Academic & Disciplinary Policies for Study Abroad Programs

All students must agree to the waivers and releases of liability and electronically sign the Agreements/Waivers signature form before being accepted to a study abroad program. Remember that there are several items you have agreed to abide by while abroad. Please review these again before your study abroad program.

Academic Standards

  • The normal minimum class load for a semester program will be the equivalent of 16 credit hours per semester. Once registration is completed and approved, no credit course may be dropped without the permission of the Program Director/CGE.
  • Students must follow the usual procedures for course registration at the Registrar's Office. Proper departmental approval and registration for any special arrangements regarding upper division credit for lower division courses, independent learning projects (ILP), or Integrations Curriculum for courses not so designated must be attained prior to departure for the term abroad. Deadlines for "drop, or "withdrawal" correspond to established CSB+SJU policy. No changes in the level of the courses, the type of evaluation, or the designation of the course as a credit or audit, will be allowed after the completion of the course.
  • Attendance at all classes for all courses is mandatory. Unexcused absences may affect the final grade and possibly continuance in the Program. Participation in group orientation meetings (pre-departure and on-site), lectures, receptions or program excursions are mandatory. 
  • Grades issued by overseas universities or by professors hired on the program site will be considered final and cannot be modified by supplementary assignments or testing, unless such course work and evaluation form part of an ILP previously arranged through a professor from CSB+SJU.
  • The normal CSB+SJU policies regarding S/U evaluation (one course per semester) applies to study abroad programs. Changes in S/U status are allowed with the Program Director/CGE consent before completion of the course, where not otherwise prohibited. 
  • A grade appeal can be made for a course offered abroad. This process will mainly follow the on-campus process of the Student Right to Appeal. If a student wishes to make an appeal, he/she must first direct the written appeal to the on-site professor explaining how the grade was issued in error. If following this correspondence, the student believes the appeal is not given due process by the professor, then the student may proceed to the next level of appealing to CGE. If the student still feels the appeal is not heard, a final appeal can be made to the Director of CGE and the Director of Academic Advising/Assistant Dean. The Assistant Dean will give final judgment on the appeal. 

Standards of Conduct

  • Students should recognize that in the eyes of the citizens of their host country, they represent the values of both their academic institution and their home country. Their behavior- both in the form of personal expression and actions- will therefore influence how they and future visitors from CSB+SJU will be viewed and treated in the host country.
  • Students should understand that the circumstances of living and studying abroad may require a standard of behavior and dress that differs from that of their current lifestyle. In recognition of that fact, students should be willing to make a reasonable effort to understand and conform to the standards and expectations of their hosts.

Student Disciplinary Procedures

  • While the Program Director cannot accept responsibility for the individual actions and values of the program members, he or she is responsible for maintaining conduct that is consistent with the educational and social missions of CSB+SJU. The Program Director and/or on-site staff are responsible for the welfare and morale of the entire group of participants and their continued reception as guests in a foreign country. As such, the Program Director and/or on-site staff is obligated to inform CGE of any student behavior which may warrant disciplinary action.
  • Information about any conduct violations abroad can be communicated to the Deans of Students and/or parents or guardians.
  • The following guidelines will be applied to student disciplinary procedures on study abroad programs:
    • In any situation where behavior is judged to warrant significant sanctions, CGE, and the counsel they choose to take, can be asked to participate in a review of the violation circumstances and can render separate opinions.
    • Written statements from the involved student(s) and the Program Director can be forwarded to the Director of CGE for consideration.
    • If the sanction is to include dismissal from the Program, the final decision will be rendered by the Provost or their designee.
    • Any behavior that is judged to warrant sanctions that include suspension and consequent dis-enrollment cannot be acted on or appealed to the campus judiciary system while the student remains on the Program. Any appeal of dismissal must be made by the student upon return. If the review determines that the action was inappropriate because of misinformation, the Provost can modify the sanctions through appropriate and practical means, including tuition remission, granting academic credit, offering reasonable alternatives to meet requirements, official exoneration, etc.