LVAIC Study Abroad Summer Program Policy:

Eligibility

Students eligible for LVAIC Summer Programs must be full-time undergraduates in good standing at the home institution. Interested students should consult with faculty from their language department who can assess their ability to profit from such a program. Beginning language students are advised to consult with the LVAIC Program Director before applying.

All accepted students must remain in good standing at the home institution if they wish to participate in the program. If any LVAIC or other applicant is placed on probation or dropped for poor scholarship or violation of the social code at the end of spring term, that student forfeits the right to attend the LVAIC program and is responsible for any financial penalties due to late withdrawal (see below).

Housing

In Germany, Mexico, Italy, and Spain, students live with families who have been screened and interviewed by LVAIC representatives. Students should respect the customs of their hosts and understand that they will need to adjust to differences from their own culture. If a student has unusual difficulty due to a housing arrangement, he or she should consult with the LVAIC Program Director, who will make necessary decisions or negotiations on the student’s behalf.

The Program Director

Each summer program is directed by an LVAIC institution faculty member who has no outside commitments during participation in the program. The faculty member has the final authority and responsibility for the administration of the program at the international location. The Program Director may give assignments outside of class and will determine final grades based on the student’s overall participation and progress, including coursework. As LVAIC representative, the Program Director may take reasonable and necessary action on behalf of students who become physically or psychologically incapacitated, or whose health is otherwise jeopardized.

Credits and Grades

Students are required to participate in and will be graded on all aspects of the program, including the cultural component. Each program offers a minimum of 90 hours of instruction. Upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed course of study, students will receive at least six credits or two units of credit from the LVAIC host institution. The total credit is given for study at the elementary, intermediate or advanced level in language and culture. The determination of the level is up to the Program Director in consultation with faculty from the host institutions at home or abroad.

Language program grades will be counted as part of the student’s cumulative grade point at his or her LVAIC college or university. The LVAIC host institution’s policies on the timing and release of grades, course withdrawal, and drop and pass/fail options can be obtained from the Program Director or from the host institution catalog.

The final number of credits/units assigned by the student’s home institution is the responsibility of the student’s home registrar. Students from non-LVAIC institutions should consult the appropriate office at their home institution about transferability of credit and submit a signed LVAIC Program Approval Form with the LVAIC application.

All students who wish to satisfy specific degree requirements with credits earned on this program are responsible themselves for any procedures required by the home institution.

Student Conduct Abroad

Students’ behavior abroad reflects on their families, their institutions and the nation. Students are expected to refrain from excessive consumption of alcohol while they are guests in another country. The Program Director has authority to dismiss students from the program for any behavior which endangers the health, safety, welfare or educational opportunities of other students, or which is injurious to the good name of LVAIC or any of its affiliate institutions.

In the event of an emergency or in the event of departure from the program due to dismissal or illness, parents, guardians, or any other parties the student has indicated will automatically be contacted.

Costs

The program fees for the summer of 2003 were $4,900 for Germany, $4,890 for Italy, $3,990 for Mexico, and $4,990 for Spain. The 2004 fees will be finalized in April and will depend on the number of students enrolled and, in some cases, the exchange rate. The program fees cover round trip airfare; tuition for instruction; room and full board; cultural excursions (including fees to all museums, galleries, palaces, etc.); daily and special transportation requirements; the services of the LVAIC Program Director and the institution abroad; and LVAIC domestic administrative support. The Spain program fee also includes health insurance in Spain through the Center for Cross-Cultural Study. Students pay separately for their own books on some programs and for Education Abroad Group Health Insurance.

Payment Schedule

A non-refundable deposit of $300 with the student’s application is required by February 15, an installment of $1,500 by March 15, and the remaining balance by April 15. All fees should be sent directly to LVAIC, 130 W. Greenwich St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Withdrawal from the Program

LVAIC will assess substantial penalties above and beyond the non-refundable deposit against students who withdraw within one month prior to the departure date. No deduction or refund of fees can be allowed for absence, withdrawal, or dismissal once the program has begun (on the date of group departure). Under these circumstances, the individual must pay the cost of an early return to the United States.

Insurance

To supplement primary healthcare insurance and provide for emergency situations overseas, LVAIC requires that all participants subscribe to an inexpensive Education Abroad Insurance Plan that offers coverage for secondary health care, medical assistance, medical evacuation, and repatriation. It also includes minimal coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and for dental care. Students will be billed for this plan in addition to the regular Program Fee.

Students or their families are responsible for primary health-care coverage and for all medical expenses not covered by insurance in the event of an accident or illness during participation in the LVAIC program. The student medical insurance available through the home college may provide coverage overseas. Also, students may be covered by their parents’ health care benefits for certain medical costs incurred abroad. However, not all companies provide out-of-country coverage, nor do they pay the same portion of the costs of reimbursable health care for persons who are abroad. Participants on the LVAIC Program in Spain receive some overseas health insurance through the Center for Cross-Cultural Study, but it does not cover pre-existing or psychological conditions. Students and their parents are, therefore, urged to check the provisions of their student and other personal or family policies well before the departure date.

Students and their families are also responsible for program costs upon withdrawal, and for any theft or damage to personal property during the period abroad. Students may wish to buy their own insurance to cover program costs in the event of withdrawal, and they should check property insurance policies before departure.

Passports

All participants need a valid passport to travel on these programs. United States citizens should allow up to 25 business days to apply for a passport. LVAIC will mail out application information to those students who require it. Students from countries other than the United States should contact their international student adviser for travel instructions.

Pre-Flight Orientation

Program Directors hold orientation meetings in April or May, to which registered students are invited. These sessions give students the opportunity to meet one another and to receive instructions and valuable tips for their travel and participation in the program. Students are advised of any known political risks in the area, precautions to take against crime or dangerous road or traffic conditions, and cultural and legal differences. Students and parents are encouraged to share personal concerns with the Program Director.

Program Evaluation

All students and program directors are required to complete written evaluations of each program sponsored by LVAIC. Periodically, LVAIC programs are evaluated by the Middle States Association (a regional accrediting body) and by faculty at other respected academic institutions.

The Application Process

• Contact the specific LVAIC Program Director (listed with individual programs) for detailed information and application materials.

• Submit the Application with a non-refundable $300 deposit (check made out to "LVAIC") by February 15 to: LVAIC Summer Programs, 130 W. Greenwich Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018.

• The following forms will be sent to students once the application is received and they have been accepted on the program.

  1. The Student Health Form

  2. The Agreement and Release Statement (to be signed by parent or guardian if student is under 21).

  3. The LVAIC Health Insurance Form

• LVAIC students must obtain an LVAIC Cross-Registration Form from the student’s home registrar. The form should be signed by the student’s academic advisor and registrar, then sent to the LVAIC office no later than March 15. LVAIC will forward a copy to the appropriate host institution (Lafayette College for Germany, Lafayette College for Italy, Muhlenberg College for Mexico, and Lehigh University for Spain) and return a copy with all signatures to the student.

• Non-LVAIC students, upon application, will be sent a Program Approval Form to be signed by the academic advisor and registrar. They should request that an official transcript be sent to LVAIC by March 15.

There is a limit of twenty-two students per program. LVAIC reserves the right to cancel a program with full refund, if fewer than ten students have registered by April 1.

130 West Greenwich Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
T 610-625-7888   F 610-625-7891   E TengesT@lvaic.org