Guide for Site Visits

General Activities
Student Services
Student Housing
Application Process
Academics
Academic Support
Visa Requirements
Financial

General Activities

  • Meet with relevant faculty and staff in the international office of the institution
  • Attend lectures at the institution
  • Tour facilities, housing options
  • Talk with local students
  • Talk with international students
  • Review academic and promotional materials (have them send some to OSA for students)
  • Take photographs of staff, facilities, and local attractions using a digital camera
  • Gather business cards and contact information of everyone possible
  • Distribute your business cards and provide contact information of the study abroad director
  • Find out about health and safety services and how emergencies are handled at the institution
  • Take a careful look at how and if students access the local culture or stay in the American bubble
  • Tour the city/area if possible to assess the local culture and attractions available to students
  • If the program is located in a low- or middle-income country, visit and assess local health facilities to determine the best medical plan

Student Services

  • Airport pickup - yes or no, is there a cost or is it free
  • Temporary housing options (if applicable)
  • Orientation for students- yes or no
  • Orientation length, dates, and topics covered
  • Family friends or student buddy programs available
  • Does the University have student cafeterias? How do students pay? What is the cost? What are the hours?
  • Main contacts and information of the partner
  • Housing coordinator and contact information if different from the international office
  • Emergency contact person (on-site)
  • Emergency contact method for students
  • Emergency response plan
  • Health services and facilities available

Student Housing

  • Housing options, specifications/amenities of each option, and how arrangements are made.
    • Single, double, or triple
    • Bathroom in or out of room
    • Shared bathrooms or private
    • Roommate selection process
    • Furnished or unfurnished
    • Co-ed or single sex
    • What students need to bring
    • Location in relation to class
    • Security of the neighborhood
    • Security of the complex
    • Rules for each housing option
    • Move-in dates, early/late accommodations
    • Payment for housing (when, how often, methods--checks, cc, cash), approximate costs
    • Size of beds, phone in room, internet access
    • Type of students that occupy housing option (locals, internationals, adults, etc.)
    • Cooking facilities/availability in each option

Application Process

  • What are the eligibility requirements of the program?
  • What process, forms, and other items are required?
  • Will they accept non-EIU students through EIU?
  • When is their application deadline? Flexibility?
  • Separate housing process, forms, and deadlines?
  • Can students enroll in their courses from the US?
  • How would they like to receive application materials? Email, fax, snail mail?

Academics

  • What are the strengths of the institution/program?
  • What subjects can students take at the university?
  • How are the courses organized? How many foreign and U.S. credits is typical of one course?
  • What is the credit conversion. 3-4 U.S. credits = ______ foreign credits.
  • What is the grade conversion scale.
  • What's a full load? What's typical load?
  • Can students take host country language courses?
  • What's the academic calendar? When are breaks?
  • Where are course offerings and descriptions posted ?
  • Can we receive syllabi for some courses or not?
  • Can we have some current course catalogs?
  • Are all courses in the catalog sure to be taught?
  • Who are the contacts in different departments if students want to ask about particular courses?
  • Can or must a student stay for a full year?
  • Are all courses in English? If not, what courses are offered in English? Can students take courses not taught in English and if so, what should be their foreign language level.
  • Are there any course restrictions for our students?

Academic Support

  • Library access for students? Hours?
  • Computer labs for the students? Printers?
  • Would laptop be useful? Is wireless internet available?
  • Will students receive an email account?
  • Are cultural excursions a part of the program?
  • Will someone plan other trips etc. for the students?
  • Is there a travel agent that can help the student?

Visa Requirements

  • Do students need to receive a student visa? If so, when and how? Visa assistance and support - yes or no?
  • What forms must they complete? Where? Cost?
  • Are certain shots/inoculations required to participate on the program?

Financial

  • Must students purchase the host university or government health insurance?
  • What are the estimated expenses of each student? (to host and elsewhere)
  • Is there a library use fee and housing tax?
  • Will they waive application fee with agreement? If not, what is the cost, when is it due, and what are payment method options?--credit card, etc.
  • What is the average cost of books and materials?
  • How should students access their money (ATM, bank account, etc.)?
  • Do they bill in U.S. dollars or their local currency?
  • Can students pay them directly? Can the institution or program invoice EIU?