The Global Experiences Offices takes the safety and security of our students very seriously. All students going abroad are required to attend a health & safety orientation. For faculty-led programs, this health & safety orientation is done with the student groupo and faculty that are traveling together, and the focus is health & safety in that specific country. For students who are traveling with an affiliate, they are required to attend a pre-departure orientation.
If a student is going abroad in the summer or fall, pre-departure orientation is scheduled for late April/early May. If a student is going abroad in the spring term, pre-departure orientation is scheduled for late November. The dates change, and the student will receive reminders and a link to RSVP to the event. Pre-departure orientation is actually a fun event, and includes the health & safety orientation, along with free dinner, time to connect with other students going to the same country or region, presentations on cultural intelligence and tools for taking care of your mental health while abroad.
We encourage all students to prioritize pre-departure orientation, because the content is so helpful for your health & safety while abroad. This may mean taking off work, or leaving a class early, if possible. Our office does offer make-up sessions, but again, it's highly, highly recommended that all students prioritize the orientation. It is usually scheduled from 4:30-7pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, but the exact day and date changes each semester.
Pre-departure Orientation Content
Health & Safety Session:
- Conduct Abroad
- Dave Long's Don't
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Personal safety and vigilance
- Common scams to watch out for
- Sex, dating and relationships
- Title IX Abroad
- Water safety
- Health insurance, vaccines and staying healthy
- Jetlag
- Cell phone communication
- Money and credit cards
- International air travel
- Packing tips
- STEP Registration
Dinner break breakout sessions based on countries/regions.
Crossing Cultures Session:
- Facing discomfort
- What is culture?
- Cultural values list
- Common American cultural values
Mental Health Abroad Session:
- Patience, flexibility, adaptability, "Be like seaweed."
- How to deal with down days and homesickness
- Coping and the brain
- Cultural engagement, curiosity, growth and integration
