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Family Orientation Guide
The Family Orientation Guide was created to answer all of the questions you may have about your student's study abroad experience and to direct you to additional ISA resources and information. Please click below to access the Family Orientation Guide.
What’s Included
Tuition at Host University TUITION AT HOST UNIVERSITY
Tuition and administrative fees at the host university are included in the program price. Classes are held at the host university and are taught by local and/or visiting faculty. Some classes will have additional fees that are not included in the program price.
Full-Time Resident Staff FULL-TIME RESIDENT STAFF
The full-time resident staff assists students with all aspects of their experience abroad. The resident staff provides support during official course registration and arranges the Bridging Cultures Program orientation, excursions, weekly meetings, cultural activities and much more. Staff members are trained to ensure the well-being of each program participant and are dedicated to facilitating a positive and meaningful study abroad experience.
Airport Reception AIRPORT RECEPTION
Ground transportation is provided from the airport for students who arrive during the ISA designated arrival date and time and at the appropriate airport…Airport reception is not provided for Intensive Month or J-Term programs.
Meals & Laundry Service 
MEALS & LAUNDRY SERVICE
The amount of meals and frequency of laundry services vary per location. Meals and laundry services are provided with most homestays. For more details, please refer to the housing information for that particular program.
The ISA Discovery Model THE ISA DISCOVERY MODEL
A primary objective of all ISA programs is to facilitate the learning and development of program participants. We rely on host universities to provide quality instruction in the classroom, but ISA is the main facilitator of learning outside of the classroom. Efforts to promote student learning are shaped by a teaching and learning framework we call the ISA Discovery Model. ……..According to this model, student learning and development is organized into five areas of discovery: 1. Intercultural, 2. Historical, 3. Sociopolitical, 4. Professional and 5. Environmental….Throughout the duration of ISA programs, we provide participants the opportunity to pursue these five areas of discovery. ISA excursions and cultural activities are most important among these opportunities. Each excursion and cultural activity is designed to help participants reach a specific set of learning objectives. In addition to the ISA cultural activities and excursions, ISA will also point students towards non-ISA sponsored events and opportunities that will facilitate discovery in one or more of the five areas of discovery.
Comprehensive Advising & Support COMPREHENSIVE ADVISING & SUPPORT
A team of helpful ISA staff members guides students through the entire study abroad process from application through reentry. The Program Advisors help students with choosing a program to best fit their academic and cultural objectives. Once a program is selected, students then work with the talented team of Program Managers for the application and financial logistics while the seasoned Site Specialists guide students through academic, cultural and functional aspects of their programs…….The personal and individual nature of advising is supplemented by plentiful web-based materials. The ISA online orientation is a fresh, user-friendly layout that assists in program preparation specifically tailored to each program location. Students can further develop personal and academic goals by viewing the ISA student blog, :60 on Study Abroad Video series or the Culture Corner on each city specific page of the website………..Additionally, the ISA Student Portal, an online interface allowing students the ability to upload supplemental program documents and receive valuable information regarding their study abroad program, was developed to assist students with program expectations and includes important pre-departure information on various topics related to their experience abroad.
Visa Support VISA SUPPORT
U.S.-based Site Specialists are trained to handle visa questions for each of our program countries and their corresponding U.S.-based consulates……*For Spain programs over 90 days, ISA's Site Specialists can assist in the delivery of all necessary paperwork required to obtain the student visa. The Visa Service fee varies per consulate. Please visit the Student Visa and Embassy page specific to your program location.
Official Transcript from Host University OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT FROM HOST UNIVERSITY
Upon completion of an ISA program, the student's host university will issue an official transcript with all coursework taken abroad. ISA's Academic Records Department will process and forward the official transcript to the appropriate office at the student's home university, and a photocopy will be sent to the student's permanent home address for their records. Additionally, ISA will provide a cover letter to accompany the transcript with important academic information, including: the host university's grading system and recommended U.S. letter grade equivalencies, translated course titles, and credit conversion recommendations.
On-site ISA Offices ON-SITE ISA OFFICES
Most program locations have an on-site ISA office within the program city. The on-site offices provide students a source of security while abroad by serving as a common meeting place and resource center. For more details, please refer to the ISA Staff and Offices information for that particular program.
Housing 
HOUSING
Housing is guaranteed and included in the price of all ISA programs*, with the exception of Pacific programs in which housing is an additional cost. Accommodation options will vary according to program site and session. For more details on ISA's housing options and applicable security deposits please refer to the housing information for that particular program
……..*Housing is provided on all ISA programs in the Pacific Region at an additional cost.
Comprehensive Health, Safety and Security Support COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY SUPPORT
Health, Safety and Security (HSS) for ISA students is jointly managed by our resident staff and HSS team. This team works to monitor risk at program locations, respond to any crises that may arise and develop policies to further ensure the health, safety and security of students abroad with ISA. HSS also facilitates an in-house on-call system with a U.S.-based employee and manager who are on-call and available in case of emergency 24-7.
Internet Access INTERNET ACCESS
ISA students enjoy free internet access at ISA on-site offices and/or computer labs at the host university. ISA will continue to install wireless internet services at additional program sites where available.
Excursions EXCURSIONS
Organized excursions are included with each program to complement the academic component of the student's study abroad experience. These complementary experiences are designed to engage student learning outside of the classroom in the five areas of the Discovery Model. Transportation and guided tours are included as well as hotel accommodations and breakfast during multi-day excursions. Additional optional excursions may be offered during each program that are not included in the program cost, but provide students other opportunities for discovery. …..*Excursions are not included for Intensive Month or J-Term programs.
International Medical Insurance INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL INSURANCE
A Blanket Accident and Sickness Policy is included in the price and covers the program participant while abroad for the official on-site period of program. This is not an optional benefit; every ISA participant will be covered by this policy. A full description of coverage can be found on the ISA website…….We recommend that all program participants maintain comprehensive health insurance while abroad. This is particularly important if you have any pre-existing conditions, but is also beneficial if you have an injury or illness while abroad and require further treatment upon your return home. Consult with your current insurance provider to confirm coverage policies while traveling abroad.
Cultural Activities CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
The ISA program staff develops unique cultural activities custom-designed to invite students to experience the local color of their host city, while learning about the history and culture of their new surroundings. Speaking the native language with locals, tasting the regional cuisine, and partaking in the native traditions are just a few of the ways these cultural activities lead to full appreciation of the program city.
The Professional Development Toolbox THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLBOX
The Professional Development Toolbox, available in the online orientation section of the student portal, will help students identify the skills and key competencies they have developed through their personal, academic and cultural experiences. The ability to articulate the international experience is a learned skill. This toolbox helps students communicate the transferable skills in a way that shows potential employers or post-graduate universities the benefits our alumni will provide them as a direct result of their experience abroad.
Bridging Cultures Orientation BRIDGING CULTURES ORIENTATION
The Bridging Cultures Orientation encompasses the ISA on-site orientation delivered to all students in the first days of their ISA program, with key improvements in areas related to goal setting, intercultural awareness, diversity and professional development. For a number of reasons, the first days that follow a student's arrival on site offer us some of the best opportunities to effectively transmit information to program participants. While the pre-departure orientations that students receive from ISA and their home universities are also important, students are typically more ready to focus on their study abroad experience when they arrive at their host country. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is designed to help ISA make the most of this important opportunity to educate students, and to give students the tools that will facilitate discovery and learning during their program. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is an important introduction to a new culture, a new home and a new experience. The Bridging Cultures Orientation is designed to prepare students for a successful, positive and rewarding experience that will influence the rest of their lives.
Hear It from the Source
Who better to tell you about the ISA experience
than the students who have participated in our programs?
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