Dear Family Members and Friends of Converse College Study/Travel and Study Abroad Participants:

I am writing to make you aware of the implications of your student’s decision to study outside the United States, to review some areas of responsibility among all parties involved in study off campus, and to address the safety and well-being of students in our study/travel and study abroad programs.

Converse College study/travel programs usually occur during our January or summer terms. A Converse College faculty member plans the program and escorts the students abroad. While these experiences are valuable, we hope that they lead to the students’ eventual decision to study for a semester or a year in another country unescorted by a Converse faculty member. Residence abroad enhances every student’s program of studies and enriches her life with lessons about other cultures and new friends gained through her cultural competence.

Students who choose a study abroad program go abroad for a semester or the entire summer. Students choose a program from the many established study abroad programs available. These programs may originate in the United States, such as our program in Spain with the University of Minnesota, or they may be institutions that originate in the local culture such as our program in Avignon and Aix, France, with the Institute for American Universities.

World affairs may become strained at any time in any part of the world. Conflicts may vary in duration and character, from the ongoing tension in Israel to the war in Iraq, and these conflicts translate into increased anxiety about our students abroad, even when they are traveling in countries far removed from conflicts in the news. As Mark Scheid, Executive Director for International Programs at Rice University, states: "Even under the best and most peaceful of circumstances, we can never guarantee students’ safety abroad—or on campus for that matter. However, we believe that studying abroad continues to be a reasonable choice for our [Rice] students."

The administrators of the programs we affiliate with keep abreast of the local political situation and check with the embassies as well as the State Department advisories. The Converse College Vice President for Academic Affairs and I routinely check the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories. These advisories provide critical information on the political stability of every country, safety precautions that should be followed, and general information on that country. For more information on the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories, you are welcome to visit http://www.travel.state.gov. This website is the State Department's vehicle for announcing all types of advisories, whether consular information sheets, public announcements, or travel warnings. Please note that the term "Caution" should not be confused with a "Warning," which is the State Department's strongest category of advisory. Usually the recommendations for travelers include the following precautions:

• stay aware of current political events;

• avoid popular American tourist destinations such as American bars and discos

• be inconspicuous in dress and demeanor;

• keep away from political demonstrations;

• notify the on-site staff before engaging in any travel outside of the country of study; and

• be alert to your surroundings and the people with whom you have contact.

In study abroad, as in other settings, parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas. I invite you to read the open letter on this website to students who plan to study abroad and the Secussa safety guidelines for study abroad participants. Please discuss these items with your student at length. Please consult the U.S. Department of State's website for travellers for additional information: http://www.travel.state.gov.

Parents/guardians/families should:

A. Be informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to 
enroll in a particular program.

B. Obtain and carefully evaluate participant program materials, as well as related health, safety and security information.

C. Discuss with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.

D. Engage the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.

E. Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information 
regarding the participant.

F. Keep in touch with the participant.

G. Be aware that the participant rather than the program may most 
appropriately provide some information.

If you have questions about any of our study/travel or study abroad 
programs, please do not hesitate to contact Jeri DeBois King, Director, 
International Studies (864) 596-9110, e-mail Jeri.King@Converse.edu, or fax (864) 596-9202.

I hope that your student enjoys a fulfilling and enriching study abroad 
experience.


Sincerely,

Jeri DeBois King
Director, International Studies

580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302
email: admissions@converse.edu 

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