The following email was sent on November 17, 2021 to students considering studying abroad in spring 2022.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We are writing to provide you with some updates about study abroad, since your student is planning to participate in a semester Study Abroad program in Spring 2022. Information on the chosen program can be found on the Lehigh University Study Abroad website.
Please reference our informational updates sent on 10/7/2021 and 11/1/2021. We continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 worldwide. The pandemic continues to be a factor that will impact the spring 2022 semester. Lehigh continually monitors conditions in host countries, and approval may need to be revoked should conditions change significantly. Students should carefully review airfare cancellation policies and are strongly encouraged to purchase cancellation insurance for all in-country costs. Our partners overseas will work to make program adjustments that may be needed. We expect conditions worldwide will remain fluid, which will likely result in program changes or interruptions; students should be prepared to experience changes to programming, possible increased restrictions to movement within a country or region, and other unforeseen conditions. As a reminder, we have created a webpage with information and resources related to Study Abroad during the global pandemic, including information on Risk management and review, vaccination information for study abroad, considerations for programming during the covid-19 pandemic, and status of Spring 2022 programming. Please be sure to review this information carefully.
Of course, there are many things beyond COVID-19 that families need to be informed about, and we discuss these below. Although Lehigh students are themselves responsible for all aspects of preparation, participation, and completion of their program, the university strongly encourages students to keep their parents/guardians fully informed throughout the application process. Through this letter, the Study Abroad Office (SAO) would like to draw your attention to some of the topics that we hope will stimulate a discussion between you and your student about study abroad, including travel, cultural immersion, finances, health, conduct, and academic value.
Usually parents/guardians are concerned about costs, credit transfer, time away from Lehigh, health and safety, insurance coverage, and documentation (passport, visa, etc). Your student receives information from both the program provider and Lehigh SAO regarding preparation and procedures to be completed prior to departure.
Most program partners supply site-specific handbooks for students, and many provide handbooks for parents as well. Parents have found these particularly helpful since contact names, phone numbers, and addresses are provided if questions arise either before or after departure. In addition, SAO conducts a mandatory pre-departure orientation each semester for all students studying abroad, which covers many of the general questions students have about conduct, health, and expectations.
Although many issues with regard to study abroad have already been discussed with your student by a SAO advisor, program provider, or faculty member, we would like to draw your attention to several important points:
Tuition and Fees
Lehigh students pay Lehigh tuition for year-long and semester programs. In most cases, the program tuition will either be more or less than Lehigh tuition; in any case, Lehigh pays the tuition of the host institution while students are responsible for all other non-tuition program fees and transportation costs. In most cases, you will receive two invoices: one from Lehigh and one from the program provider. It is the student’s responsibility to pay the Lehigh tuition invoice and the provider’s invoice, less any tuition cost, which may be listed. Importantly, financial aid from Lehigh travels with the student on semester and year abroad. Please note for students receiving financial aid above Lehigh tuition, refund checks are not released from the Lehigh Bursar’s office until the 10th day of class at Lehigh.
Health and Safety (beyond COVID-19)
We strongly encourage students to disclose any medical or psychological condition, learning disability, or prescription medication. Put simply, program administrators cannot provide the degree of attention and care necessary if a medication or condition is unknown and symptoms or problems occur. Please be assured that this information is not used as a means to screen applicants. Rather, it is a vital step in ensuring that the program is ready and able to provide the student with the best possible experience. Lehigh undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the Lehigh Undergraduate Student International Services and Insurance Program. This is a mandatory program, wherein Lehigh covers and pays the premium to the service provider, and students are charged for the insurance portion directly to their bursar accounts. Students are required to register their trip with our international service provider, International SOS, before departure. Students and families can refer to the ISOS web portal or call the ISOS for phone consultations on health, safety, security (go.lehigh.edu/isos). In addition, SAO recommends that students upgrade their cell phone plans to include international capability, or buy a phone/SIM cards in the host country.
Student Conduct
All students are subject to the Lehigh University Code of Conduct whether on campus or abroad. In consultation with SAO or other offices at Lehigh (such as the Dean of Students), program providers, in consultation with SAO, determine who may be sent back to the states as a result of a violation of program policies, the Code of Conduct, or any other action that would affect the integrity of the program and Lehigh, or the experiences of other students. In any case, students are responsible for the costs related to a return before the end of the program, and there are no refunds for any fees already paid. Students should also keep in mind that they are subject to the laws of the host country.
The Study Abroad team has found that those students who conduct an honest self-examination of their strengths, limitations, and reasons for wanting to study abroad meet the most success both academically and personally. Carefully considered options and thorough research of available programming should lead to discussions with parents/guardians, academic advisors, and SAO Staff. Ultimately, in most cases the study abroad experience is transformative and life-changing.
Sincerely,
Katie Radande
Director, Study Abroad
Helpful and Informative Websites
Lehigh University Study Abroad Office
Lehigh University Study Abroad COVID-19 and Study Abroad in 2021 information
International SOS Lehigh informational portal and call center information
Available in May 2021
Lehigh Undergraduate Student International Services and Insurance Program
CDC Travel Health Advisory and International Travel Information