2022 Study USA Rules

By registering to Study USA, students commit to make their payments on time, to comply with the requirements on time, and to remain with the program. Refunds are not awarded, and switching programs is not allowed.

Note: - IDH 3034 is the class on campus and includes the trip
-Deadline dates that fall on weekends and/or holidays are NOT moved to the next business date.

Documentation:
Before securing their spot, students must (1) apply online at https://honors.fiu.edu/studyusa/applications/, and (2) complete, initialize, and sign this contract. Their documentation will be subject to approval before and during registration.

Students must submit the required Special Needs questionnaire, and Pre-Departure Forms and Waivers at https://honors.fiu.edu/studyusa/waivers/ by MARCH 15, 2022, 11:59PM. Students who fail to comply by the deadline will not be allowed to participate in IDH 3034, and/or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Students will still be responsible for the remainder of the balance.

Students must clear any existing holds by MARCH 15, 2022, 11:59PM and are responsible for ensuring that they have no new ones before being enrolled in the program* (IDH 3034.) Students who fail to comply by the deadline will not be allowed to participate in IDH 3034 or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Students will still be responsible for the remainder of the balance.
*Students with holds on their account cannot be enrolled for classes.

ONLY FOR STUDENTS WHO SECURE THEIR SPOT ON OR AFTER MARCH 10, 2022:

The deadline to upload the required documentation and clear any existing holds will be extended until APRIL 1, 2022, 11:59pm.  Students who fail to comply by then will not be allowed to participate in IDH 3034 or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Posted charges will not be removed.

Physicality:                    
The faculty leader and/or support staff do not administer medical care or provide medication.

Academics:
In order to participate in an Honors Study USA program, students must maintain their active status as an Honors student. Students inactivated from the college will consequently be deactivated from their Study USA program and will not be allowed to participate in Study USA/IDH 3034. In which case, refunds will NOT be awarded, and posted charges will not be removed.

A passing “C” grade or higher in all Honors courses is required to be enrolled in Study USA/IDH 3034, or travel with the program. Students receiving a grade lower than C will not be allowed to participate in Study USA/IDH 3034. In which case, refunds will NOT be awarded, and posted charges will not be removed.

Behavior:
Students who have been sanctioned under the FIU Student Conduct and Honor Code (https://dasa.fiu.edu/all-departments/student-conduct-and-academic-integrity/), 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 be eligible to participate in Study USA/IDH 3034 or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Students will still be responsible for the remainder of the balance.

Students found responsible for an Academic Misconduct Violation will be dismissed from the Honors College upon notification of findings and will not be allowed to participate in Study USA/IDH 3034, or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Students will still be responsible for the remainder of the balance.

Students on the Study USA program 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 violates the FIU Student Conduct and Honor Code.)

Payments:
Once students apply online, they must secure their spot with the Honors College with a blank, non-refundable $250 cashier’s check or money order (ONLY) and the required documentation.

The Study USA payment is non-refundable and must be made no later than April 1, 2022. The charges will be posted to students’ accounts approximately 3 to 4 weeks before the payment deadline. Once the charges are posted, they cannot be removed.

After the payment deadline there is a one-week grace period, an extended deadline, when the payment is still accepted. However, the late fee will still be applied, and students could get a hold on their account. If students fail to complete their payment within exactly that one-week grace period, and had not notified the Honors College in advance, they will be withdrawn from the program and will not be allowed to participate in Study USA IDH 3034 or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Students will still be responsible for the remainder of the balance and late fees.
*Students with holds on their accounts cannot be enrolled for classes.

Students are responsible to ensure with Student Financials that any payment made towards their Study USA program is indeed allocated to that program.

Students who pay their program through a scholarship are still responsible for having the payment made on time and in its entirety. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to contact Financial Aid to ensure compliance. If any delays are foreseen, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Honors College of the situation. If the scholarship will not cover the full amount due, it is the student’s responsibility to pay the remaining balance. Students who fail to comply will not be allowed to participate in or travel with the program. Refunds will NOT be awarded. Posted charges will not be removed.

Switching, Withdrawals, and Cancellations:
Once students are registered, they are not allowed to switch programs. Students who still want to change programs will have to withdraw from the initial one, first, with no refunds. Then secure their spot in the new program, pay the $250 deposit again, and complete the new program’s payment. Permission to apply for the second program is at the full discretion of the Honors College.

Withdrawal from a program will only be permitted for medical reasons. In order to request a medical withdrawal, students must provide appropriate medical documentation from a physician licensed in the United States. Otherwise, they will remain responsible for all charges.

Students who are dropped from a program for lack of payment, documentation, or due to FIU Student Conduct and Honor Code sanctions will still be responsible for the charges. That balance will still be due.

FIU and/or the Honors College reserve the right to cancel Study USA programs. Consideration to purchase Trip Cancellation insurance coverage is recommended.

 COVID:
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 EXISTS IN ANY PUBLIC PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE PRESENT. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), travel increases the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The CDC continues to discourage domestic travel. Travel increases your  chances of contracting and getting sick from COVID-19. If you decide to travel, make sure you are aware of and adhere to restrictions for your destination and place of return. Check the state and territorial health department websites for the latest information. If you develop symptoms during or after travel, notify your primary care provider immediately.

All Study USA programs are contingent upon the COVID situation and FIU's decision. FIU continues to carefully monitor the public health situation for travel. Please keep in mind that there is a possibility that the program will not be allowed to travel in the summer even once you’ve started taking the class. In that case, you will finish the course without the travel portion.

CDC Recommendations: Honors Study USA participants must understand that they may be traveling to or through areas that have risks. Information about health precautions can be found at the Centers for Disease Control Department at http://www.cdc.gov/.  If circumstances change, and a health advisory is issued for any area to which a program is traveling, FIU may, in its sole discretion, terminate the program and require students’ immediate return to FIU.  Students must agree to fully cooperate, including being responsible for any resulting costs, with FIU if this occurs.

FIU’s scope in program changes
: By embarking on an Honors Study USA program, students understand that accrued expenses from voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from the program will be the sole responsibility of the student.

By signing up to participate in a Study USA program, students are assuming all the above-mentioned responsibilities and are committing to comply with them without further notices.