JANUARY TERM STUDY ABROAD/AWAY INFORMATION

INCOMING FRESHMAN may sign up for the following study away courses, space permitting.  Courses will fill up early, so sign up now!  If you are not accepted into one of your choices, your deposit will be refunded.   

• COM 299 U.S. Presidential Inauguration Seminar in Washington, D.C.  
• EDU 203 Multicultural Education in Dubuque & Chicago. 
• ENG 253 Native Voices, Native Lives in Cherokee, North Carolina.  
• HIS 227 The March for Life:  American Catholics, Sexual Morality and Public Policy in Washington D.C.
• SOC 295 Racism, Poverty and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA 

To Apply  (Incoming Freshman)
    1) Read / review all of the contents of this page
    2) Read / review the Participation Agreement (pdf) 
    3) Print and complete Application Form (pdf) 
    4) Prepare a check of money order for $300 payable to ‘Loras College’
    5) Mail your check along with your deposit to:
           Loras College
           Office of the Registrar (Box 1)
           1450 Alta Vista
           Dubuque, IA   52001

RETURNING STUDENTS APPLICATION DEADLINE for January Term 2009 study away courses: April 23
There is still space available for some study away and abroad courses.  Please contact course faculty prior to applying to see if space is still available before applying.  If you are not accepted into one of your choices, your deposit will be refunded.   

To Apply (Returning students)
    1) Read / review all of the contents of this page
    2) Read / review the Participation Agreement (pdf) 
    3) 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
    4) Print and submit the completed Application Form (pdf)  and the deposit receipt to The Registrar’s Office, Room 135 Keane Hall.

Non-refundable deposit due with application:  $300
First payment due September 1:  $500
The remaining balance (if any) will be due in November.   

Study Abroad Coordinator:  Eric Miller, eric.miller@loras.edu, (563)588-7026  ACC#590.
Contact May 27-June 27:  Dean of Experiential Learning:  Mary Ellen Carroll, Maryellen.carroll@loras.edu, (563)588-7575

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

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 non-refundable deposit, and are committing to paying for the costs associated with the trip, so you should take the time to read through this document 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 this document 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 in room 590 of the Alumni Campus Center.  

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 turn in your application along to the Registrar’s Office in 135 Keane Hall.  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.   

Upon application, Loras college faculty and staff will review your application, access your academic records 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. 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 indicate up to two alternate programs. If you indicate an alternate program, you will first be considered for your initial choice.  If you are not accepted into your first choice, you will automatically be considered for the alternate program unless you are determined to be ineligible to participate in any study away course. If you are not accepted into that program, you will be considered for your second alternate. By indicating alternates you are committing to participation in the alternate course you are admitted to if your first choice is not available.  

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 will be required to pay an additional amount equal to or less than the full course fees.

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, meals, and textbooks are expenses students will often need to pay in addition to the course fee. 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 of $300 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. As arrangements are finalized, money is committed for each student participant to a service provider (to book airfare, reserve hotel rooms, etc.) in the form of either a deposit or full payment. Should a student withdraw or be excluded or expelled from a program after the non-refundable deposit has been paid, he/she will be responsible for paying the total sum of money committed on his/her behalf beyond the non-refundable deposit. If a student is expelled during a trip, they will likely be responsible for the full costs of the trip. 

It is important to understand that in most cases it is necessary for the college to make payments in advance of the trip in order to confirm reservations. Even in cases where the student is forced to withdraw from the course for reasons beyond their control, Loras College may be unable to get a refund and therefore will need to bill the student for course costs.

Example: A student withdraws from a program in August due to a serious illness.  At that time, Loras College has purchased an airline ticket ($850) for the student and has paid in full ($1,250) for the student’s accommodations for the program.  The airline ticket is non-refundable and the accommodation provider is unable to provide any refund. The total cost of the airline ticket and the accommodations ($2,100) will be charged to the student’s account, and the non-refundable deposit will be used against these charges. Unfortunately, the student will be responsible for the remaining balance due. 

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 should notify the faculty and the Study Abroad Coordinator as soon as possible in writing. In some cases, the college may be able to recover some of the costs of the trip and pass those savings along to the student. 

If you withdraw your application within one month of the application deadline, you will receive a full refund of your deposit and not be held responsible for any course fees.  Withdraw must be made in writing to the Study Abroad Coordinator. 

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Because cancellations, even for most medical reasons, do not guarantee a refund, students are strongly encouraged to consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
A payment of $500 will be due in September. This will help the college to track each students’ continued commitment to participate in the course and help to spread out course payments. The remaining balance, if any, will be due along with the Spring term bill in November.  Because January term courses are Spring term courses, students will need to come up with the initial $300 and $500 payments before receiving any applicable financial aid. Students who feel they will have difficulty raising the funds should discuss their situation with both their family and the Financial Planning Office.   

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Since your application and deposit indicates commitment to participate in the trip, you should also review the participation agreement before signing up for a trip. This agreement is subject to change.