Pre-departure Orientation

1. Faculty-led Travel Program Pre-departure Orientation

2. Overview • This orientation is designed to give you important information related to your program, but, like any orientation, cannot cover all situations that may arise during travel. • Students are encouraged to take ownership of their participation in this program, and do independent planning and research to improve their own experience.

3. Agenda • Administrative Overview • Program and Behavior Expectations • Health, Safety and Security Abroad • Creating a Personal Program Plan • Communication

4. Administrative Information • Required Forms: • Online application • Disciplinary release • Assumption of Risk & Release Form • Medical Authorization form • Medical Questionnaire • Emergency contact information • HTH registration (international programs only!) • Program specific requirements… • Course registration • Form to be turned into 214 MMH if not done already • Tuition billed to Bursar account – must be paid prior to trip

5. Academic Information • Courses offered in this program • Register using the Credit Workshop Registration form if you have not done so already! • Meeting schedule • Syllabus review • Assignments • Relationship between program activities and course requirements • Grading

6. Itinerary Overview • Travel arrangements and dates • Housing arrangements • Daily itinerary • Subject to change? • Free time • Dress code for events? • Note: the entire ‘trip’ is an academic program- but there may be structured and unstructured (free) program time. Plan your experiences accordingly.

7. Program Rules & Expectations • Students are held accountable to the Miami Student Code of Conduct through the entire program (even ‘free’ time). Infractions will not be tolerated and could result in sanctions up to and including removal from the program at student expense. • This is part of the Assumption of Risk and Release you signed. • Program-specific expectations • Full participation • Culturally appropriate behavior and dress code • Buddy system • Others?

8. Program Rules & Expectations • Local law: There are differing standards, both for behavior and for operation of the criminal justice system and advised that the University will not assume responsibility for or resolve criminal matters on your behalf. • You will be subject to the laws or customs of the cities and countries and that Miami University is not responsible for the violation of any laws by the participants and Miami University does not assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in other countries and that Miami University does not provide or pay for legal representation. • This is part of the Assumption of Risk and Release you signed.

9. Program Rules & Expectations • Students are also held accountable to host rules and expectations (agreed to with Assumption of Risk and Release form) • Relationships with hosts and host policies • These relationship are important to the continued success of this program. Treat hosts (including hotels) with respect. • Host specific rules – students are held accountable to these, and could impact Miami disciplinary proceedings

10. Drugs and Alcohol • Miami University does not tolerate unlawful possession, use of, or distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol by students. • Students who are of local legal age who choose to consume alcohol in a host country, must do so responsibly, respecting the health and safety of self, others, and the laws of their host country. • Program directors are free to elect to make the program alcohol free and to impose a no alcohol and/or drugs (e.g., in places where marijuana is legal) as a condition of participation in the program. • Agreed to as part of Assumption of Risk and Release form. • Students are encourage to remember that this is a STUDY program, and that academics should be emphasized throughout program.

11. Supplemental Travel • All pre-course, supplemental, or post-course travel is at the student’s own risk and is not sanctioned, overseen or insured by Miami University. • If you choose to travel before or after the program, or on ‘free days’, you assume all related risk • Supplemental travel may not interfere with program requirements and expectations • This was agreed to via Assumption of Risk and Release form. • Should you choose to travel on ‘free days’ – communicate your travel plans with program director

12. Cultural Information • One of the fundamental aspects of a study abroad/away program is cultural interactions and insights. • Students are encouraged to research local cultures and customs • Travel guide books • http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/ • Other culture guides

13. Local Culture • Director to provide local cultural insights, particularly as they relate to program, such as * but not limited to* • Dress • Religion • Business interactions • Education • Greetings • Meals • Art, architecture, music

14. Adjusting to the Culture • Avoid making judgments (‘That’s a bad way to do that…’) or assumptions, but rather try to understand the why’s behind actions (including your own!) • Reflect on the experience • It can be challenging to adjust to local cultures – this is called culture shock • Many students experiences this – if it affects you, please talk about it with other students and/or your director

15. Travel Health • Medical care, including mental health care, emergency medical care and medicine may not be as available and/or of a quality comparable to that available in the United States. • Miami will seek to accommodate students with physical or learning disabilities wherever possible, but needs must be coordinated with Disability Services and communicated with director early. • Students are strongly encouraged to take ownership for their own health • Talk with family doctor, mental health professionals, and/or travel nurse prior to departure

16. Travel Health • Take responsibility • Students should become informed about their health abroad • Center for Disease Control’s Travelers’ Health - http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ • International SOS Country Overview – www.internationalsos.com Local Health risks include:

17. HTH Insurance (int’l prgs) • All students participating on Miami study abroad programs are required to purchase supplemental international health, evacuation, accidental death, and repatriation insurance (HTH insurance). • When possible, call HTH prior to any medical appointment • Call collect 001-610-254-8771 • HTH can identify partner hospitals nearby, or English-speaking doctors • Can provide liaison between doctors and parents if desired • If needed, keep receipts for treatment and file claim for reimbursement

18. International SOS • All students participating on Miami study abroad programs are covered via annual membership • Use International SOS to: • Find information about health and safety risks BEFORE you travel (no cost) • Is your medication legal where you are traveling? (no cost) • Assist in the event of an emergency, such as paying for medical bills, finding quality medical care, emergency evacuation for health, safety and security reasons (additional cost may be needed)

19. Safety Information • Miami strives to create a safe environment for programs, but there is inherent risk in travel • Unfamiliar areas or crime culture • Unfamiliar driving customs • Difference in building standards • Location-specific safety information available through International SOS and Dept of State • http://travel.state.gov/ • Local safety risks include:

20. Safety Information • Ways to reduce risk (be proactive!) • Use local resources – i.e., ask hotel concierge areas of town to avoid • Be aware of your surroundings; travel in small groups • Pick pockets tend to target tourists – do your best to avoid looking like one • Use only sanctioned public transportation • If you chose to drink, do so responsibly • If something feels uncomfortable or unsafe, respond accordingly • Register your travel with the US Dept of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program – will get email alerts about travel warnings / alerts • If something does happen, report it to your director so that other students can be warned as well • Victim privacy will be maintained

21. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program • US Department of State traveler registration program: http://travel.state.gov/step • When you sign up, you will automatically receive the most current information we compile about the country where you will be traveling or living. You will also receive updates, including Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts (where appropriate). You only need to sign up once, and then you can add and delete trips from your account based on your current travel plans! • Will also send alerts about planned protests • DoS is better able to assist in the event of an emergency, including a lost passport • You must sign up for your study abroad program – and you are strongly encouraged to do so for side trips

22. In the Event of an Emergency • Emergency contact cards are provided – please fill in with program-specific information • Use local, on-site resources to assist with immediate needs FIRST

23. Harassment, Discrimination and Title IX • Students are strongly encouraged to immediately contact the program director, a staff person accompanying the program and/or the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity (513) 529-7157, Kenya Ash, Director (ashkd@miamioh.edu) if the person believes they are being subjected to harassment or discrimination during a travel study program. • Students and employees must be strongly encouraged to immediately contact the program director, a staff person accompanying the program, and/or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Student Sexual Assault (513) 529-1870 if the person believes they have been the victim of rape, sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, or stalking.