Contact Us | Faculty Login | Site Map 

Pre-Departure Resources

Orientation
Course Approval Process
Insurance
Cell Phones While Abroad

 

Orientation

All students are required to attend the mandatory pre-departure orientation. For Spring programs, the orientation is held in early November. For Fall and Year programs, the orientation is held in March. CIPA will contact students directly with the date and location of orientation.

During orientation, the CIPA advisors will cover critical information such as academic credit issues, emergency contact information, health and safety, and cultural adjustment issues while abroad.

Study Abroad Orientation Materials

The following materials were given to students during the mandatory pre-departure orientation.

Emory Study Abroad Handbook

Academic Credit Policies

Culture Shock Handbook (Please enter g5csv password to access the document).

Study Abroad Emergency Contact Card

Insurance Information

Health Insurance Claim Form

Avian Flu Information

Important Pre-Departure Reminders

Financial Aid Checklist

Disability Form for Study Abroad Self-Identification

Post Office Information

Housing Information
- The Office of Residence Life provides information on housing placement online.
- CIPA has a learnlink conference (CIPA Programs Abroad) with a sub-conference (Post Abroad Roommates) for students looking for roommates upon return to Emory's campus. Please note: this site is only for students looking for roommates. Any questions regarding housing placement should be directed towards the Office of Residence Life.

Parking Information

Passport Information
For students who need to apply for a passport or renew a passport, the National Passport Office is experiencing a record demand for passports.  Processing times have increased to 10-12 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service. Several reports indicate even longer processing times, so please apply early! To apply, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.  

U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007.  After that date, a passport will be required for air travel.  U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html . This does not affect entry requirements to other countries. 

Due to record demand, it is very difficult to get through to the National Passport Information Center by phone or by email.  If you are traveling within two weeks and still have not received your passport, it is recommended that you contact your local congressional representative to expedite the process. Call the local branch of the office and ask to speak to the constituent services representative who handles passports. It is advised that you begin this process a full two weeks before you are scheduled to depart. 

If you still haven’t received your passport, make an appointment to appear in-person at a regional passport office by calling 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Press 1 and then 2 to reach the automated system to schedule an appointment.   

Course Approval Process

One of the advantages of studying on an Emory-approved program is that you earn Emory credit AND grades for the courses you take. However, you do not automatically receive credit for any course that you take at an overseas institution. Emory academic departments evaluate specific courses to determine if they meet Emory's standards and are appropriate for Emory credit.

It is CIPA policy that you obtain approval for ALL classes you take abroad. You cannot take classes for which you cannot obtain approval.

Credit approval can take place in one of two ways. Check with CIPA to see which procedure you need to follow for your particular program.

1) Blanket-approved courses: For some programs, “blanket approvals” from academic departments are on file with CIPA. If a course has been blanket-approved, it indicates that you do not have to go to a department and seek approval from them for that particular course overseas- the course approval is automatic. Please contact your CIPA advisor to see if there are blanket-approved courses on file for your program.

2) General course approvals: For most programs, you need to submit a “Course Equivalence” form. On this form, you list the courses you anticipate taking overseas. You then take a copy of the course description or syllabus to the Faculty Study Abroad Representative in each relevant academic department. The departmental representative will review your choices and determine the Emory course equivalent and the type of credit to be earned (major, minor, GER, or elective).

Please visit this website for a list of departmental representatives:
http://www.cipa.emory.edu/pdf/Faculty_SARep.pdf.

Faculty can also email your CIPA advisor directly in place of signing the Course Equivalence Form.

You are supposed to seek approval for courses prior to departure –the Course Equivalence Form is due to CIPA by April 1 for Fall and Year programs and by November 1 for Spring programs.

Students on some programs will know their course enrollments ahead of time, while students on other programs will not organize their schedules until they arrive. Therefore, it is advised that you get as many courses pre-approved as possible, as this gives you maximum flexibility when constructing your course schedule for your study abroad program. The more you do now, the less you have to do later, and the less you have to stress about the course approvals once you arrive abroad. Be sure to take a copy of the Course Equivalence Form abroad with you.

If there are new classes on offer once you arrive on-site or you enroll in other courses not previously approved, you should contact the appropriate Faculty Study Abroad Representatives via email during the program’s on-site add/drop period. You are advised to take care of all outstanding approvals during this period – do not wait until your return to Emory. It is your responsibility to make sure your CIPA advisor has a copy of this approval in writing (received as a “cc” of the email or sent directly from the Faculty Study Abroad Representative). You should also keep a copy of all approvals – CIPA recommends that you print out the emails and bring them home with you.

You should keep copies of all syllabi, coursework, papers, and exams in case you need to verify your work with Emory faculty when you return. (Some academic departments only provide provisional approval for study abroad courses and request to see this work upon your return to finalize the course approvals.)

Please note: While abroad, students must maintain a standard full course load of classes as defined by the host institution; this would typically be equivalent to 16 credits at Emory. You should check with both your overseas coordinator and your CIPA advisor to verify your registration.

Insurance

For all Emory semester programs, the program cost for study abroad includes supplemental medical insurance for international travel provided by T.W. Lord and Associates. Before your departure, CIPA will automatically submit your information to the insurance company. You do not need to complete any paperwork to be enrolled in the policy. You will receive a copy of the insurance policy brochure and an insurance card in the mail (sent to your permanent address) prior to the start of the program.

The T.W. Lord insurance policy provides supplemental coverage while abroad. The insurance policy is meant to be supplemental to any insurance coverage you normally receive. Therefore, you must check with your current insurance provider to find out what will be covered while you are abroad and to understand the policy payments and claim system. If you see a doctor abroad, expect to make up-front payments, most likely in cash, and then you will have to file for a refund from your insurance company. If your current insurance provider does not cover you while overseas, then the study abroad insurance provided by Emory will serve as your primary policy. 

Please note: All Emory students are required to carry a primary insurance policy as mandated by Emory University, effective Fall Semester 2006. Information about the mandatory health insurance policy is available online at: http://www.college.emory.edu/current/courses/health/index.html

In some cases, the primary insurance policy that you are currently enrolled in may not cover certain conditions or needs while abroad. As a student enrolled in an Emory study abroad program, the T.W. Lord insurance policy will provide supplemental coverage for the duration of the program (including two days prior to the start of on-site orientation until two days after classes end).

If you are planning to travel before or after the program and would like additional coverage for this timeframe, then you may contact T.W. Lord and Associates directly to sign up for additional days. Students are responsible for paying for any additional coverage beyond the duration of the academic program.

Contact Information:  
TW Lord and Associates Tel: 770-427-2461
Toll-free: 800-633-2360

Worldwide Assistance Services From within the US and Canada: 800-243-6124

Worldwide Assistance Services Outside the US and Canada: international collect 202-331-1596  

Health Insurance Claim Form

Emory Study Abroad Insurance Brochure

Worldwide Assistance Services

Included in the health insurance program is access to the 24-hour Worldwide Assistance network for emergency assistance anywhere in the world. In case of emergency, call the number listed above. The multilingual staff will answer your call in English and immediately provide reliable, professional, and thorough assistance.

The following services are included in the program:

1. Referral to the nearest, most appropriate medical facility, and/or provider
2. Medical monitoring by board-certified emergency physicians in the United States
3. Urgent message relay between family, friends, personal physician, school, and insured.
4. Guarantee of payment to provider and assistance in coordinating insurance benefits.
5. Arranging and coordinating emergency medical evacuations and repatriations
6. Emergency travel arrangements for disrupted travel as the consequence of a medical emergency
7. Referral to legal assistance
8. Assistance in locating lost or stolen items including lost ticket application processing. These services are included in the insurance provided in this program.

Worldwide Assistance Services From within the US and Canada: 800-243-6124

Worldwide Assistance Services Outside the US and Canada: international collect 202-331-1596   

Cell Phones

CIPA, in cooperation with Platform 3000 and PicCell Wireless, is offering the option to students studying abroad to receive free cell phone rentals (with a $19.90 processing fee) and discounted calling rates. *Students studying abroad in Japan will be charged a rental rate of $1.55/day. Package features include free incoming calls while students are in the service’s home country, a pay-as-you-go plan, English-speaking customer service, and the option for lost or stolen insurance. Phones come equipped with alarm clocks, voicemail, text messaging, call waiting and caller ID. Not all program destinations are eligible. Cell phones are not required by the programs, but the main advantage is that students will receive their phones and numbers before they depart. Students will be responsible for signing individual contracts. To learn more or to sign up, visit http://www.piccellwireless.com/emory.

 

 

 

CIPA | 1385 Oxford Road | Emory University | Atlanta, GA 30322 | 404-727-2240 | cipa@emory.edu 

 

Copyright © Emory University
Last update: April 6, 2006
Please direct questions or comments to cipa@emory.edu