Information for Parents

The process of pursuing a study abroad program is an exciting experience for students and their families, and the James M. Clark Center for International Education wishes to thank the parents of study abroad students for providing support in making the opportunity to study overseas a reality. The Clark Center for International Education is available to assist students and their families throughout the study abroad experience, and is happy to answer any questions and address any concerns pertaining to student experiences. We encourage parents to explore this Web site and learn more about navigating a studying abroad program.

Questions Frequently Asked by Families:

1. When can my son or daughter go abroad?

Cortland College students are eligible to go abroad as early as second semester sophomore year; however, many students choose to wait until their junior or senior year to study abroad because they prefer to spend their first two years on Cortland's campus, acclimating to student life, solidifying friendships, and taking the necessary introduction courses for their major and minor.

Education students who are required to complete Blocks 1 and 2, usually go abroad for the spring semester of sophomore year because they often must spend all of their junior and senior years on Cortland's campus completing crucial courses for their major and accruing their student teaching hours in the local community. Education students who prefer to study abroad later in their college career can apply to participate in Cortland's University of the Sunshine Coast Student Teaching program in Australia the summer following senior year (June - September) and conduct the low-needs portion of their student teaching requirement abroad.

2. Where can my son or daughter go abroad?

Students may attend SUNY-sponsored programs or Cortland-approved programs. The Cortland programs which are listed on the Clark Center for International Education and the SUNY system study abroad Web sites have been reviewed and approved by members of the SUNY system.

3. How can I find out if my son or daughter needs any vaccinations or medications?

Students should always check with their doctors and the Centers for Disease Control for the health steps they are required to take before going abroad. Students who need to take regular medication must either bring sufficient medication for the duration of their trip abroad with a doctor's note briefly stating why the medicine is prescribed to the student or bring a doctor's prescription which identifies the medication by its chemical name in order to have the prescription filled while abroad.

4. Does my son or daughter need special health insurance?

Students must have health insurance in order to study abroad. Students who lack health insurance are not permitted under any circumstance to study abroad. Two options exist for students who are seeking coverage: 1) students may elect to waive Cortland's international health insurance and have comparable international health insurance coverage extended to them according to the health insurance plans of their parents or 2) students may elect to purchase the SUNY-approved international health insurance program provided by Highway to Health (www.hthstudents.com).

If your student opts for SUNY health insurance while abroad, the cost of the international health insurance will be included in the student's study abroad program bill. All study abroad program participants must either elect to waive or to purchase Cortland's international health insurance by November 1 (for spring programs) and April 1 (for fall programs) or Cortland will automatically bill the students for Cortland's full international health insurance coverage for the duration of the student's study abroad program.

5. How do I know if where my son or daughter will be staying is safe?

The Clark Center for International Education places the highest level of priority on the safety and security of Cortland students who are pursuing study abroad programs. Our office staff conduct pre-departure meetings for all Cortland-sponsored study abroad programs which include information on health, safety, and security concerns as well as offers advice on how to prepare for the cultural differences they will encounter during their time abroad.

Each of Cortland's international programs has a relationship with on-site staff available to deal with emergencies and appropriately communicate with the home institutions of students. In addition, the Clark Center for International Education receives up-to-date information in the form of travel warnings and travel safety information updates from the U.S. Department of State, and provides a link to the State Department as part of the Predeparture Step-by-Step section on the study abroad Web site.

6. What happens if there is an emergency?

As soon as students are settled abroad, their parents must make sure that they have the correct phone numbers and contact information, as well as phone numbers for the on-site staff and directors of the study abroad program. In the case of a family emergency, parents should contact the Clark Center for International Education at Cortland as well as the student's international insurance provider, which are both available to assist students and their families in making any of the arrangements needed in order to address emergency situations. The 24/7/365 emergency phone number for the Clark Center for International Education is (607) 543-0774.

7. What should my son or daughter need to do in order to obtain a visa?

Every student must have an up-to-date passport and should apply for a visa (if required) as early as possible. International students should contact their International Student Advisor in the Clark Center for International Education to make sure they have appropriate visa forms, as well as the forms needed in order to re-enter the United States.

If your son or daughter would like to work while abroad, he/she needs to apply for a work visa but he/she is only qualified to do this with the written sponsorship of the overseas employer provided at the time of the work visa application. Please note that not all countries permit students to work while studying in the country as a visiting student.

8. What bills are we responsible for paying?

SUNY students who participate in SUNY study abroad programs remain enrolled at their home college and pay tuition for the duration of their program at the appropriate SUNY tuition rate, depending on the student's status as a New York resident or as an out-of-state student. All students will be billed by Cortland for program fees and the bill will be sent to the student's permanent billing address. Exceptions to this are SUNY four-year college students who study abroad through a SUNY community college or who study through a non-SUNY university or third-party provider. In each case, the SUNY student will need to take a leave of absence and pay tuition fees and all other program costs to the program provider.

A detailed budget and breakdown of program costs can be found on each of Cortland's study abroad program web pages. If your child is not studying abroad through Cortland's Clark Center for International Education, please contact the international program office at the school through which your child is studying abroad for program costs.

Numerous scholarships are available to help off-set the cost of studying abroad. Students are encouraged to research their eligibility and apply for both scholarships available to Cortland students only as well as national scholarships available to all United States citizens enrolled in an institution of higher education.

9. Will my son or daughter still receive financial aid while abroad?

Students who are eligible for financial aid will continue to receive aid while they are abroad as long as the student is enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits for a summer program or a minimum of 12 credits for a semester program. Students must make appointments to see their financial aid advisors prior to registering for study abroad programs to discuss the disbursement and amount of financial aid awarded. Students on scholarships funded by a non-SUNY school or organization should contact the scholarship provider directly to determine if the scholarship can be applied to overseas study.

10. How can I be sure that my son or daughter has taken care of all necessary preparation to go abroad?

The Clark Center for International Education has compiled a checklist of items for students and their families to consider prior to travelling overseas. This checklist should be used as a guideline to ensure that students are fully prepared for their study abroad experiences.