A. CRITERIA

To study off-campus, you must meet the following criteria:

• Junior standing or higher by the time you participate in the program.
  
  

• A cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.7. Some programs require a level of preparation and a demonstrated proficiency well above a cumulative grade point average of 2.7. Check with the CIE.
  
  

• Good social standing, as defined by the vice-president for student affairs and dean of students.
  
  

• Successful completion of the Writing Competency Examination by the time you participate in the program.
  
  

• Demonstrated maturity commensurate with the demands of the OCP.
  

Particular OCPs may have more stringent requirements or may require special course preparation. In these cases, the program requirements become the minimum requirements. To be approved for off-campus study, you must demonstrate in your written application that you have thought carefully about what you want to do, and that your proposed off-campus program is connected in some meaningful way with your degree work at Albion. This does not necessarily mean a direct connection with work in your major field of study. By the time you submit your formal OCP application you should be able to answer all or most of the questions posed in the section above headed “Other Considerations.

B. TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students must spend at least two semesters on the Albion campus and meet all other requirements  before undertaking any off-campus study.

C. ON-CAMPUS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

A student participating in an Off-Campus Program on the list of programs approved for Albion credit is considered a student in residence at the College.

D. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME ON OCP

The maximum amount of off-campus programs’ credit a student may count toward graduation is two semesters (8.0 units of credit).

Choosing the right program for your needs and interests is the most important part of the planning/application process. You may apply to more than one program if you so desire. However, weighing your alternatives carefully before submitting the final application and then applying to only one program will save you considerable time, work and anxiety.  To make the right choice, please follow the steps and procedures outlined in this section of the OCP booklet.

A. BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR WRITTEN OCP APPLICATION, PLEASE:

1. Read this handbook carefully.
   
   

2. Consult program literature, student evaluations, and reference works that have bearing on the program(s) or institution(s) in which you are interested.
   
   

3. Ask questions of the director or staff in the CIE if you are unsure about anything.  We are here to help!
   
   

4. Discuss your intentions and plans with your faculty advisor (and with the chair of your intended major department, if your advisor is in a different department).
   

B. ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED TO APPLY TO A PROGRAM, SIGN THE TRANSCRIPT RELEASE FORM IN THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.

That will release copies of your transcripts to our office.

C. OBTAIN AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DIRECTOR OF CIE.

Please email slang@albion.edu and set up an appointment time. This usually takes about 30 minutes. The applications will be given you at that time if you decide on a specific program.  The written application process has two distinct parts: an Albion OCP application and a host program (or institution) application. Complete both these applications and make a copy of everything. Hand in the applications and the copies by the Albion College deadline date.

D. THE APPLICATION FORMS

The Albion application consists of several pages of information to be gathered by you and checked and signed by your academic advisor, department chair, Registrar, an alum of the OCP, and the advisor to the OCP. The purpose of these signatures is to insure that you gather the most information and get the best advice (some of it in writing). Thus, you will know what you are getting into before you leave the campus and you will receive the credit you deserve when you return to Albion.

Also in the Albion application you will find forms for letters of recommendation, a parental agreement, medical agreement, and an essay to complete.  You must also complete your host program’s application form (or, in the case of direct enrollment, the host institution’s form).  Parts of this form may duplicate the Albion application, but both must be completed. However, you will write only one essay, the program essay, unless it is to be written in a foreign language (Spanish) and then you need to write an English version. Faculty evaluations can be duplicated for use with program applications when appropriate. Please return the completed program applications to the CIE. The faculty recommendations should be sent directly to the CIE.
Again, please return all completed forms to the CIE, and request faculty members to do the same. You should NOT send them out yourself.

E. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

1. After the application deadline, the Off-Campus Programs Advisory Committee reads the applications and grants or denies approval. You will be notified in writing of their decision.

2. The CIE forwards the applications to the appropriate programs, along with supporting documents from the CIE. The program then accepts or rejects the candidates. However, in nearly every case approval for off-campus study by the Off-Campus Programs Advisory Committee results in admission to the program.
   
   

3. Once approval for off-campus study is granted, you attend a required general orientation meeting. This orientation discusses important issues about the upcoming off-campus experience and reentry to Albion after the off-campus summer, semester, or year. Parents also are invited to this orientation.
   
   

4. There is a subsequent required international orientation session for students studying abroad and special orientations for certain programs. Parents are also invited to these orientations.
   
   

5. In certain cases where a student does not meet the minimum qualifications for off-campus study, the Off-Campus Programs Advisory Committee may grant the applicant conditional approval to study off campus. The approval is conditional upon the student attaining the minimum qualifications by the end of the semester before off-campus study.
   

Academic and internship credit for off-campus programs on the list of programs approved for Albion credit will transfer back to the campus as if the student were on campus.  Usually, the equivalent of 4.0 units of credit per semester and 8.0 units of credit per academic year will apply.  However, some programs may have more or less credit.  The OCP handbook contains information  about credit for each program. All OCPs are done for credit. That is, non-credit (auditor) work is not allowed except in addition to the full time load of the program.

Other particulars about credit:

• All courses taken off campus are recorded on Albion’s numerical grade basis, unless the student specifically requests grades of credit/no credit. Students need to submit this request in writing to the Registrar’s office no later than two weeks after the first day of classes on their program. If students do not notify the Registrar’s office in writing of their intention to take classes on a credit/no credit basis, their course work will be graded numerically. Students should keep a copy of all appropriate requests and authorizations.
  
  

• Normally, all off-campus programs carry course loads of three to four units each semester. If there is an opportunity to register for over 4 .50 units, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3.  Exceptions to this requirement will require approval from the Petitions Committee.
  
  

• All internships are graded credit/no credit. The CIE only offers academic  non-paid internships
  
  

• Students should not plan to complete core requirements while attending an off-campus program unless they obtain written authorization from the Registrar.
  
  

• For category requirements, the chair of the appropriate category committee must approve an off-campus program course for that category requirement.  You should petition the category committee for approval before you attend the program.  If you find you must substitute a new course for the one approved by the committee, you must notify the committee and request approval for the new course.
  
  

• Successful completion of an off-campus program abroad (or the Border Studies program) for at least one semester with a study abroad journal turned in to the Director of CIE fulfills the Global Studies category requirement.
  
  

• Drop and Add - If students change classes after returning the schedule of classes to the Registrar, they must notify the Registrar of the change, in writing.
  
  

• If a student withdraws from the off-campus program before the completion of the semester, the student will be expected to notify, in writing, the Office of Student Life, the Director of the CIE, and the Registrar some fees may apply.
  
  

• Courses taken off campus that are to be applied toward a major must be approved, in writing on the off-campus programs application, by the department chair. The student should turn in a copy of this approval to the Registrar's office.
  
  

• Courses for your major or the education program must be taken for a grade unless written permission is obtained from the department chair.
  
  

• Students returning from an off-campus program must complete a post-program evaluation form to receive credit for their off-campus study.
  
  

• Off-campus semesters are not considered when determining eligibility for Dean’s List and/or Albion Fellows.
  
  

• Participating in an off-campus program during the last semester of the senior year may delay graduation.
  
  

• Students who fail to follow College procedures regarding off-campus study, or who withdraw or take a leave of absence from Albion and thus circumvent existing College regulations regarding off-campus study, will not receive credit for coursework done off campus.
  

Thus, a student attending either a program on the list of programs approved for Albion credit or a program approved on a one-time-only basis, must attend the program as an Albion student to receive credit.

A transcript of your courses and grades must be sent by the host institution to Albion's CIE Director.  The transcript is retained as part of your permanent record. At your request, a copy may be included with your Albion transcript as part of graduate school applications, etc., if the host institution is unable to send another transcript within the prescribed time.

A. COST OF PROGRAMS

• If you participate in an off-campus program, you pay at least Albion tuition and fees. Tuition and maintenance costs for off-campus programs usually do not exceed what a student pays for regular room, board and tuition on campus. However, when those costs exceed those of the Albion College regular fees, students will be required to pay the difference.
  
  

• If your off-campus program fees cover all expenses, you may pay Albion room and board fees as well. For some programs the student pays the sponsoring organization or institution rather than Albion for room and board fees.
  
  

• Costs for transportation to and from an off-campus study program are the responsibility of the student.
  
  

• Full details about billing will be sent to you and your parents during the semester preceding your off-campus program.  The Accounting Office will mail the bills from the college earlier than the regular college billing time. Payment is expected earlier than the regular payment schedule times. You cannot leave for your program until your bill is paid to Albion college.The Accounting Office sets the exact dates. This earlier payment schedule enables the college to meet the billing deadlines set by the off-campus programs.
  
   

• Please note that it is not possible to use the deferred fee agreements or Academic Management Services as payment plans for off-campus programs.
  
   

• Currency conversion on international invoices may cause additional program cost.
  
   

• Finally, any units over 4.5  may cause additional cost.
  

B. FINANCIAL AID

75 % of Albion College Scholarships and all external financial aid will transfer to off-campus programs on the list of programs approved for Albion credit as if the student were on campus. This aid includes merit-based academic scholarship. Need based financial aid will transfer 100%  Financial aid will be available for only two semesters of approved off-campus study.  It is the responsibility of the student to discuss the particulars of the aid package for the off-campus program with the Financial Aid Office.

Only aid approved by the  Financial Aid Office  may be applied to the bill. Students are limited to the on-campus aid budget. If program costs exceed the on-campus budget, students need to use their remaining loan eligibility or their own resources.

C. THE OFF-CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE FEE

 Every student who participates in an off-campus program, whether for a summer program, one semester, or for the academic year, pays an off-campus administrative fee of  at least $981.00 per program, which is added to Albion’s regular fees.

D. THE OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS ADVANCE DEPOSIT

There is a $250 non-refundable deposit, due at the time of the Off-Campus Programs Orientation. This deposit is credited to the student’s account.  It can be paid to the Accounting Office or the CIE office, make sure it is made known that this is a deposit for OCP. Please include your student number on all payments.

E. REFUND POLICY

In the event an off-campus program closes or a student withdraws from a program, the refund policy of the program itself will come into effect. While the CIE and the Accounting office  will make every effort to recover funds paid to the program by the College or by the student, any losses incurred by the College may be passed along to the student. The Albion College Off-Campus Programs administrative fee ($981) is non refundable, unless the student cannot go on the program due to circumstances beyond the student’s control. Such circumstances might include denial of admission by the program, closure of the program, or a significant altering of the program structure or policies.

F. THE SEBOLD GIFT

Each semester the William and Gloria Sebold Gift for Off-Campus Study will be awarded to one student who will be studying on an Albion approved off-campus program the following semester. The $500 gift is to be used to cover extra expenses associated with a proposed project while doing the off-campus study. The intent of the award is to help a student achieve goals that he or she might not be able to afford otherwise.

The Off-Campus Programs Advisory Committee will select the gift recipient, according to the following criteria:

• Academic excellence

• The type of project proposed while off-campus

• Expenses associated with the program

• Applicant's educational goals

The recipient of the gift must submit a written report detailing the use of the money to the Off-Campus Programs Advisory Committee, through the director of the CIE, within a month after returning to campus. Also, a letter of gratitude should be sent to the Sebold family. Their address is in the CIE office. 

Students who wish to apply for the Sebold Gift must complete an application form and submit it with the Off-Campus Program application. The application form is available in the CIE.

It is difficult to make generalizations about study abroad because it is a highly individualized experience. However, there are a few things that you can expect to encounter.

Students are expected to be highly motivated in their studies.  Intense “academic pressure” is not as common in other pedagogical systems as it is in the US. There will probably be less supervision of your academic work than you are accustomed to here, though this varies according to where you are doing off-campus study. It is important to work diligently; senior year depends on it.

Often courses abroad are different from courses here; they tend to be more specialized and there are few, if any, survey courses.  Sometimes there are no required quizzes, midterms, or term papers, with success in the course dependent on the final exam (oral or written). 

In some cases, as much as 80 - 100% of a student’s grade can depend on the final exam. The exam period can be quite long, from four to six weeks. Albion students studying at foreign universities, especially during the spring semester, must plan to take their exams at the time they are given.  Often exams in other university systems go through an extensive review process before they are given once, on the designated day. Students may not ask to take exams early.

The grading system abroad can be quite different from the US system. The concept behind passing a course is that the student has achieved sufficient knowledge to go on to the next level in that subject. Thus, passing a course does not connote just getting by.

Courses are often graded on a curve, with the majority of grades in a middle range. Therefore, there are many students who receive passing grades, but few students receive high grades. The emphasis on achieving high grades or a good GPA that students experience in the US is not relevant in many foreign university systems.

However, in many US college-sponsored programs, courses and grading will be very similar to what students experience in the US.

In many foreign universities there is little of what we call “campus life.”  The university buildings may be in the heart of a city, but scattered over a considerable area and separated from one another by residences, stores and factories.  You may live in one part of the city, attend classes in another part, work in the library somewhere else, and eat your meal in a student restaurant on the opposite side of the city.  You will thus be faced with problems of everyday city life, e.g., mass transportation, strikes, impersonal attitudes, tourists, etc.,  that forms an important complement (and contrast) to life at Albion.

 The students you meet abroad are likely to be rather serious and will tend to act, even with peers, with formality and reserve.  The idea of a “friend” is distinct from the idea of an “acquaintance.”  It takes many months to make a “friend” but once a friendship is formed, it can last a lifetime.  If you are living with a family, do not expect to be welcomed immediately to the bosom of the family like another son or daughter.  It does happen, but it is the exception.  More typically, your relationship will start as that between boarder and landlord/landlady.  Therein lies the challenge - to make the relationship grow into something more than the formal, distant relationship it may be initially.

You may be surprised at how politically knowledgeable the students from the host country are.  It is very helpful to study the history and politics of the USA (and the host country) before you go.