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BOTP Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice
Soochow University International Programs Participant Contract
(“Participant Contract”)
INTRODUCTION
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS GOVERN THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL STUDENTS IN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH SU STUDY ABROAD DURING OUR UNIVERSITY’S SUMMER 2024 AND WINTER 2024/25 TERMS. YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS.
I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL CONSTITUTE A BINDING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE UNDERSIGNED AND SU.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS MY SOLE RESPONSIBILITY, AS A PARTICIPANT, TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARTICIPANT CONTRACT AND ALL APPLICABLE POLICIES.
SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS. (“SU”) delivers comprehensive international summer / winter courses and programs, at Soochow University Campus in Taipei, Taiwan , as well as in collaboration with Sichuan University for 2024 Summer. All refences to “SU” herein also include all study abroad programs sponsored or offered by SU’s affiliates.
The undersigned Program participant (“Participant”, “I”, and/or “me”) agrees to the terms and conditions of this SU Program Participant Contract (“Participant Contract”) and the following:
● General Policies set by SU INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS;
● Policies set by the onsite host institution;
● Policies set by the student's home institution.
In the case of conflict among the above-referenced policies, the SU Program Participant Contract, including without limitation all its terms and conditions, shall govern and apply first.
1. I certify that I do not have any physical or mental condition which will create a danger or hazard for myself, other participants, hosts in the program, or any third party.
2. I understand that SU reserves the absolute right to reject my application or dismiss me from a Program if, after acceptance, SU
learns of a condition (personal, medical, academic, and/or psychological) which in the sole opinion of SU may endanger myself or others, and/or puts me at risk in a foreign country, and/or shows a history of an inability to adapt to challenging situations, and/or creates or requires burdens and resources not required or necessary to maintain other students.
3. I understand that I am solely responsible for my pre-program, program, and post-program medical care in all respects, including, but not limited to, obtaining, and taking necessary medication(s), vaccinations, and any other medical care and treatment. I certify that I will consult a physician qualified in travel medicine, immunizations, and infectious/tropical diseases prior to my trip departure. I understand that SU requires the accurate completion of an Online Student Medical Questionnaire as well as a Physician Medical Report Form as a condition of enrolling in any program. I understand I am solely responsible for my medical, psychological, and physical condition during the duration of my program with SU. Should any medical, psychological, or physical problems arise during my program with SU, I am solely responsible for all care that I may need. I understand that is my responsibility to follow any instructions or recommendations for medical treatment or evaluation from healthcare providers. I understand and agree that I am also solely responsible for paying for the costs and expenses of any such care.
4. I understand that I am obligated to comply with U.S and local laws and customs while traveling abroad. Many such local laws and customs may be substantially different from those in my home country. I understand that my conduct can influence the educational benefits intended by the program. SU reserves the right to decline or dismiss any person as a Participant in the program at any time, before or during the program, if the participant (i) has failed to comply with any material provision(s) of this Participant Contract, or (ii) if the participant’s continued participation or presence in the program, in SU’s sole discretion, constitutes a risk to that person’s health, or to the enjoyment, integrity, and/or safety for others in the program. I understand that conduct considered unacceptable to SU includes, but is not limited to:
● Engaging in any criminal conduct or breaking any laws of the host country;
● Non-compliance or violation of Covid- 19-related regulations, orders, or immigration requirements;
● Using, purchasing, distributing, or possessing any weapons, or use of any firearms;
● Using, purchasing, distributing, or possessing cannabis, illegal drugs, or any other controlled substances;
● Misrepresentation of identity;
● Disobeying academic policies including, but not limited to, plagiarism and absenteeism;
● Loud and/or abusive behavior toward others;
● Bullying;
● Sexual harassment;
● Excessive consumption of alcohol;
● Failure or refusal to take prescribed medications at the recommendation of medical professionals; and
● Unwillingness to cooperate with other participants in the program, program staff, hosts, and host institutions.
Such conduct, as well as any other conduct which in the sole discretion of SU may be damaging to the program, other participants, host families, working relations with governments, suppliers, and educational institutions with whom SU contracts/cooperates, is grounds for dismissal from the program. Dismissal by SU will not reduce any obligation for payment of full program costs.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I AM DISMISSED FROM A PROGRAM OR VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE PROGRAM PREMATURELY, I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND OF ANY KIND.
5. I understand that I am solely responsible for all expenses and costs incurred by me before, during, and/or after the program. Under no circumstances will SU be responsible for any of my expenses incurred in preparing for the program.
6. I understand and agree that if SU secured a visa for me and I withdraw or am dismissed from the program before departure or during the program, I may not use the visa to enter or remain in the program country. I understand that SU may report my withdrawal or dismissal to appropriate immigration officials of the program country.
7. Whether SU secured my visa or other required travel documents, SU is not responsible for any failure of any country and for any reason to issue a visa or other necessary travel document or to issue same in a timely manner.
8. SU reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to make changes in the program’s itinerary, changes to the order of events or activities, and other changes, including, but not limited to, substitutions of or changes in courses, excursions, activities, lectures, site visits, and topics listed currently in the catalog or on the SU website. All such changes are without liability on the part of SU for any monetary loss I may incur as a result.
9. Program participants studying outside of the U.S. are covered under SU’s designated insurance package but not in their home country. Coverage provided by this policy is meant to supplement private insurance and to provide certain coverage for activities related to traveling abroad. I understand that detailed information on the coverage of this policy has been made available to me. I understand that health care and evacuations outside my home country are not covered by most standard insurance policies and can be extremely expensive. I am solely responsible for payment of all non-covered medical evacuation, trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss/damage, accident/sickness and all other insurance expenses incurred by me during my program or related to my program.
10. I understand and consent that SU may distribute my full name, address, email address, and telephone number to SU staff and/or sending/receiving schools on request or need.
11. During the SU application process, it is often necessary for host institutions to request student academic record information from SU and/or your home school. As such, I acknowledge that my information including, but not limited to, my full name, demographic information, transcripts, grades, and other information normally protected by privacy laws will be shared with said institution as SU deems necessary.
12. SU retains the right, in its sole discretion, to contact my home or program school, as well as my parent (host and natural) and/or guardian, regarding health or safety issues, account balances, or any other matter whatsoever which relates to me or my program. These rights transcend all privacy regulations that may otherwise apply. I hereby waive my rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
13. Except for certain housing in a few locations, SU does not own or operate any entity which may provide goods or services for my program (except that it employs onsite staff), including, for example, arrangements for or ownership or control over houses, apartments or other lodging facilities, classrooms or study facilities, airline, vessel, bus or other transportation companies, local ground operators, visa processing services, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, host universities and institutions, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, SU is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any third party. Without limitation, SU is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay, or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest,
insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor
activities, criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in houses, apartments or other lodging facilities (or in any heating, plumbing, electrical or mechanical problem therein), mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, insects or pests, injuries or death occasioned by participating in athletic activities such as but not limited to soccer, baseball, basketball, football or any other group or individual sporting activity, sanitation problems, food poisoning, epidemics, pandemics, or the threat thereof, disease, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of SU. SU is not responsible in any manner for claims predicated upon participants arriving on site prior to the program start date or departing after the program end date.
14. I understand that real or perceived epidemics and/or pandemics (such as, but not limited to, Covid-19, H1N1, Ebola, SARS, bird flu, or Zika) can delay, disrupt, interrupt, or cancel programs. I agree to assume all risk of any loss or problems which could result from any such occurrences, including but not limited to the cancellation, disruption, delay, transition, or other alteration of my program.
15. I understand that travel in other nations is different from travel within the U.S. Programs outside the the U.S can involve inconvenience and risk, including, but not limited to, forces of nature, geographic and climatic conditions, different hygienic standards, infrastructure problems (including road maintenance, transportation delays and accommodation conditions), civil unrest, vandalism, crime, political instability, and terrorism. Medical services or facilities may not be readily available or available at all during all or part of a program and, if available, may not be equal to standards in participant’s home country. I assume all risk of bodily injury, death, emotional trauma, property damage, inconvenience and/or loss resulting from negligence or any other acts of all persons or entities, however caused, including, but not limited to, those risks mentioned above. It is my intention fully to assume all the risks of travel and participation in the SU program and to release SU from any and all liabilities to the maximum extent permitted by law. In addition, I release SU from its own negligence. If this form is also signed by a parent or legal guardian, that parent or guardian is making a similar release.
16. In the event of a medical emergency, SU will attempt to cause appropriate treatment to be administered. However, it makes no warranty that it will be able to cause effective (or any) emergency treatment to be administered.
17. I understand that perceived or actual events (such as, but not limited to, political turmoil / unrest, economic collapse, environmental issues, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, university strikes, general strikes, terrorist events, governmental travel advisories or warnings, and many other events outside of SU’s control can delay, disrupt, interrupt, or cancel programs. I agree to hold harmless SU for any loss from any such actual or perceived events.
18. SU, in its sole discretion, can approve or disapprove of any participant’s change of housing including, but not limited to, the participant opting out of SU provided housing. If SU agrees to allow me to choose my own housing, I agree that SU is not responsible for any loss or problems which result therefrom.
19. SU - arranged housing for my program will be available only while I am actively engaged in the program. If I withdraw from the program or am removed from the program for any reason whatsoever, that housing ceases immediately
with no right of refund beyond that which is
detailed in Paragraph 14 of this Contract. In addition, any violation of program rules or residential rules may result in eviction from arranged housing and/or expulsion from the program.
20. Participants must notify SU and their home institution as soon as practicable prior to commencement of the program if they have a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation. Early disclosure enables a participant to gather information and plan for the access available in the host country. Based on the availability of accommodations in some locations, participants may be unable to participate in some programs or components of a program. Depending upon the laws, regulations, customs and practices of the host country, participants may participate in a program with a trained service animal that is required due to the participant’s disability. In addition, participants are solely responsible for all matters involving compliance with the host country’s laws, regulations, customs, and practices as they relate to trained service animals. SU is not responsible for any customs or immigration requirements (or any related issues) which could arise regarding service animals and all such matters are the sole responsibility of the participants. I understand that access and the protections available in the host country depend on the laws of that country, not the laws of the United States, and I also acknowledge that I may be prohibited from taking a trained service animal into public and/or private facilities and/or onto certain modes of transportation. Participants are prohibited from taking pets on any SU programs.
30. SU reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any program, including photographs or film records of participants, and the associated activities, and to use and/or disseminate documents and materials including any social media posts created by the Participant while on the program, as well as such photographs or film records. I grant SU the right to use such records in perpetuity for
31. If by my acts or omissions I cause or threaten to cause damage of any kind whatsoever to third parties, I accept full responsibility, therefore. Further, in the event of such damage or loss, I agree to indemnify and hold SU harmless from all actions taken by third parties for said damages or loss.
32. This "SU Program Participant" shall be legally binding upon myself, all minors traveling with me, my heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives. This entire agreement is entered into on behalf of all members of my family who accompany me. I certify that I am the parent or legal guardian of any legal minors under the age of majority who accompany me.
33. All program applications are subject to acceptance by SU.
34. In the event any part of this " SU Program Participant Contract " is found to be legally void or unenforceable, then such part will be stricken but the reminder of this document shall remain in full force and effect.
35. I agree that any dispute or claim which refers or relates to this Participant Contract, any literature related to the Program, or the Program itself, shall be litigated solely and exclusively in those courts located in the U.S, subject to substantive and procedural Chinese law, and for this limited purpose, the parties agree to exclusive venue and personal jurisdiction therein. At the Participant’s option, however, in lieu of litigation, SU will agree to binding arbitration in the U.S, subject to substantive but not procedural
Chinese law, pursuant to the then existing rules. In any such arbitration, the arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.
36. I have carefully read this document entitled " SU Program Participant Contract" and I have carefully read all the SU catalogues, program brochures, websites, and other descriptive materials provided to me by SU relating to my participation in the program and I understand all the contents of all such documents. I understand and agree to comply with all stated terms and conditions set forth in this "SU Program Participant Contract” I have or will also familiarize myself and comply with any rules, regulations, policies, and/or other terms and conditions applicable to my program(s).
37. I understand that I am responsible for SU program fees as published at http://SU-education.com/ for my program and term(s) of study, as well as any associated fees as billed to me by my home institution. I also understand and agree that SU does not give refunds (or partial refunds) for unused services that are included as part of the program fee.
38. I understand that if my SU-billed fees are not paid in full in accordance with the dates and timelines found in SU’s terms and conditions, my account may be sent to an outside collection agency for further collection efforts. I also understand and agree that should my account be sent to an outside agency for further collection, all fees relating to the collection of my outstanding balance will be added to my SU account balance and I will be responsible to pay these fees in full.
39. I understand that if I withdraw from a program, I must notify SU in writing about my withdrawal. Withdrawals are effective only upon the date of receipt of written notification by the SU Study Abroad department. I also understand
that I am responsible for notifying my home institution of my withdrawal, and for any associated home institution penalties or fees. I further understand that:
• Participants participating in block- or session-based programs may not change programs for any Accepted blocks or sessions after arriving at the first location of the Confirmed study plan for the term.
40. If I choose to withdraw or cancel my participation, my refund is based on the date of my cancellation made in writing. The cancellation schedule for refunds is as follows (see following page):
Cancellation/Withdraw Schedule SU24-WI25 | |
Open Campus | Refund of Program Fee |
On or after 20 days after payment complete | 100% (less non-refundable fees and 0.8% transfer charge) |
21 to 41 days after payment complete | 70% |
41 to 60 days after payment complete | 50% |
Day 61 through the beginning of class | 0% |
Summer and January programs | Refund of Program Fee |
On or before 30 days prior to arrival date | 100% (less non-refundable fees and 0.8% transfer charge) |
29 days prior to arrival until 1 day prior to arrival | 50% |
On or before 2 days after arrival | 30% |
Day 3 through end of block | 0% |
□ "Arrival" or "Arrival date" is defined as the published start date on the program page https://abroad.ext.scu.edu.tw/
□ “Non-refundable fees” is defined as Application Fee, Confirmation Fee, School of Record Fee (if applicable), and Visa Fee (if applicable).
Please note that in all circumstances the Application Fee and the Participation Confirmation payment are non-refundable. If a student applied to study through a School of Record, the School of Record fee is non- refundable once the student has Confirmed his/her place in the program.
41. All SU programs are based a variety of factors including cohort size, risk analysis, and operational feasibility. In the unlikely event that a program is cancelled before the program start date due to low enrollment, health and/or safety reasons, or for any reasons that makes it impossible to operate the program, SU will refund all payments received but will have no
further liability to the participants.
42. All pricing is listed in U.S. dollars. While SU makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of its program pricing, it cannot be held responsible for typographical errors, printing errors or malfunctions of its website.
PROGRAM FEES AND PAYMENT POLICIES
43. Comprehensive program fees and breakdowns are available on the SU Website (https://abroad.ext.scu.edu.tw/) SU does not give refunds (or partial refunds) for unused unused services that are included as part of the advertised program fee. SU program fees are set by the SU center office. All questions regarding SU program fees must be directed to the SU Billing office.
44. SU requires a confirmation payment, known as the “Confirmation Fee”, as part of the program fee, from each student intending to participate in a SU Study Abroad program. This confirmation payment is not an additional fee but is part of the published Program Fee and is paid at the time the “SU Participant Contract” and “Confirmation Fee” tasks are completed during the online application process. In lieu of paying the Confirmation Fee at the time the Participant Contract task is completed, a student may elect to be billed for the Confirmation Fee with the rest of their program fees. In some cases, home institutions confirm participation for the student. Forms and detailed information are included in the acceptance materials, as appropriate to the agreement with the student’s home institution. After the Participant Contract task is completed in their application, the student is considered Confirmed, regardless of whether the Confirmation Fee task is completed, and the student is held responsible for the Confirmation Fee and any other relevant program fees as outlined in these Terms and Conditions.
45. Participants are billed after reaching “Accepted” (or “Accepted Conditionally”, if applicable) status to a SU program; typically, within 30 to 60 days before the start of the program. Once the student has completed the Participant Contract task in the online application process, the SU Withdrawal or Deferral Refund Policy (outlined in Section 24, above) applies.
46. SU has agreements with some institutions regarding billing procedures for their students. In some cases, institutions ask SU to
bill students directly and, in others, SU bills the institution or sends a statement of relevant student(s) fees to the institution to be billed to the student(s) via the home school’s billing system. In either case, the student is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the full program fee is paid. In the absence of an existing arrangement with a school or where the participant does not have a home institution, SU bills the participant directly.
47. Billing statements are made available to the participants via their SU online student account and sent via email to both the participants and the participants’ primary Emergency Contacts (as identified by the participants in the program application).
48. SU billing staff will notify participants via email when their initial billing statement is available.
49. Participants billed directly by SU are responsible for maintaining their own accounts. If a parent or other designee will be managing payment of fees on behalf of the participant, it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that all statements and other billing information are forwarded appropriately.
50. Program fee payments are due in full 30 days from the production/mailing date of the bill unless the student secures an approved payment plan. Individual student payments are accepted via Ali Pay or WeChat Pay.
51. Any SU program fees billed directly to the participant and not paid in full, in accordance with the dates and timelines found in SU’s terms and conditions, may be sent to an outside collections agency for further collections efforts. All fees charged to SU relating to the collection of a participant’s outstanding balance will be added to the participant’s SU account balance and will be the responsibility of the participant to pay in full.
52. Program fees are billed by term.
53. Ultimately, it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that all program fees are paid.
54. Any participant who fails either to pay in full by the stated due date on the statement, may be subject to exclusion from participation at the sole discretion of SU. Notification of exclusion for non-payment may be delivered at any time prior to and/or during the program.
55. Any unpaid debts at the end of a session that were incurred by, or on behalf of, a participant will be billed to that student in RMB, and the student’s grades will be held until the debt is paid in full.
56. Grades will not be transmitted for any student for whom an unpaid balance or site debt remains.
57. Participants who have received failing grades for half or more than half of the total course work attempted will have their grades released to their home schools, regardless of any outstanding debt, and risk having their accounts sent to collections for non-payment. Declined credit card, AliPay or WeChat payments are considered as failure to make the payment.
58. In the case of qualified program participation deferral for a confirmed participant, if a request is received on or more than 15 days from the advertised program arrival date, the non-refundable Participation Confirmation fee and any applicable School of Record fees must be paid for that term, but, at the discretion of SU, may be applied towards future participation in this or another SU Study Abroad program within the next 12 months. Students can elect to be billed for the Participation Confirmation Fee during the application process of the selected term. A credit will then be applied to the student account after SU verifies that the Participation Confirmation fee and any applicable School of Record fees are paid in full for the deferred term. Students may not defer less than 15 days prior to the first scheduled arrival date for the session(s) of participation, nor may they defer a second or third session if participating on more than one session in that same summer.
59. Please refer to the General Policies section for Program Cancellation terms and conditions.
A. Refunds will be sent to the billed party except in certain circumstances involving financial aid. If SU bills an institution, the refund is sent to the institution; if SU bills the participant, the refund is sent to the participant at the permanent address listed on the initial application, unless the participant notifies SU otherwise.
B. A refund of payment made by credit card will be processed as a credit back to that card account.
C. Please note that refunds of less than
$1 will not be processed. Similarly, SU will not bill participants with account balances less than $1. Refunds are processed within two months after the end of the term of study. Participants requiring refunds more quickly may contact SU to request expedited processing.
D. Cancellations, withdrawals, and deferrals are effective upon the date SU receives written notification from the participant. Participants must also notify their home institution directly if they plan to cancel, withdraw, or defer.
E. Questions regarding home institution policies should be directed to the home institution, not to SU. Home institution payment policies are separate from SU’s payment policies, and students will be held to both sets of policies.
F. The “advertised program arrival date” is the SU posted arrival date, as listed on the SU website, which typically coincides with the first day of orientation for each term, block, or session. Withdrawal fee policies outlined for participants studying for an academic year, calendar year, or on two consecutive terms of any sort are held to the SU posted arrival date for each term or session, as listed on the SU website, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions listed above rather than the host university or SU class start dates. Students participating in block or session-based programs may not change programs for any accepted blocks or sessions after arriving at the first location of the confirmed study plan.
G. Participants who receive scholarship or grant from SU and subsequently cancel or withdraw from the program for which they were awarded must repay SU the scholarship or grant received. If the amount of thescholarship or grant is less than the amount of any refund due, the scholarship or grant amount is deducted from the refund. If the amount of the scholarship or grant is greater than any refund due, the participant must repay SU the difference.
H. SU withholds final grades when participants have outstanding financial obligations to SU or the program site. Participants who have received failing grades for more than half of the total course work attempted will have their grades released to their home schools, regardless of any outstanding debt, and risk having their accounts sent to Collections for non-payment.
All questions regarding participant financial accounts should be directed to the SU Billing team, at scuip@ms.scu.edu.tw
SU reserves the right to modify or cancel any statement in the program descriptions and information as listed on http://SU-education.com/ in the hard copy program catalogs, without prior notice.
60. I understand that I must inform my SU student advisor of any travel that would affect my arrival on the advertised program start date. After arriving onsite, I will communicate all independent travel outside of the city hosting my study abroad program with the onsite program staff.
61. As part of my decision to travel, I will submit a SU Independent Student Travel form with the onsite travel itinerary and contact information to SU staff prior to departure from the program site. All independent student travel must be done at a time that does not conflict with the academic program or any required SU program activities. I understand that I must follow any specific travel guidelines set by SU staff.
62. I understand that I am solely responsible for all independent student travel throughout the duration of the SU program. I am responsible for reading all current public updates (U.S. State Department, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.) about the health and safety situation in areas of, or in the country or countries to which I will travel.
63. I understand SU strongly discourages independent student travel to destinations with a
U.S. State Department Advisory Level announcement of Reconsider Travel or Do Not TravelOK. I will obtain written approval from my home school and abide by their policies for independent travel. I share this written permission with onsite staff before departure. In some cases, SU, in its sole discretion, may decide a destination to be too dangerous independent of a State Department Advisory.
64. I understand that SU may be unable to intervene or assist on my behalf once I have left the program site. In certain locations, I understand that SU may not be able to render any assistance whatsoever.
65. I understand that local driving laws and practices maybe unlike those in the U.S. SU strongly discourages participants from driving, renting, leasing, or owning a motor vehicle while participating on the program.
66. SU participants cannot use private vehicles to attend any sponsored SU events and may be dismissed from the program for violation of this provision.
67. I understand SU will not assist participants with any personal motor vehicle- related issues, including problems resulting from the use of vehicles or accidents before, during, or after the program. I understand that if I own / lease / rent / drive vehicles that I do so entirely at my own risk.
68. Students are subject to the laws of the host country and any policies and regulations of the host university. Alcohol abuse, as well as using, purchasing, distributing, or possessing cannabis, illegal drugs, or any other controlled substances, by students is a serious violation of the terms of participation and can result in dismissal from the program.
69. Penalties for drug violations in many host countries are often harsh. Use of drugs other than prescribed drugs for legal medicinal purposes may result in expulsion from the study program, as well as possible criminal prosecution. Students traveling abroad are subject to the laws of the country they are visiting and are responsible for understanding legalities for medications even those of which are prescribed by doctors of their home country.
70. All participants, faculty, and assistant(s) on SU programs are required to have cell phones that function in the host country. It is the responsibility of each program participant to acquire, a cell phone for safety purposes.
71. Cell phones must be activated and connected to a cellular network (either local or roaming). Participants, faculty, and assistant(s) cannot rely solely on Wi-Fi access to receive calls and/or send SMS messages or access data. Students are responsible to maintain an active, charged cell phone on their person throughout the program including independent travel.
72. Once onsite at their SU program, participants may be provided with information regarding cell phone services available in the host country during their SU on-site orientation butacquisition of said cell phone remains the responsibility of the student. The cost of these phones including, but not limited to, cellular data, insurance and other service charges are not included in the SU Program Fee.
73. Demonstrations, rallies, protests, and the like may occur in your host city or country while you are onsite. SU expressly forbids participants from attending, participating or knowingly be in proximity where in-person observation is possible.
74. In all cases of your activities related to these events entails risk of arrest, detainment, physical injury, damage or loss of property and/or death and irrespective of specific SU warning or directive. Any such observation, attendance or participation is solely at my own risk and I agree to hold SU harmless from any liability related to my decision. In addition, I understand that SU 100.may impose disciplinary sanctions if I engage in such activity after being instructed not to attend or be in the vicinity thereof.
75. Individual sites may have rules or instructions specific to its locality for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. It is important you familiarize yourself with those rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinance, etc. upon arrival. Be advised that disregard for local rules which harmonize and protect the SU and/or local community are subject to additional discipline review as advised by SU staff.
NOTE: Any reference to “home school advisor” by SU staff or within these Terms and Conditions refers to the study abroad advisor at student’s the home institution, not an academic advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to communicate all matters related to their program with their study abroad advisor.
101. SU works with home institutions regarding the processing of applications for SU programs. In nominating students, home institutions have the responsibility to evaluate applicants' credentials carefully and to determine their suitability for the selected programs. Endorsement of an individual applicant constitutes an assurance that the student meets the minimum admission standards for the program, that the student is prepared linguistically, academically, and socially to succeed and derive benefits from the program; and that it is appropriate for the student's academic program and goals.
102. Acceptance to all SU programs is done on a rolling basis by SU staff.
103. SU reserves the right to reject an applicant for any reason. SU encourages students to apply as early as possible to ensure a spot on their desired program. In cases where SU applications exceeds onsite capacity, SU will create a waitlist of applicants based on the date the complete application was received in Portland, Maine. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In waitlist situations, SU favors applicants from SU Academic Consortium member institutions who have an outstanding
cumulative grade point average and supportive evaluations. SU does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national and ethnic origin, or disability.
104. Students may defer acceptance to a SU program for up to one year from the term of acceptance. The deferral request must be received in writing by the SU office prior to confirmed participation and no less than 15 days before the advertised arrival date for the program to which the student has been accepted to avoid financial liability (in cases where the participant has confirmed participation in the program prior to requesting deferred status, the confirmation fee is non-refundable but may be applied toward the approved deferral term).
105. Under no circumstances will SU approve a request to defer participation on or after the arrival date for the program. To reactivate the application, students must submit an updated transcript and Home School Nomination form by the application deadline for the program they wish to attend. Students may be required to submit additional information.
106. “Autonomous participants” are students who request to study independently of a home institution and have agreed that their earned credits and grades with SU will not be sent at the end of the program to a home institution for transfer of credits to a transcript or degree program. These students are required to fulfill all SU academic and program requirements while abroad, will be evaluated via the SU credit and grading system for all coursework, and will have a permanent record of their final grades with SU.
107. Autonomous participants will be able to review their final grades online once they have been processed and have up to two years to request that SU forward the original copies of their SU Academic Record to an institution that agrees to grant them credit based on the SU Academic Record. SU cannot guarantee thatcredits will be accepted by any institution that did not sponsor or approve the study abroad program at the time of application. Autonomous students may also request to be enrolled as a School of Record student prior to the advertised program start date, or by the deadline stated in the Autonomous Student School of Record offer email that is sent to all eligible participants each application cycle (whichever date is earlier). Participants who elect to study with SU as “autonomous” also agree that they will not be eligible for any institutional grants, loans, scholarships, college savings plan disbursements, that require enrollment certification from an eligible institution of higher education, nor will they be eligible to request deferred payment status on any student loans they borrowed prior to participation on the SU program, since their earned credits with SU will not count toward a degree program at an eligible institution, and since the degree-granting institution is responsible for processing all enrollment and financial aid certification documentation.
108. Students are required to be present from the first day of the program orientation. In extremely rare cases, there may be valid academic or personal reasons for a student’s late arrival. Permission for such arrangements can only be granted by the appropriate members of SU Enrollment, Global Operations, and Academic Affairs / Registration staff, and only upon receipt of both a written request from the student and written approval from the study abroad office at the student’s home institution.
109. The home institution will typically provide informational material covering relevant academic matters prior to the student’s departure. It is the sole responsibility of the student to be familiar with this information and the policies of the home institution.
110. Prior to the program start date, students are required to participate in a SU online Know Before You Go (KBYG) course, or series of orientations (depending on location and program). A more extensive SU program orientation takes place at the program site, which all students are required to attend.
111. SU reserves the right to cancel a SU Study Abroad program due to insufficient enrollment or other factors beyond its control. All SU programs are based on group arrangements involving a minimum number of participants. In the unlikely event that a program is cancelled prior to the start of the program, due to low enrollment, force majeure, or any other reason, SU will refund all payments received but will have no further liability to participant. If an emergency or a force majeure event requires that a program be cancelled followingthe program start date and prior to the end of an academic term, SU, in its sole discretion, will make efforts to make alternative arrangements to allow students to complete their academic work but cannot guarantee that full or partial credit will be obtained. If the situation and SU academic policies allow for alternative arrangements to be made for the student to complete the program’s academic work for programs cancelled after the program start date, there will be no refund of program fees. If alternative arrangements cannot be made, SU will make reasonable efforts to collect documentation of student work completed to date, but SU will provide no refund of tuition or any other payments. Upon request and when available, SU will share this information with the home institutions of students enrolled in the program so they may evaluate, per home institution policies, whether to grant their students any, full, or partial credit for work completed.
112. Students are solely responsible for their own academic success, and for knowing and adhering to the policies of their home institution, in addition to SU’s stated policies and those of the host institution abroad. Recommendations for course pre-requisites can be found on individual course syllabi. The student is responsible for consulting with his/her home school advisors prior to departure to ensure that coursework completed at the home school prior to study abroad fulfills the noted requirements to be successful in the course. Students are expected to report any concerns they may have regarding academic matters to the SU Program Director as they arise on site. It is also the sole responsibility of the student to obtain complete information concerning how academic work completed overseas is evaluated by the home institution, as well as what the home school policies are that determine whether and how credit is counted towards the student's degree program and to meet financial aid Academic Progress requirements. The policies stated within these Terms and Conditions and in the SU Academic Manuals given to students during onsite orientation, are what is minimally required by SU for all programs; however, each SU program may provide students with additional and more stringent policies, specific to the needs and academic culture of that location, program, and/or host institution. Students are held equally responsible for all stated policies.
113. In most cases, the home institution both nominates students to SU for admission and grants them credit following their successful completion of coursework. In some cases however, the home institution nominates students but requires that the coursework completed abroad transfer through an official School of Record.
114. Only those students whose home school study abroad advisors indicate the need for the student’s grades to be processed by a School of Record on the initial program application, by completing the appropriate section of the SU Home School Nomination Advisor Task in the application, are eligible to receive a School of Record transcript. Students cannot be retroactively processed as (or removed as) a School of Record participant once the Participant Contract task is signed by the student.
115. Participating on a SU Study Abroad Program through a School of Record requires a supplemental administrative fee (cost as noted in the advertised SU program fee breakdown sub notes), which will be included on the student’s program fee bill from SU unless the student’s home school asks to be billed for this fee, on behalf of the student, in their Billing Agreement with SU. Please note that the student is responsible for paying the School of Record fee once the student has signed their SU Participant Contract. The student will be billed for the School of Record fee with the rest of his/her program fees and will be held responsible for payment of this fee even if s/he withdraws or cancels after signing the contract. In addition, but unrelated to the School of Record fee, students will also be required to submit an SOR Waiver form, for their demographic information, course registration and final grades to be transmitted to the School of Record for processing.
116. Students on SU programs are required to take 3-12 U.S. semester-hour credits for one Summer or Winter term program, depending on the specific duration of the program term and location. Unless the advertised program course load requirements indicate otherwise, no students can be enrolled in more than 10 U.S. semester credits without approval from the SU Center Director and the student’s home institution Study Abroad Office. Students requesting to enroll in more credits than advertised for the program will be responsible for payment to SU for, and advised in writing of, any supplemental tuition fees that may be associated with the requested credit overload. Additionally, taking an online course offered at the home institution is not an acceptable reason for a student to request a reduction in the required course load with SU. Furthermore, SU strongly advises against students taking online courses with their home schools at the same time they are studying with SU.
117. SU individually evaluates host institutions that report course workloads on a basis other than the U.S. semester-hour system. Final authority for the published credit equivalency rests with SU Academic Affairs.
118. For SU-administered courses, a block of fifteen 50-minute sessions is equivalent to one semester hour of credit. Some courses may include activities such as conversation hours, applied arts sessions, or visits to museums, which, although academic in nature, do not entail additional outside work. In these cases, the general rule of thumb is that when the course instructor is present and overseeing the activity, but not leading direct instruction, only the time spent directly in the activity (i.e., not travel time or breaks) is counted at a rate of 3 hours of activity
= 1 “contact hour” (this includes course-required movie viewing). Similarly, lab and internship placement hours are also counted at a rate of 3 hours of activity = 1 “contact hour”. If the co- curricular activity is one that is self-guided by the student, it is treated in the same manner as a “homework” assignment and not counted in contact hours.
119. Grades are awarded for student performance using a U.S. system of letter grades,
a host-country system of letters, numbers, and/or descriptors, or a combination of these methods. SU reports final grades to students’ home institutions using a U.S. letter grade equivalent and does not typically permit pass/fail or credit/no-credit grading, except for non-credit Survival Language courses. Determination of the final grade, based on the documentation provided by SU, is at the discretion of the student's home institution or School of Record. The student's home institution may or may not post grades earned overseas to the student's transcript and may or may not include overseas grades in the grade point average.
120. A cautionary note to students whose home schools post only credits earned (pass/fail marking) or credits and grades for only those courses earning higher than a grade of C (or similar): The SU Academic Record will contain letter grades for all registered courses—including failing marks. If at any point you intend to apply to graduate or professional school or for a scholarship or fellowship, or for any other reason need to request a copy of your SU Academic Record, your failing marks will be reported by SU. It would not be prudent to assume that you can “relax” in your coursework, just because your home school only posts pass/fail marks or does not post lower or failing grades to your transcript. Additionally, you may incur financial aid penalties if you do not successfully complete and transfer in credit to your degree program for your enrolled courses.
121. Upon completion of the program, SU onsite staff enters final grades into the SU integrated database and sends supporting documentation from the host institution (when available) to the SU office. The SU Academic Record is sent to the student’s home institution or School of Record. (For Autonomous students, an unofficial copy of the SU Academic Record is sent to the student via email for their personal records.) The SU Academic Record, approved by the SU Academic Consortium, is the official report provided for each participant on a SU Study Abroad program, and includes the student's name, date of birth, term of attendance, and lists each course studied, the language of instruction, hours of instruction (or total, notional academic work hours, depending on how credits are determined by the host institutions of some programs), suggested U.S. grade equivalency, and U.S. semester credits. The official/original SU Academic Record, sent to students’ home schools that do not require a School of Record transcript, also includes any supporting documentation provided by the host institution. In addition, each SU Academic Record includes a guide that details information regarding credit and grade conversions used by SU. Only those grades reported on the SU Academic Record (or the School of Record transcript, if applicable) are the official, final grades for a student’s term abroad on a SU program. Grades reported in SU’s online Learning Management System or any host institution online Learning Management System do not constitute the official, final grade for any course.
122. Home institutions typically receive final grades from SU approximately ten to twelve weeks after the program ending date; however, there are some locations that take longer to report grades to the SU office. This is primarily the case for programs with direct enrollment courses, typically because the timeline for reporting final grades by the local institutions in these locations is later than in other SU locations. Institutions that require their students’ grades to be processed through SU’s School of Record should expect up to an additional three weeks for processing. Inquiries about grades status should be directed to the SU office, not to the overseas program staff nor to the School of Record.
123. Information from the SU Academic Record or School of Record transcript is entered
onto the transcript at the home institution, and this becomes the official record of participation in a SU program. SU Academic Record official / original copies are not released to credit-seeking students, since students should request their final, earned grades from their home institution (or School of Record, if applicable), which officially grants credit for the program; however, students will be able to view an unofficial record of their final grades via SU Learning Management System, once the SU Academic Record has been sent to their home schools or School of Record. School of Record students will also receive one official, personal copy of their official School of Record transcript of credits and grades earned on the program, mailed to the student’s permanent address, and a second official transcript is sent to the student’s home institution (to the grades contact as identified by the home school in the SU Home School Nomination Advisor form) for transfer credit evaluation and processing toward the home school degree program.
124. SU will not release Academic Records (neither officially nor unofficially) for participants who have outstanding financial or administrative obligations to the SU office or to the program site, with the exceptions of participants who have earned failing grades in two or more of their attempted courses, or in one course if the program only offers one course for credit. For those exceptional instances, students’ grades will be released to their home schools, regardless of any outstanding debt, and risk having their accounts sent to Collections for non-payment. Students failing more than 50% of their courses may not be eligible to continue to a subsequent program of study with SU, to be determined at SU’s discretion, and minimally will be required to have periodic academic progress meetings with SU staff during the continued term of study.
125. SU will not release grades to participants over the phone at any time. Occasionally, participants require copies of the SU Academic Record. Under no circumstances is anyone other than the participant or the participant’s home institution allowed to request copies of a SU Academic Record. Requests from participants must be made in writing to the SU
office using the SU Transcript Request Form.
126. The SU Registrar and Registration staff are the only people authorized to release students’ final grades.
127. All work for SU-administered courses must be turned in directly to the professor using the SU Learning Management System unless the student has received other explicit, documented instructions to the contrary from the SU Center Director or Academic Director. Late submissions of coursework / assignments during the term of study are not accepted.
128. Exceptional circumstances causing a student to request special consideration to submit an assignment late must be approved in writing by the SU Center or Academic Director— individual professors do not have the authority to grant exceptions. Computer / technical issues are rarely considered to be an acceptable reason for granting an exception – students need to be sure to save back-up copies of all work to an external drive regularly.
129. If an exception is granted by the SU Center Director, the new deadline for the assignment will be set for the next earliest possible date for the student to submit the assignment. For host institution courses, SU maintains these same expectations for students and under no circumstances are students permitted to turn in any work following the end of the program – regardless of what the host institution instructor may allow – unless the SU Center Director or Academic Director has also approved a request from the student due to exceptional circumstances and following consultation with SU Academic Affairs.
130. Students are required to keep back-up copies of all their assignments (every major paper or “take home” examination) for one (1) year after the official program end date in both digital format and hard copy. Failure of personal technology or loss of data is not an acceptable reason for missing stated deadlines nor as a supporting reason for an academic appeal.
131. All students are required to remain at the program location until the final program date and/or until the last of their regularly scheduled final exams are completed, and to complete and turn in all academic work, including examinations and papers, prior to departing the site.
132. Individual professors do not have the authority to extend deadlines, make special arrangements for students, or otherwise modify the SU academic policies. Any special arrangements tentatively proposed by professors must be submitted to the SU Center / Academic Director for review and final approval, and in some cases the SU Center / Academic Director may need to seek authorization from SU Academic Affairs.
133. It is each student’s responsibility to understand all local regulations governing completion of work and departure from the program site. A grade of “F” will be assigned for any missing work at the end of the program, if proper approval for any exceptions is not secured prior to departure, and the final grade for the course will be calculated accordingly. In other words, even if a professor is willing to support a request for a deadline extension, the student must also seek and obtain approval from the SU Center / Academic Director. Failure to do so may result in the student receiving a failing grade for the assignment or the class, even if the professor or host institution reports a passing grade.
134. In locations where host institutions offer “deferred examinations” or an opportunity to “re- sit” or “re-take” an exam, only students who have acquired SU approval and are able to sit thealternate examination at the host institution may request such an opportunity, per the standard terms and processes as offered by the host institution. SU does not permit students to re- sit or re-take exams, nor apply to take deferred exams, at a location other than that of the host institution. If a student arranges to re-sit an exam without prior SU approval, SU will report a grade of “F” on the SU Academic Record for the course in question, regardless of whether the host institution issues a new/passing grade for the course. Similarly, students are not permitted to take “Supplemental Examinations” offered by host institutions unless a numeric grade is assigned for the final grade resulting from the supplemental examination. SU will report the original course grade of “F” for any course indicating a supplemental exam was taken by the student and a grade of “pass” with no correlating numeric grade is provided. Similarly, SU does not offer opportunities for deferred or supplemental examinations, nor exam re-sits, for SU -administered courses.
135. SU program minimum class attendance standards are included in the SU Student Academic Manual—inclusive of how absences may impact final grades for a course—and distributed to students at the start of their programs. For host institution classes, SU’s policies apply when the host institution or instructor has no published attendance policy. Regular class attendance and punctuality—for classes, Internships, Service-Learning experiences, and field placements, as well as for some events and excursions—are required throughout the program.
136. Students may not miss internship, service-learning, or field placement hours unless approved in advance by the SU Academic Director and placement site supervisor. All students must complete the requisite minimum number of hours at the placement site, as stated in the course syllabus, to be eligible for academic credit.
137. For any requests for exception related to SU’s minimum class attendance standards, the SU Center Director will consult with SU Academic Affairs before an exception may be granted.
138. At most Centers, when the program is not a set curriculum, students are permitted to make changes in their course selection during a brief period at the beginning of a term. However, SU Add/Drop periods may vary from program to program and may be earlier than the advertised Add/Drop period of the host institution. In these instances, the SU Add/Drop deadline is the official deadline for all SU program participants, rather than the host institution deadline.
139. The SU Add/Drop Deadline will typically end no later than the end of the second day of classes. No changes are permitted in registration, other than those to correct clerical errors, after the SU Add/Drop deadline. After the end of the SU Add/Drop period, the student’s registration is considered final, and no course(s) may be changed or deleted from a student's SU Academic Record.
140. Students are asked to verify their final registration, for both SU and host institution classes, in their SU online accounts. In the event a student fails to verify the registration as instructed and by the deadline stated by resident staff, the registration record as entered by resident staff is considered “final” and no further changes may be made to it. Therefore, if a class is noted on the record, and no grade is reported by the professor for the student, a grade of “F” will be assigned, regardless of whether the student believes she or he appropriately dropped or withdrew from the class in question. Students are responsible for ensuring and verifying that the final course registration accurately reflects the classes (titles, credits, hours, and language of instruction) in which they are enrolled and as the students anticipate the courses should be noted. Any perceived discrepancies should be reported immediately to the SU Center Director for review, consideration, and (if appropriate) correction.
141. Pass/fail registrations are not permitted in SU courses nor in host institution courses that are offered for graded credit. A student who carries a full course of study for credit may audit additional courses only at some SU locations, and only with a) written authorization from the study abroad office at the home institution, and
b) the approval of the SU Center Director.
142. A student is not allowed to change from audit to credit status, or vice-versa, after the end of the Add/Drop period. Final authority for grade and credit transfer rests with the student’s home school, whose policies may determine that the student will receive credit/no credit or pass/fail grades on their own transcript; however, SU must report all attempted coursework with earned letter grades and credits.
143. All students are required to remain at the program location until the final program date, and to complete and turn in all academic work, including examinations and papers, prior to departing the site. Students are required to be registered with SU for the total minimum credits as advertised for the program. If exceptional circumstances warrant (e.g., documented medical recommendation), the student may request permission from the SU Center / Academic Director to withdraw from a course; however:
● January and Summer term program students are not allowed to drop below the minimum total number of advertised credits for the program and/or session.
144. Whether the student intends to transfer academic credit to the home institution has no bearing on whether a student may be granted permission to withdraw from a class. Similarly, SU course withdrawal policies take precedence over host and home institution course withdrawal policies, so permission to withdraw from a course must be secured with SU prior to requesting to withdraw at the host institution. The student will receive a failing grade (F) for the course, if proper approval for withdrawal from the course is not secured.
145. For a student to withdraw from a course following the program Add/Drop deadline and prior to the program Course Withdrawal deadline, he/she will need to have permission from both the SU Center / Academic Director, who must also gain written approval from the home school study abroad office. A Course Withdrawal form must be completed by the student and SU Center Director and submitted to the SU office for any approved course withdrawal occurring after the add/drop deadline, along with a copy of the home school study abroad office approval email. The student must continue to attend classes until the course withdrawal is approved and will receive a failing grade (F) for the course, if proper approval for withdrawal from the course is not secured.
146. If the request takes place after the Add/Drop deadline, but before the Course Withdrawal deadline, and is approved by SU and the home school study abroad office, a grade of “W” (Withdrawal) is entered on the SU Academic Record for the class.
147. After the Course Withdrawal deadline, if a student stops attending a course, fails to take the final examination, or fails to turn in required work, a failing grade of “F” is reported. The Course Withdrawal deadline may vary from program to program but will not be later than the mid-point of each term of study, as determined by the SU Center Director.
148. As previously stated, all students are required to remain at the program location until the final program date, and to complete and turn in all academic work, including examinations and papers, prior to departing the site. Any student who must depart the program early is required to complete a SU Program Withdrawal Form prior to departure, and secure approval from the SU Center Director who will notify the student’s home institution of the withdrawal date and academic consequences of the early departure (as outlined below).
A. If there are no pre-session courses offered on the program, and the departure date is prior to the Add/Drop deadline for the term in progress, the student will have all courses dropped from the SU Academic Record.
B. In the event the program offers/requires a pre-session course if the approved departure occurs:
● prior to the midpoint of the pre- session course, all classes will be dropped from the SU Academic Record; or
● after the midpoint of a pre-session course but prior to the end of that course, a grade of Withdrawal (W) will be reported for the pre-session course, and all other classes will be
dropped from the SU Academic Record; or
● after the end of the pre-session course, but prior to the Add/Drop deadline, a grade will be reported for the pre-session course only, and all other classes will be dropped from the SU Academic Record
C. If the departure date is after the Add/Drop deadline, but prior to the Course Withdrawal deadline, a grade of Withdrawal (W) will be reported for any uncompleted courses. Any courses for which all scheduled class meetings have occurred and all coursework has been submitted, will have the earned grade and credits reported on the SU Academic Record.
D. If the departure date is after the Course Withdrawal deadline and prior to the end of the program, or the student fails to complete and turn in all required academic work prior to departure, the student will receive a failing grade (F) in his or her courses and/or for any outstanding assignments or exams.
149. SU Academic Affairs is very unlikely to approve exceptions to academic policies for Program Withdrawals due to internships or family events that conflict with advertised program dates. There are only a few circumstances that may warrant consideration of an exception to SU grading policies for a withdrawal after the Course Withdrawal deadline: a serious accident or illness, a severe psychological problem, or a severe family problem. If, in an emergency, a student needs to depart early or is unable to complete a requirement of one or more courses after the Course Withdrawal deadline, the student must consult with the SU Center Director who, in turn, will consult with the Regional Director of Operations, and SU Academic Affairs. In the rare instance that SU Academic Affairs grants an exception to the Course Withdrawal policy, SU will assign one of two grades for courses left uncompleted:
● a grade of Withdrawal (W) if the student leaves the program after the Course Withdrawal deadline, is passing the courses in question at the time of departure, and receives approval from SU Academic Affairs;
● a grade of Incomplete (INC) if the student leaves the program after the Course Withdrawal Deadline and with less than 20% of the program remaining (calculated in days from the advertised program end date), and where academic circumstances allow a student to complete exams or submit final assignments that occur after his/her departure. Under these circumstances, students must receive written approval to be issued an INC for these courses, accompanied by a clear outline of completion requirements and due dates for all missed work, as noted below.
150. SU does not grant partial credit for courses that are not completed prior to a student’s departure; however, in exceptional circumstances and upon request, SU will provide as much information as is practicable about the courses and the work already completed by the student to help the home school determine whether they are willing and able to grant partial credit toward the home school transcript and / or degree program.
151. A SU Academic Record that reports one or more Incompletes will be accompanied by an Incomplete Course form. This provides detailed information about what the student is required to do to complete the course(s) and the date by which the SU Center Director and/or professor(s) at the program location needs to receive the missing work.
152. SU will assign a reasonable deadline date for work to be submitted dependent on the
individual course and student circumstances. Said deadline shall not be more than one semester (or six months, whichever is earlier) after the onsite exam date of the affected course(s).
153. If the student does not make appropriate arrangements with the SU Center Director prior to departure, a grade of “F” will be assigned for any missing work and the final grade for the course will be calculated accordingly. Individual professors do not have the authority to extend deadlines, make special arrangements for students, or otherwise modify SU academic policies. Any special arrangements tentatively proposed by professors must be submitted to the SU Center Director on site for review and final approval.
154. If the student misses the deadline for completing work for Incomplete courses, all Incomplete coursework will automatically be converted to failing grades (F), and no extensions will be granted on previously stated deadlines for Incompletes. Similarly, students who have been granted an Incomplete may not later request to receive a grade of “W” for the course in question, regardless of circumstance. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with the stated requirements and deadline for the Incomplete coursework, and to remain in contact with the professor and/or SU Center Director throughout this time. Neither the professor nor SU onsite Staff have any obligation to provide reminders to the student as the stated deadline approaches. If the student meets the deadline, the appropriate professor(s) on site will grade the assignment and report the new course grade(s) to the SU Center Director. SU will send an updated SU Academic Record to the student’s home institution or School of Record once all updated grade(s) have been recorded.
155. Participants are expected to comply with regulations established by SU, their home universities, and the host institution. The SU Center Director may establish additional requirements that are essential to the students' achievement of their educational goals or to continuing good relations with the Host University or community.
156. SU may dismiss from the program any student who does not comply with the relevant regulations and requirements as outlined in the SU Participant Contract and these Terms and Conditions. If at any point SU has knowledge that a student is failing 50% or more of the attempted courses in any one term of a multi- term study plan, the student may be subject to dismissal by SU at any point prior to completion of the original program duration for which the student was accepted. Similarly, requests for extensions to study for additional terms beyond those to which the student originally applied will be denied. In some but not all cases, the SU Center Director issues a warning letter to students and/or requires students to provide periodic, written academic progress reports from professors, if they are not acting in compliance with program regulations or performing well in classes. If a warning letter is issued, students are expected to take responsibility for changing their behavior or risk early dismissal and consequent loss of time, money, and academic credit.
SU DOES NOT GRANT PROGRAM FEE REFUNDS TO STUDENTS WHO ARE DISMISSED FROM THEIR PROGRAMS. A STUDENT DISMISSED FROM A SU PROGRAM, FOLLOWING THE ADD/DROP PERIOD, WILL FAIL ALL ACADEMIC CLASSES NOT YET COMPLETED, AND A GRADE OF WITHDRAWN FAILING (WF) WILL BE REPORTED FOR ALL CLASSES NOT YET COMPLETED.
157. SU subscribes to standard U.S. norms requiring that students exhibit the highest standards regarding academic honesty. Cheating and plagiarism in any course assignment or exam will not be tolerated and may result in a student failing the course or being expelled from the program.
158. Standards of honesty and norms governing originality of work differ significantly from country to country.
159. We expect students to adhere to both the American norms and the local norms, and in the case of conflict between the two, the more stringent of the two will preside. Three important principles are considered when defining and demanding academic honesty. These are related to the fundamental tenet that one should not present the work of another person as one’s own.
A. The first principle is that final examinations, quizzes, and other tests must be done without assistance from another person, without looking at or otherwise consulting the work of another person, and without access to notes, books, or other pertinent information (unless the professor has explicitly announced that a particular test is to be taken on an “open book” basis).
B. The second principle applies specifically to course work: the same written paper may not be submitted in two classes. Nor may a paper for which you have already received credit at your home institution be submitted to satisfy a paper requirement while studying overseas.
C. The third principle is that any use of the work of another person must be documented in any written papers, oral presentations, or other assignments carried out in connection with a course. This usually is done when quoting directly from another’s work or including information told to you by another person. The general rule is that if you must look something up, or if you learned it recently either by reading or hearing something, it must be documented.
160. For SU-administered courses, there are three levels of escalation establishing the seriousness of the plagiarism in question:
• Level one plagiarism is minor or unintentional plagiarism, leading to passable grade/failing grade on the assignment, depending on perspective of lecturer. The passing or failing grade must be applied regardless of the rubric and allocation of points in the plagiarized assignment. No opportunity for resubmission. The faculty must communicate clearly to the student how and where they have committed unintentional plagiarism in written feedback.
• Level two plagiarism is significant plagiarism, but potentially due to poor referencing rather than intellectual property theft. This leads to a failing grade (potentially zero points) on the assignment. No opportunity for resubmission. The failing or zero grade must be applied regardless of the rubric and allocation of points in the plagiarized assignment. The faculty must communicate clearly to the student how and where they have committed significant plagiarism in written feedback.
• Level three plagiarism is significant plagiarism, requiring investigation by the Center Director/Academic Director, and subsequent disciplinary panel.
161. In circumstances where academic honesty relating to level three plagiarism is in question while the student is still onsite at the program and will impact the grade for the assignment or course in question, a SU Academic Honesty Form will be completed by the SU Center Director / Academic Director, signed by the professor, and delivered to the student for signature. Once all signatures have been secured, a copy will be sent to the SU Registration team to append to the student’s permanent, SU academic records. For any level three violation, or repeated lower-level violation, the SU Center Director / Academic Director will also inform the student’s home institution of the infraction and subsequent penalty.
162. For host institution courses, the host institution’s academic honestly policies apply. When SU is informed of a student’s infraction of the host institution policies, the SU Center Director / Academic Director or SU Portland Registration staff (depending on the timing of the notification) will inform the student’s home institution in kind.
163. During the program, any student who feels there is a justification to request an exception to any SU policy should address the request in writing to the SU Center Director.
164. A SU Center Director may recommend that an exception be granted, in which case the SU office of Academic Affairs will make the decision. At the discretion Academic Affairs, the student’s home school may also be consulted. Only the SU office of Academic Affairs is authorized to approve exceptions to these policies.
165. Individual instructors are not authorized to grant exceptions to academic policies.
166. Students wishing to appeal a reported grade, following the end of the term of study, may do so by requesting the SU Grade Appeal forms from the SU Portland Registration team by writing scuip@ms.scu.edu.tw and must also provide adequate documentation to support the argument and requested resolution submitted in the appeal.
167. Following policies that are universally in effect in U.S. colleges and universities, SU believes that, except in rare cases of administrative error, egregious discrimination, or blatant unfairness, each instructor has the final authority, in alignment with SU Academic Policies and Standards, as to the means of assessment and methods of evaluation for work submitted by the students in his or her classes.
168. If students want to appeal the grade for a host institution course, they must avail themselves of any appeal processes available through the host institution. For SU - administered classes, or host institution classes where there is no local grade appeal process available, students have three months from when grades are published in their SU online accounts to file an appeal with SU.
169. Students may only appeal to the SU Portland office after the end of the program (not to resident staff or professors). SU does not release final grades to students or home schools when there is a financial or an administrative grade hold on the student’s account. If a student has a grade hold for any reason, SU will not consider the student’s request for a Grade Inquiry or to file a Grade Appeal until the hold has been resolved, and students with holds have no more than 5 months from the advertised program end date to resolve the hold and submit a grade appeal. The decisions of the Academic Appeals Committee are final once an appeal has been fully adjudicated. Please note that appeals may take at least 2-3 months to be fully adjudicated, though SU makes every attempt to process any appeals received as soon as possible. SU will not consider requests for exceptions to the appeal submission timeline.
All questions regarding the above Agreement should be directed to your SU Study Abroad Advisor, or for Academic matters, to the SU Registration team at scuip@ms.scu.edu.tw
SU reserves the right to modify or cancel any statement in the program descriptions and information as listed at http://SU-education.com/ or in the hard copy program catalogs, without prior notice.
I CERTIFY THAT ALL STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS "SU PROGRAM PARTICIPANT CONTRACT" ARE TRUE AND CORRECT AND MADE OF MY OWN FREE WILL.
SCUIP
Address : No.56, Section 1, Kueiyang Street, Chungcheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100006
Telephone : +886-2-2311-1531 ext 2854
Email : scuip@mss.scu.edu.tw