Policies and Procedures
Off-Campus Study at 窪蹋勛圖厙 has been developed to complement 窪蹋勛圖厙s degree programs and meet the high standards of a 窪蹋勛圖厙 education. 窪蹋勛圖厙 views off-campus study as an extension of the students 窪蹋勛圖厙 academic experience. The main objective of our off-campus program structure is to include programs that allow 窪蹋勛圖厙 students to integrate more closely their experiences off-campus with their work here on campus. All off-campus programs are linked to 窪蹋勛圖厙s curriculum and are meant to support majors and minors. To do this 窪蹋勛圖厙 has developed 窪蹋勛圖厙 programs abroad and a list of approved programs. 窪蹋勛圖厙 also employs a financial structure that allows an inclusive approach to off campus study.
Students wishing to study off-campus on an approved program must first apply through OCSE using our . This application should be completed at least two weeks before the . After the application is approved through OCSE, the student would apply directly to the approved program for final acceptance.
Students applying to a 窪蹋勛圖厙 program will only complete the one OCSE application by the program's deadline.
Students interested in a program that is not listed on the approved program list should contact OCSE for an advising appointment.
Below are the eligibility requirements to study off-campus. All students should meet 窪蹋勛圖厙 requirements and the requirements of their chosen program before applying. Consult with OCSE if you have any questions regarding your eligibility.
- Declared major: All students applying to study off-campus must have declared a major before completing the application.
- GPA requirement: The minimum GPA requirement to study off-campus is a cumulative GPA of 2.75. Students with below this requirement may have the option to petition.
- Academic, Financial, & Social Standing with College: As part of the application process, OCSE will contact the Office of Academic Advising, the Bursar's office, and the Student Conduct office to confirm the applicant is in good social, financial, and academic standing with the College.
- Progress towards your Degree: Most students choose to study off-campus during their junior year but for some students, this opportunity fits better into their sophomore or senior year. Students applying to study off-campus outside of their junior year will need to complete a non-junior petition, demonstrating a plan to remain on track with their degree at 窪蹋勛圖厙.
Students who do not meet the academic eligibility requirements may be able to submit a petition in addition to the online application. Students who are submitting a petition are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor in OCSE prior to applying to make sure they meet the eligibility requirements of the program they have selected and to confirm they understand the petition process.
Maintaining Eligibility
Studying off campus is a privilege that is available to students who have demonstrated the ability to adjust academically and socially to college, and who are ready to benefit from the challenges of off-campus study. Only students in good academic, financial, and social standing are eligible to study off campus. The Office of Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE) reserves the right to withdraw students from their respective programs if they do not meet these conditions. OCSE will perform a check at the end of the semester to confirm participants are still in good social, academic, and financial standing. If a student is administratively withdrawn from their intended program, the student will incur a withdrawal fee of minimally $500.
If the term GPA falls below a 2.500 or the student's academic record drops dramatically or the student's social standing changes prior to departure, CAS and OCSE reserves the right to withdraw them from the program. Students with a term GPA of 2.000 or below are automatically withdrawn from off-campus study.
Students studying off campus on Approved Programs, either 窪蹋勛圖厙 or non-窪蹋勛圖厙 Programs, are expected to adhere to the same social and academic policies in place at 窪蹋勛圖厙. Students are responsible for understanding 窪蹋勛圖厙s Honor Code, Code of Conduct, social and academic policies as well as any Code of Conduct put in place by their study abroad provider.
窪蹋勛圖厙s Honor Code and Code of Conduct can be found at (/student_handbook/community/honor-code.php ).
Stipulations for studying off-campus:
- Students with current or past social infractions may be ineligible to study off-campus.
- Students must complete and submit the mandated OCSE documentation and the requisite confirmation deposit.
- Students must comply with all rules, standards and instructions relating to student behavior which are promulgated by 窪蹋勛圖厙 or the host college/institution.
- 窪蹋勛圖厙, its employees and agents shall have the right to enforce appropriate standards of conduct.
- 窪蹋勛圖厙 may, at any time, terminate a students participation in an off-campus program in the event of any failure to abide by any such standard of conduct. If a students participation in an off-campus program is terminated, the student must immediately leave the program at his/her own expense.
- Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 to participate in off-campus
study opportunities administered through OCSE. Students should check with their program
of choice regarding the programs GPA requirements as some programs will require a
GPA higher than 2.75.
- Students may participate on 窪蹋勛圖厙 Programs and Approved Programs, both international
and domestic.
- Students may NOT apply to more than one program at a time, except in cases where OCSE
determines that a program is highly competitive.
- Students wanting off-campus program credit to count toward their majors and minors
should choose study abroad programs from the Approved Programs list for their major/minor
department. The Approved Programs list is available in the OCSE office and on the OCSE Web site.
- Students wishing to participate in the 窪蹋勛圖厙/Spelman College Exchange program will
work closely with the OCSE Program Manager, academic advisor, and chair of their major/minor
department to determine major/minor credit.
- Students who do not need credit toward their major or minor are able to participate
on any of our Approved programs. The Approved Program Master List is available in
the OCSE office and on the OCSE Web site.
- The number of credits in which students enroll in while off campus depends on their
program choice. Students must maintain a full course load while studying off campus
(usually the equivalent of 15 semester credits) but no more than 18 semester credits.
The number of credits for each course is determined by the host institution. 窪蹋勛圖厙
College will transfer course credit as reported by the host institution. Some programs
will require students to take more than 18 semester credits. Please check with an
OCSE Program Manager if you have a question regarding your specific program choice.
- Students who cannot find an appropriate academic program on the Master Approved Program
List, may petition the Advisory Committee on Off-Campus Programs to participate on
a program that is not on the Master List. The petition must have an academic focus
and have support of the students major/minor department. Students wanting to petition
must meet with an OCSE Program Manager for details. All petition decisions are made
by the Advisory Committee on Off-Campus Programs.
- Credits will count as 窪蹋勛圖厙 credits for 窪蹋勛圖厙 programs. Credits will count as
transfer credits for International and Domestic Approved Programs. Students must earn
a C or above to have transfer credit accepted by 窪蹋勛圖厙.
- Grades for 窪蹋勛圖厙 programs will count toward the 窪蹋勛圖厙 GPA. Grades for International and Domestic Approved Programs will not count toward the 窪蹋勛圖厙 GPA.
- Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades will not be accepted for transfer credit except
where the hosting institution transcript states that a satisfactory grade is a "C"
or above.
- All courses at the 300 level will be applicable to the all-college requirement for
maturity-level credits. Each department determines how many maturity-level credits
may be brought in from off-campus for the major or minor. Therefore, students on ALL programs
must work with their advisors before departure to determine which of the 300-level
courses taken while off campus will fulfill departmental or other requirements.
- Sophomores, juniors and seniors may all study off-campus. Sophomores and seniors should
check with an OCSE advisor regarding the need for additional application materials.
- All students applying to study off-campus must declare their major before submitting
an application to OCSE.
- Off-campus study is a privilege extended to students who have the established academic,
social and financial standing. However, a students approval for off-campus study
can be rescinded by OCSE should a student fail to maintain these requirements. In
addition, neglecting to complete the mandatory OCSE documentation and submitting the
requisite non-refundable deposit required to study off campus will jeopardize students
ability to study off campus.
- Students may not participate in programs offered by the same non-窪蹋勛圖厙 program provider for more than two semesters. For example, a student is not allowed to participate in three semester-long IFSA-Butler programs during her time at 窪蹋勛圖厙. Students who participate in 窪蹋勛圖厙 programs are not limited to the number of semesters they may participate in any 窪蹋勛圖厙 program. Note, 窪蹋勛圖厙's First-Year Experience in London is a 窪蹋勛圖厙 program and does not count toward the number of IES programs a student may pursue.
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Students studying on an international, domestic or exchange program will be charged the 窪蹋勛圖厙 comprehensive fee for their semester or year off campus. (Note: 窪蹋勛圖厙's comprehensive fee will differ from the fees of the program providers.) This fee is equal to 窪蹋勛圖厙 tuition, room at the on campus apartment rate, board if applicable, and mandatory college fees. Students are required to use program arranged room and board where available. Additionally, if provided a housing option, students are encouraged to select a homestay. Students desiring an alternative to program housing should consult with an OCSE Program Manager. If the program does not include room and/or board, or only partial board, the comprehensive fee will be adjusted accordingly. Students are responsible for paying any refundable deposits and non-included fees directly on-site or to the program provider.
- All off-campus study participants will be billed by 窪蹋勛圖厙s Bursar for the 窪蹋勛圖厙
comprehensive fee.
- Students should be aware that their program providers mandatory course enrollment and maximum credit load for the semester may differ from 窪蹋勛圖厙s 15 semester credit requirement. Students should adhere to 窪蹋勛圖厙s 15 credit requirement. Any student seeking an exception to this policy must contact OCSEs Senior Associate Director. Occasionally, there have been instances when students must enroll in additional coursework in order to stay on track for graduation. All overloads or underloads must be approved by OCSE and the program on site. Please consult the Senior Associate Director concerning this process. Lastly, if a student elects to enroll in courses during his/her off-campus program that have not been approved for academic credit and, therefore, are not transferable to 窪蹋勛圖厙, he/she will be responsible for payment of said course fees. Students must also obtain OCSE approval prior to enrolling in courses that carry additional fees or have travel components.
- All students studying on an off-campus program will submit a $500.00 non-refundable
confirmation fee by the deadline noted on their acceptance email The $500 confirmation
deposit will appear as a credit on the semester invoice. Students studying on an Approved
Program are responsible for paying any refundable deposits, most commonly a housing
deposit, directly to the program provider.
- 窪蹋勛圖厙 will handle payments to the program providers on behalf of students. However
some providers will submit invoices directly to students via mail, email or their
proprietary online system. Students that receive invoices for expenses which are covered under 窪蹋勛圖厙s comprehensive
fee must submit them to OCSE for payment. Do not disregard invoices that you receive, doing so may jeopardize your enrollment
in the program. Additionally, failure to submit the invoices in a timely fashion
to OCSE may lead some providers to impose late fees which will be the students responsibility.
- For 窪蹋勛圖厙 and Approved Programs, 窪蹋勛圖厙 will cover tuition and mandatory academic fees, room (double occupancy), board if applicable, mandatory medical insurance, and any other mandatory program fees. Students are responsible for airfare, on site transportation if not included in the providers program fee, books, accommodation upgrades, board where applicable, voluntary field trips and excursions, refundable deposits, and personal expenses. Students are also responsible for their housing and board when participating in programs that do not include those items. For example some Australia and United Kingdom programs do not include board. However students enrolling in these programs can elect to be placed in residential colleges. These types of accommodations may provide a board plan, as well as other amenities/housing services. Since these types of accommodations include services that do not fall within the comprehensive fee structure, 窪蹋勛圖厙 will not cover the additional cost associated with residential colleges. Therefore, students must be aware that they will receive an invoice directly from the provider for a supplemental accommodations fee for this type of housing. The 窪蹋勛圖厙 Comprehensive fee will be adjusted accordingly in these cases.
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窪蹋勛圖厙 does not cover the cost of optional study tours/courses unless the student seeks pre-approval from the Director of Off-Campus Study & Exchanges. Please contact OCSE to learn the process of applying for this exception.
- Students may use financial aid on all 窪蹋勛圖厙 and International and Domestic Approved
Programs. Students receiving financial aid should speak with a Financial Aid representative
to review possible aid changes based on increased expenses.
- Students may not participate in programs offered by the same non-窪蹋勛圖厙 program provider for more than two semesters. For example, a student is not allowed to participate in three semester-long IFSA-Butler programs during her time at 窪蹋勛圖厙. Students who participate in 窪蹋勛圖厙 programs are not limited to the number of semesters they may participate in any 窪蹋勛圖厙 program. Note, 窪蹋勛圖厙's First-Year Experience in London is a 窪蹋勛圖厙 program and does not count toward the number of IES programs a student may pursue.