asia (TIA)
• Term in Northern Europe (TNE)

Honors admissions provides a scholarship which adjusts the normal TIE or TNE tuition to a fee level students would otherwise pay as a residential student for the combination of tuition, fees, room and board on the Northwood campus they attend. Alternatively, students attending the shorter and lower-priced TIA program may use their honors scholarship for that program, but their scholarships will be adjusted in proportion to the lower tuition. The Honors scholarship may only be used once - it cannot be used for multiple programs.

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Northwood University Study Abroad Policies

Academic Policies

• Academic policies apply to Study Abroad programs just as they do to regular, on-campus courses. Grading is done using the same scale as on-campus courses. Regular and complete attendance is expected. Grades and grade appeals for study abroad courses are treated in the same manner as for on-campus courses. Students should review the Academic Information Guide distributed to all students at the beginning of each academic year, and the Northwood University Undergraduate Catalog for information on all such policies.
• To be eligible for study abroad, students must have completed at least 48 term credit hours and, if a transfer student, have completed the equivalent of 48 credits hours and completed at least one regular term at Northwood University. Individual programs may have more restrictive academic requirements.
• Students must be in good academic standing (have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above) to apply for and participate in study abroad. Students who are in good standing when accepted to a program, but who are placed on academic probation in between the time of acceptance and the beginning of a program are rendered ineligible to participate in study abroad. Individual programs may have more restrictive academic requirements.
• Any disciplinary or academic (e.g, cheating or plagiarism) matters will be reported to the respective Dean of Students and/or Academic Dean, and to the Vice President of Academics and International Programs. As with regular courses, faculty have the right to fail a student academically because of plagiarism or cheating. Faculty also have the right to dismiss a student from any Study Abroad program if it is felt the student's actions are interfering with the program or endangering the health and safety of other participants. Dismissal from a Study Abroad program shall be construed as dismissal from the University, and the student must then follow the regular re-admission process.

General Policies

• Students must be enrolled in those courses for which they will receive credit within a study abroad program prior to the beginning of the program. Students are responsible for meeting with an academic counselor to arrange for any course substitutions prior to departure from the United States. All tuition and fees must be paid prior to departure.
• In some curriculums, students may need to make arrangements to take required courses (that are only offered in terms while students are abroad) via correspondence or independent study in order to maintain progress toward degree completion. Such arrangements should be discussed with the Academic Dean's office and arranged well in advance of departure from the United States.
• Northwood University reserves the right to withdraw a student's acceptance and/or prohibit participation in a study abroad program if the student fails to attend orientation sessions/classes, complete required paperwork, enroll in courses or pay, in full, tuition and program fees prior to previously established deadlines or prior to departure from the United States.
• Students must individually apply for study abroad programs. Students will not be considered for study abroad if their application packet is incomplete. Study Abroad applications generally consist of the application form and a faculty reference letter. Individual programs may add other requirements with the approval of the Vice President of Academics and International Programs and/or the Associate Dean of International Programs.
• Northwood University reserves the right to request additional information from individual students in order to review any individual study abroad application. The Dean of Students may be asked to provide information about any individual student's behavioral patterns or specific disciplinary actions in order to review a study abroad application.
• The Vice President of Academics and International Programs has the final authority to accept or deny individual student applications for study abroad.
• Northwood University does not assume any responsibility for students who choose to stay at the foreign location (for sight-seeing or other personal reasons) beyond the scheduled date of group departure or at the defined end of the program. The University's responsibility ends as of the departure of the group from that location. After that point, students are no longer considered as being on an NU Study Abroad program. Students must sign a release of liability if they stay beyond the scheduled departure date.
• Refunds ¹: Planning for study abroad is often finalized weeks or even months ahead of time, and many costs are incurred prior to departure. The University cannot refund to the student money that has already been spent or committed on their behalf.

The general refund policy for study abroad programs is as follows:

Students who:

1. Voluntarily withdraw from the program prior to departure, OR voluntarily withdraw from the program after departure, are refunded only the portion of the tuition and program fees not already committed to fixed costs (salaries, airfare, hotels, etc.) or those funds not considered to be non-refundable deposits or down payments. ²
2. Are dismissed or withdrawn from a program are not entitled to ANY refund of tuition and program fees.

¹ NOTE : If a program is cancelled by Northwood, tuition and program fees will be refunded.
² NOTE : For withdrawal that is initiated due to circumstances beyond a student's control (for example, due to a student's illness, an accident, or the illness or death of a spouse or parent) refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The University may require official documentation in order to substantiate a student's request for withdrawal and refund of fees.

In some cases prior to departure, another student on a waiting list can be substituted for the withdrawing student, and air and rail tickets, hotel reservations, tour reservations, entry tickets, etc., can be transferred to the newly admitted student. This is dependent largely on the timing of the student's withdrawal, and may impact the refund due to the withdrawing student.

If students have not paid in full prior to withdrawal for any reason, the university reserves the right to bill students who withdraw for expenses which have been incurred and cannot be refunded.

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Study Abroad Staff

 

Term Program Directors

Professor Robert Harris

Director-Term in Asia
Associate Professor-Texas Campus
972.293.5405
harrisr@northwood.edu

 

 

 

Professor Mike Tuttle

Director-Term in Europe
Associate Professor-Florida Campus
561-478-5528
tuttle@northwood.edu

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Suggested Resources

• NAFSA
  Association of International Educators is a non-profit group committed to international study and programming. NAFSA has several publications available for both students and parents.
• U.S. Department of State
  The Department of State maintains information on their website about living and traveling abroad.
• Passport Information
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
  Contains information on health, inoculations, and current conditions in countries throughout the world.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
  Information about duty-free exemptions, and regulations that affect persons entering or exiting the United States. Contains "Know Before You Go" brochure.