JANUARY TERM STUDY ABROAD/AWAY INFORMATION

APPLICATION DEADLINE for January Term 2010 study away courses: September 30.

First-year students are not eligible for international study away courses, but may apply for domestic courses during the Fall application period. 

To Apply 

1. Read / review all of the contents of this page
2. Read/review the January Term Policies page 
3. Read / review the Participation Agreement (pdf) 
4. Pay the deposit at the Cashier’s Window in 150 Keane Hall (Hours: 9AM-3 PM; you may pay by cash, check or credit card) and, 
5. Complete the online application form
   (link available after reviewing all the contents of this page) 

Deposit due with application for courses costing $1,000 or more: $500

Deposit due with application for courses costing between $200 and less than $1,000: $100

Deposits will be refunded if a student is not accepted into the course of if a course is canceled.  Please read “January Term Policies” for more information about the deposit and refund policies.   

For questions about general policies or the application, please contact the Study Abroad Coordinator:  Eric Miller, eric.miller@loras.edu, (563)588-7026, ACC#590.

For details about specific courses, contact the course faculty listed in the course listings. 

Note that where there is any doubt, the “January Term Policies” and the “Participation Agreement” supersede all information included in this document or communicated by any Loras staff or faculty. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY
Before you apply to a January term study away program, including a study abroad program, it is important that you understand what signing up means for you. You are paying a deposit which is non-refundable in most cases, and will be responsible for additional costs associated with the trip even before you must make another payment.  Please take the time to read through the January Term Policies and understand exactly what you are signing up for and what your rights and responsibilities are. 

You should share this information with your parents or guardians, especially if they are paying for your participation in the course. You must be at least 18 years old in order to participate.

We are not asking you to simply sign the application for legal purposes, but instead hope that you will really pay attention to what it says and ask questions if you are unclear on any points.  If you have questions, please contact the Study Abroad Coordinator.

JANUARY TERM TRAVEL COURSES
First, it is important to understand that these are classes, not tours, that Loras College is not a travel agency, and that the college does not seek to make a profit from these trips.  Participation in pre-departure meetings and all aspects of the course are mandatory except where specifically indicated as optional.  Second, it is important to know that policies and expectations are necessarily somewhat different from those on campus as outlined below and in the Participation Agreement.

In the end, virtually all students find these experiences very worthwhile and enthusiastically recommend them to other students but you need to be aware of the special nature of study away courses. As participants in an intensive course, you need to be prepared for a highly structured experience with demanding assignments and a minimum of free time.  You also must be prepared to approach new cultures and circumstances (including those within the United States) with an open mind. 

The college has high standards of conduct for all participants on these programs, who are expected to be on their best behavior, reflect well upon the College and the United States, and to make decisions that support the success of the course.  Students who are not interested in traveling under these terms are strongly urged not to apply. Please review the Participation Agreement carefully prior to applying.

These are courses that require intensive assignments around the subject of the course. Itineraries will also be determined by the course, not by what sites might be popular with tourists.  Therefore, you should select a course based on the course topic, and not simply the destination location or country(s).

Independent travel is prohibited in connection with January term trips.  If you have a desire to visit a country independently or to visit friends or relatives, then you should travel to the country on your own. Unfortunately, it is simply not practical for the college to be involved in making special arrangements to accommodate individual travel plans.

Loras College weighs these risks when planning courses, but this does not imply that there is no risk. Also, everyone’s tolerance for risk varies. Your participation in the program indicates you have made your own investigation of these risks and are willing to accept these risks.  Also, although Loras College does its best to provide safe travel opportunities, circumstances abroad vary and you must be responsible for your own health and safety while on these trips. 

ACCOMODATIONS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
Although students are required to take January term courses, participation in study abroad/away courses is voluntary. The college endeavors to create trips that are educational, safe and comfortable. The college also seeks to make trips accessible to students with special needs as required by law.  International travel, however, often involves compromises. For example, accessibility is very limited in some destinations. In many, fire safety in hotels is not up to U.S. standards.  In some cases access to bathing facilities or private sleeping quarters may be very limited. Students must discuss any and all concerns with course faculty and the Study Abroad Coordinator prior to applying. Even when disclosed, the college cannot guarantee that all needs can be accommodated. In most cases, Loras staff accompanying students are not trained counselors or medical professionals. 

APPLICATION PROCESS
Pay your deposit to the Cashier’s office and then complete your application online.  Make out checks to ‘Loras College’. You may also pay by cash or credit card in person at the Cashier’s Office in Keane Hall.  When you pay your deposit, you will receive a receipt number that you need to enter when completing your application.  Your application will not be reviewed until both the deposit is paid and the application completed.   

Upon application, Loras college faculty and staff will review your application, access your academic records, conduct records, and your advisor, and may also check with additional faculty and staff on-campus to confirm your ability to successfully participate in this program.  Some course faculty may also require interviews prior to making a decision.

When you apply for the program, you also submit a deposit. Choose carefully, your deposit indicates your commitment to participate in the program and pay all associated costs if accepted into the program according to the payment and refund schedule outlined in “January Term Policies”.  If you are not accepted, your deposit will be refunded to you. If you are not accepted you may be waitlisted.  In that case, your deposit will be refunded to you if you withdraw from consideration in writing, or if you are not accepted into the program by the final add date.

You may only apply for one course at a time.  If you are not accepted into a course or your first choice is cancelled, you will have the opportunity to apply for other courses that still have space. 

BILLING & PAYMENT POLICIES
IMPORTANT: When you apply for a study away course you are committing to pay for expenses in addition to the initial deposit.  If you chose to withdraw from the program or are expelled from the program, your deposit will not be refunded and you may be required to pay an additional amount equal to or less than the full course fees.  Please see the document “January Term Policies” for details.

PROGRAM COSTS
Students are responsible for reviewing individual program descriptions to know exactly what is and what is not included in the program fee. Passports, vaccinations, meals, and textbooks are expenses students will often need to pay in addition to the course fee.  These costs may amount to several hundred dollars. Announced costs are approximate and are based on a minimum number of students per program. Every effort is made to operate the program at the stated price. All program sponsors, including Loras College, reserve the right to adjust fees due to dollar devaluation, fuel surcharges and general inflation.  Course costs vary from under $1,000 for some domestic courses to $4,500 for some international trips. Refer to the course description for more information prior to applying.

PROGRAM DEPOSIT
Students applying to Loras College programs have been required to submit a non-refundable deposit to indicate their commitment to participation in the program. This deposit will be applied to the costs of the program.  Payment of the non-refundable deposit authorizes Loras College and the faculty program leader to begin making final arrangements on behalf of each student for air travel, in-country lodging, transportation, and activities.

Full payment of program costs for students enrolled in a short-term program will be due with the Spring term bill, whether or not the student actually participates in the trip. If a student decides to withdraw from a trip, they must formally drop the course through the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible in writing.  Out of courtesy, they should also communicate with the course instructor, but communication with the course instructor does not constitute a formal withdraw, and will not prevent a student from being responsible for additional course related charges.    

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
Students will be billed for the remaining balance of the course.  Because January term courses are Spring term courses, students will need to come up with the initial deposit before receiving any applicable financial aid.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM (network portal access required to open application form)