Orienting Students

Health screening, vaccinations & insurance

• Basic health and safety issues are covered in the mandatory student orientation. Make students aware of any country and/or site specific health concerns and possible risks/exposure. Provide resources for more information, but do not dispense medical advice!
• Students must complete an on-line self-disclosure health survey that will be available to them on their study abroad website account. This must be completed by the enrollment deadline.
• The Travel Clinic at Hall Health is a great resource for students traveling to locations outside of the United States. The center offers pre-travel counseling, advice on needed prescriptions, vaccinations (fee-for-service), etc. Vaccinations may be necessary for travel to certain locations, and a health professional is the best person to give these recommendations.
• Additional international health information can be obtained at the CDC website.
• The University of Washington requires study abroad participants purchase the UW Student Abroad insurance. Information regarding this policy can be found on the Office of Global Affairs website.

Passports & visas

• Students are responsible for having all necessary travel documents or visas for the program. The Study Abroad Office does not provide assistance with travel documents or visas.
• Make sure all your students are allowing adequate time to apply for and receive their passports. Visit the U.S. State Department website for more information.
• Be sure to check all entry requirements for your destination, some countries require visas. Many countries require passports to be valid for up to 6 months after departure from the country. Visit the U.S. State Department website for more information.
• Non-US citizens participating in your program may have different entry requirements, so these students need to check with the destination consulate/embassy to verify what additional documents (if any) they need for entry/travel in the host country.
• In the student section of our website, we have information for undocumented students to help them navigate the study abroad process and obtain the necessary travel documents that they need.
• State Department “Traveler’s Checklist.”

Flights & contact info

• Organize a meeting place for all students at the start of the program. This may be en-route to the final destination, the group hotel, classroom site, etc. Make sure students have very clear directions (in English and the local language) and a good idea of how to get there.
• The Program Director should be available and easy to contact on site prior to students’ designated arrival dates (unless traveling with students). Make sure students have your contact information and a back-up plan.
• Set out clear guidelines ahead of time for what students should do if they do not arrive at the initial meeting place as planned.
• Address how to access money and any other logistical issues related to traveling to the meeting point. 

Basic needs: housing & food

• Provide info about housing arrangements, regulations, etc. Establish clear expectations for students regarding housing, policies, property damage, etc.
• If students are staying in home-stays, discuss specific cultural norms and practical issues. Address concerns and encourage dialogue if problems arise on site.
• Discuss dining and food options, costs, local customs, any food risks.
• Discuss local alcohol laws and culture, and risks associated with excessive drinking.

Local transportation

• Availability and use of local transportation. Point out which modes of transportation are preferred, those recognized as unsafe, general costs associated, and how to purchase tickets.
• Discuss hitchhiking, motorcycles, and other tempting yet unsafe ways to get around.

Community

• General introduction to the community and its physical surroundings.
• Give details about living and traveling conditions with as much detail as possible to avoid “surprises” and student concerns.
• Discuss what it will be like to live and travel as a large group for a month. Address apprehensions about privacy, personal time, etc. Students will need to share, cooperate, and sacrifice individual needs and look after the group.
• Address in-country weather conditions and suggest items to pack (i.e. comfortable walking shoes). Discuss appropriate attire, both with regards to climate and cultural expectations.

Cultural behavior & considerations

• Remind students of their important role as ambassadors of the UW and US while abroad.
• Discuss what it means to be an American student/traveler in an international context.
• Address cultural norms and traditions, communication styles, etc. of host country and provide information and/or connect students with resources on navigating their identities abroad (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, socioeconomic status, etc.).
  • In the Identity Matters section of our website, you will find information and links to resources that can assist students in preparing to study abroad.
• Remind students that cultural adjustment is a normal part of many students’ experience abroad. Discuss this with them, and help to normalize the feelings that your students may encounter.
• Mention normal aspects of cultural adjustment and let students know they can and should come to you if they are having trouble at any time throughout the trip.

Communications, banking & money

• Highlight facilities for and access to mail, internet and telephones.
• Set expectations for frequency of access to phone and internet. Encourage students to set communication frequency expectations with family and loved ones before the leave.
• Laptops and cell phones: To bring or not to bring? Discuss in relation to required coursework. Rome Center programs require cell phones.
• Explain options and any barriers to managing money on-site (ATMs, banks, exchange rates, cash, travelers checks, credit cards).
• Help students plan how much money of their own they will need during the program.
• Consider procedures for financial emergencies. Remind students of what they are responsible for (personal spending, health, food, shopping, communications, etc).
• Discuss non-program-related travel: When is it okay and when is it not okay?
• Inform program director of travel plans, and if possible, leave contact addresses and/or phone numbers for use in emergency situations.
• Students are responsible for all costs and safety issues of non-official program travel.

Academic expectations

• Go over syllabus and program itinerary with students, answer questions, and discuss “what to expect” related to workload, travel, group work, learning outcomes, etc.
• Discuss in detail your expectations of students as they relate to grading and evaluation.
• Grading for study abroad is often based on non-traditional academic work. Make sure students are well-aware of expectations and what their grades are based on. To avoid confusion and conflict, put it in writing!

Behavioral expectations

• Discuss expectations (yours and theirs) for living, studying, traveling, and functioning as individuals and as a group. Consider creating a group code of conduct for the program. This can facilitate discussion and be a tool you can refer to if/when behavior issues arise.
• Explain what the roles of the program director, all staff and local coordinator are and aren’t.
• Remind students that they are bound by the UW Study Abroad Standards of Conduct and all local laws (that may be very different from U.S. laws) at all times during the program. Discuss with students how you will handle behavioral and disciplinary issues during the program.
• Discuss local laws concerning drug use, political activism, and other risky behavior, etc.
• Students may need to discuss and process the things they are experiencing on the program. Plan time for (and encourage) reflection and feedback between you and the students from the start of the program.
• Encourage your students to consult with the Health & Wellness team that work in Student Life to discuss any issues fears or concerns that may come up in the health screening survey or in orientations. livewell@uw.edu.

Alcohol & drug awareness

• Talk to your students about cultural norms around drug and alcohol use in the country you will be visiting. Consider what behaviors will be tolerated and which will not be permitted on the program. Talk to your students very explicitly about these rules.
• Do not assume every student on your program drinks.
• Discuss the Study Abroad Standards of Conduct and how it applies to alcohol consumption on program activities.
• Share research on the effects of drinking in a new environment. Our colleagues in Health & Wellness have put together an engaging presentation that you are welcome to share with your students.
• Ask your group to watch the presentation on their own and then discussing it as a group during one of your pre-departure orientation sessions.

Part One

Part Two

Emergency planning

• What to do, where to go, and who to contact in case.
• How to get a hold of program directors and other key local contacts.
• Assure students that an emergency action plan has been developed and that you are prepared. Attend Program Director Workshops to learn more about UW’s international emergency resources.
• Distribute emergency contact information to all students and UW Study Abroad. Consider making this information available on your course website as well—any way that will make it readily available.
• Ask students to make you aware of their personal medical/health considerations, so that you can help facilitate appropriate care as needed.
• For Rome Center programs, inform students that they are required to have a cell phone and review options to obtain a cell phone in Italy.

Review of medical and health facilities

• Go over emergency contact card with students, fill in appropriate local contacts and instruct students to have this card with them at all times. These cards are provided to students at the UW Study Abroad mandatory pre-departure orientation.
• Outline local medical facilities and norms for patient care in country.
• Discuss importance of having funds available for payment of medical and drug bills.
• Remind students that they are responsible for ALL medical expenses in country and that they are required to purchase On Call insurance in order to participate in the program.

• Guide students to take charge of their own health while abroad. For routine medical issues, students should be able to find a clinic and a doctor through On Call and should plan for this possibility before traveling by calling On Call. Directors should obviously help very ill students, but need not be fully responsible for basic health maintenance. Non emergency visits need to be scheduled in advance in order to be free at the time of service. Students can pay and get reimbursed for last minute non-emergency clinic visits.

Safety

• Discuss:
  • Country-specific safety concerns
  • Areas, neighborhoods, types of transportation to avoid
  • Common crimes of concern, and tricks used to dupe foreigners
  • Common gender roles and customs, and any specific safety concerns for women
  • Alcohol and drug use (local norms & laws, program expectations)
  • Political and social issues, including local attitudes towards foreigners.
  • Traveling alone
  • Water/food safety
  • Sex-related risks (harassment, assault, STIs, HIV/AIDS, etc.)
• Establish a common code for group safety, watching out for each other, etc.