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Welcome to the Study Abroad General Orientation!. Welcome, Introductions, Announcements. Overview. Pre-departure orientation is required for all study abroad and exchange students by UW–System.
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Welcome to the Study Abroad General Orientation!
Overview Pre-departure orientation is required for all study abroad and exchange students by UW–System. This PowerPoint presentation and the study abroad handbook can be downloaded from UWM’s study abroad website: www.studyabroad.uwm.edu PowerPoint path: Resources > Accepted Students > Orientations Handbook path: Resources > Accepted Students > Handbooks > General Student Handbook
Topics • Expectations • Forms summary • Registration, Credit, GPA • Finances • Health and Safety • Emergencies • Enculturation and Culture Shock • Travel Essentials
Participation Expectations Before Departing • Complete and submit all forms and paperwork • Learn about the place you are going • Program withdrawals must be in writing While Abroad • Be a good student • Attend all classes • Complete all assignments • Be a good “global” citizen • Chronicle your experience (journal, video, pictures) • Try new things • Have fun DO NOT • Abuse drugs or alcohol • Disrespect others (program participants, host country citizens)
~WARNING~ What you are about to witness involves important content but does not involve trained actors! Please forgive those involved…
Summary of Forms • Assumption of Risk and Release • Behavior Guidelines • Medical Self Assessment • Address Form • Product Release • Special Medical Health Risk and Release Form • Flight Information Form • FERPA (Recommended) • Power of Attorney (Recommended) ALL FORMS AVAILABLE VIA THE PANTHERFILE LINK FROM YOUR PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE
Registration, Credit, and GPA • Course Equivalency Approval Form • Registration • Short-term • Semester Study Abroad • Exchange (UWinteriM/Sem/Year) • Non-UWM programs • Withdrawal from Program • Consider the consequences • Must be in writing • Continuing Registration • Credits • GPA
Program Evaluation & Academic Wrap Up • Transcripts • UWM students • Non-UWM students attending UWM programs must request an official transcript from Enrollment Services after fees are paid and grades are reported • UWM students attending non-UWM programs must have their transcripts sent to the CIE study abroad office for processing • Program Evaluation • Survey Monkey
Finances • Program Finances • Handling Money Abroad • Financial Aid
Program Finances • Play an active role in understanding your finances • CIE late fee policy for forms (refer to B-5 or B-5E) • Study Abroad budgets and revisions • Fee posting to PAWS account • Managing financeswhile abroad: • FERPA Release form • Power of Attorney form
Program Finances • Check the financial sectionof your PAWS account • Study Abroad Program: Program Fee • SA: Academic Costs (Found under tuition) • SA: Faculty Expenses (Found under other charges) • SA: Student Expenses (Found under other charges) • SA: Fees (Found under other charges) • Exchange Program: Tuition & Study Abroad Fees & Insurance • SA: Fees (Found under other charges) • Non-UWM Program: Study Abroad Fees & Insurance • SA: Fees (Found under other charges) • CISI Health Insurance
Handling Money Abroad • Multiple methods • ATM Withdrawals (credit or debit cards) • Know your pin! • Check with your bank to make sure your card will work overseas (e.g., Plus, Cirrus, Visa Check Card, etc.) • Let your bank know where you will be traveling so they don’t cancel your card • Travelers Debit Card • The “new” travelers check • Not tied to an account • Easily replaced if lost/stolen • Currency Converters for exchange rates • www.oanda.com • www.xe.com • We recommend arriving with 100.00 USD or the equivalent in foreign currency as a fall-back
~WARNING~ What you are about to witness involves important content but does not involve trained actors! Please forgive those involved…
Financial Aid Freak Out!
Financial Aid • Meet with an advisor • Aid disbursement through Cashier’s Office • Posting of loans and grants to PAWS • Alternative loans When you return from a semester or year-long program, your grades may not be immediately reported, in which case you would receive one of the following letters from financial aid:
If you receive this letter saying that you are ineligible, then you should contact a financial aid advisor.
If you receive this letter DON’T PANIC! You DO NOT need to contact the financial aid office. You will still receive your financial aid for the semester and the advisory status will be lifted as soon as your grades are reported.
Health and Safety
Health Insurance • CISI Insurance • Required by state of Wisconsin • Built into cost of your program—you do NOT need to purchase yourself • “Participant Portal”: http://www.culturalinsurance.com/ • Enter plan #: 9111660 • Review plan features • Download forms • Purchase additional insurance • Look-up claim • Print ID card • Review country-specific resources: overseas U.S. embassies/consulates; country profiles, health and vaccination info; DoS travel warning; links
Health Issues • Environment • Food and water safety • Insect bites • Injuries • Stress/ Anxiety • Common general health issues
Norris Health Center Travel Site • www4.uwm.edu/norris (under services drop down menu, click on travel) OR • www4.uwm.edu/norris/health_services/nhc_about_travel.cfm • Information regarding: appointments, costs, “no show fees”, travel forms, travel recommendation for some group programs, and travel tips
Immunizations Norris Health Center recommends: For all students: Be up to date on your routine vaccines: • Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis • Measles-Mumps-Rubella • Polio • Influenza For students traveling outside of Western Europe: • Hepatitis A For certain areas of the world: • Yellow Fever • Typhoid • Meningococcal Meningitis • Japanese Encephalitis
Prevention and Self Treatment • Insect bite prevention • Malaria Chemoprophylaxis • Self treatment of traveler’s diarrhea • Travel kit • Study country specific information
Crime Prevention • Don’t flaunt digital cameras, iPods, jewelry, etc. • Don’t bring/carry unnecessary items which can be stolen • Wear a money belt/ necklace • under your clothing • Don’t accept rides from • strangers or tell them where • you live
Crime Prevention • Avoid dark, unsafe/ unknown places and walking alone • Beware of people bumping and pushing you (pickpocket scheme) • Beware of date rape drugs • Behavior plays a factor • Listen to local advice
Safe Road Travel • More Americans are injured in traffic accidents abroad than by any other incident • Use public transportation whenever possible • Road travel reports can be found on the website: www.asirt.org
U.S. State Department Warnings • Prior to departure, check the U.S. State Dept. website for Consular Information Sheets and travel warnings http://travel.state.gov/ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html http://studentsabroad.state.gov/ • Check these before traveling to other countries during your study abroad • Avoid political activities or demonstrations
U.S. Embassy or Consulate Registration All program participants’ are registered with the U.S. Embassy in the host country. CIE will inform you of any travel warnings via email.
Emergencies • Real vs. perceived (venting) emergencies • Notify or consult with your program leader or in-country contact about the emergency prior to calling home or contacting CIE.
Emergency Contact Information • In the event of an EMERGENCY: • Seek help abroad FIRST • From your faculty leader • From the International Service Office on your campus • If needed, seek Help at UWM • Contact the Study Abroad Main Office: (414) 229-5182 • Business Hours (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) • Outside business hours, a message can be left on the office voicemail or you can be transferred to the Campus Police • Contact UWM Police: (414) 229-4627 • 24 Hours a day
Enculturation/Culture Shock • Recognizing culture shock • Anxiety/Depression • Becoming familiar with cultural norms • Journal writing and silent observation
Differences in Culture • Male/Female roles • Racial and ethnic concerns • LGBTQ: Sexual orientation and gender identity/expression abroad • Economic realities • Terrorism • Being a U.S. citizen abroad • Political awareness
Passports • Expedited service (if you don’t already have one) • Photocopies: • One copy in U.S. • One copy in CIE study abroad • One copy with you • Photocopy your visa (If applicable) • Extra passport photos • Parent, spouse, guardian passports
Travel Documents • Non-U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents are responsible for their own immigration documentation for enteringthe study abroad country orcountries (including transitcountries) and for re-entryinto the United States • Visas • ISIC card
Travel Logistics • Trip cancellation and travel insurance • Airline arrangements • Economy class • Routing • Getting your own airfare • Getting to and from the airport • Hotels • Shared rooms • Basic accommodations • Food • Choices limited • Vegetarian needs • Portion sizes
~WARNING~ What you are about to witness involves important content but does not involve trained actors! Please forgive those involved…
Packing Tips • Travel light!! You will have to carry what you pack. • Pack an interchangeable wardrobe • Bring GOOD walking shoes! • Take easy washables • Roll your clothes and use Ziploc bags for toiletries • In-country baggage requirements
Packing Tips • Medicine in original container • Bring copies of all prescriptions, including eyeglasses/contacts • TSA 3-1-1 rule