Study Abroad

UPDATED HONORS COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD POLICIES FOR THE 2018-2019 ACADEMIC YEAR:

Honors College Study Abroad Program

Student Eligibility and Participation Criteria

The Honors College has recently made changes to its Study Abroad Program Student Eligibility and Participation Criteria. Below is the updated policy effective for the 2018 – 2019 academic year. Please contact Luli Szeinblum should you have any questions or concerns.

Academic Standing and Grade Point Average (GPA)

• Students must be in good standing and maintain a minimum cumulative FIU GPA of 3.2 to participate in Honors College Study Abroad Programs.
• For the South Africa Program, students must be in good standing and maintain a minimum cumulative FIU GPA of 3.5 to participate in Honors College Study Abroad Programs.

Freshmen and Transfer Students

• Students without an FIU GPA: If space is available, freshmen in their first year who do not yet have an FIU GPA may apply for a Study Abroad program after their Fall grades have been posted. Students must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.2 to apply. Transfer students, with or without a completed AA degree, must have a minimum 3.3 transfer GPA to apply. The South Africa program requires a 3.5 minimum GPA to apply.

Expected Graduation and Excess Credits

• Participation in a Study Abroad program must not delay the student’s expected graduation date based on the FIU admission term/cohort.
• Participation in a Study Abroad program must not cause the student to exceed the excess credit threshold. Students who exceed the excess credit threshold will not be approved for participation, even if participation in a Study Abroad program would satisfy pending Honors requirements.

Advisor Clearance

• All students must obtain advisor clearance prior to securing a spot in a Study Abroad program.

Enrollment Status

• Only active degree-seeking students will be allowed to enroll in IDH 4007.  Enrollment in IDH 4007 is a prerequisite to IDH 4008.

No exceptions will be made for the above criteria.

Note: IDH 4007 is the pre-trip class on campus, and IDH 4008 is the actual class abroad.

Payments:

• Students that do not comply with the payment due dates stated on my.fiu.edu, Financials section, will be charged by the university a late fee of $100.00.
• Students that fail to complete payments within 2 weeks after the deadline will not be allowed to
  participate in IDH 4008. Refunds will NOT be awarded.

Documentation:

• ALL Office of Study Abroad (OSA) required documentation must be uploaded to abroad.fiu.edu by December 15, 2018, 11:59pm, for summer 2019 programs and August 1, 2018, 11:59pm, for winter break session 2018 programs (Honors Costa Rica). Students who do not comply with the deadline will not be allowed to participate in IDH 4008. Refunds will NOT be awarded.
• The documentation required by OSA is at abroad.fiu.edu. It includes: Medical Form, Course Registration Form, copy of valid passport, and four questionnaires: 1) personal information form, 2) emergency contact form, 3) special needs form, and 4) financial information form.
• The Medical Form is valid for only one year as of the date it is signed by a physician licensed in the United States and cannot expire before the end of the trip.
• Passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after the last day of the trip.
• Students that do not have a valid passport by the deadline mentioned above must instead submit proof that the passport application/renewal process has been initiated, and must replace it with a copy of their actual passport no later than the end of IDH 4007. If they fail to comply by the deadline, they will not be allowed to participate in IDH 4008. Refunds will NOT be awarded.

• Students must clear any existing holds by April 26, 2019 (and November 30, 2018, for Costa Rica.) Students that fail to comply by the deadline will not be allowed to participate in IDH 4008. Refunds will NOT be awarded.

Physicality:

• Study Abroad programs can be physically demanding. Students must be physically able to participate in the programs.

Academics:

• In order to secure and keep a spot in an Honors study abroad program, Students must meet and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2. Refunds will NOT be awarded.
• In order to be enrolled in IDH 4008, students must receive a grade no lower than C in IDH 4007.

Behavior:

• Students who have been sanctioned under the FIU Student Code of Conduct (https://studentaffairs.fiu.edu/get-support/student-conduct-and-conflict-resolution/student-code-of-conduct%20/_assets/Student-Code-of-Conduct.pdf), which results in loss of privileges and/or other sanctions that result in the student not being considered to be in good standing with the University (e.g., conduct probation,) are not eligible to participate in IDH 4008. Refunds will NOT be awarded.
• Students studying abroad are expected to represent the Honors College and FIU honorably and maturely. The faculty director and/or staff are authorized to end the trip early for students whose behavior becomes disruptive (and/or whose behavior violates the Student Code of Conduct), and the student risks dismissal from the Honors College in accordance with the posted dismissal policy for misconduct.
• By signing up to participate in a study abroad program, students are assuming all the above-mentioned responsibilities and are committing to comply with them without further notices.