Q&A on Summer 2021 Field Experiences
Does my Financial Aid apply to the summer programs?Financial aid may apply, contact financialaid@chatham.edu for details on your aid toward a summer program and/or applying for additional loans.If you are a Pell grant recipient, Pell funding may apply for 6+ credit programs (Cyprus & Taiwan)
What outside scholarships can I apply for?Pell grant recipients can apply for Gilman scholarship funding (deadline will be in early March 2021), see https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) funds students with demonstrated financial need; encourages students underrepresented in study abroad (app opens in November for 2021-22 programs) https://fundforeducationabroad.org/apply/For the Taiwan program, Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The application opens in early 2021 https://www.iie.org/Programs/Freeman-ASIA/
What experiential learning scholarships can I apply for through Chatham?Students may apply for Chatham experiential learning scholarships which offer summer funding (application deadline is 2/28/21). These awards are competitive as funding is limited.There are two general awards toward summer study: Glenda Rich DeBroff ‘60 Scholarship and Sally Mercke Heym ‘63 Scholarship; there are two awards toward environmental field work (Loren Maazel -Rachel Carson and Theo Colburn-Rachel Carson awards).For more information and experiential learning scholarship application, please see https://chatham.edu/academics/international-programs/scholarships-and-vouchers.html
Where can I learn more about course content?Please contact the faculty leaders:Costa Rica: Dr. Cunningham, h.Cunningham@chatham.edu; Dr. Bell, mbell@chatham.eduCyprus: Dr. Carrillo, acarrillo@chatham.edu; Dr. Rossbach, drossbach@chatham.eduTaiwan: Dr. Kingsbury, kkingsbury@chatham.edu; Dr. Tippen, ctippen@chatham.eduFor Cyprus & Taiwan, see https://chatham.abroadoffice.net/ course descriptions for links to non-Chatham coursework
How do I apply?Please use the links at https://chatham.edu/academics/international-programs/field-experiences.html or see https://chatham.abroadoffice.net/You must create an abroadoffice user account and complete all required sections of the application.The application deadline is 12/2/2020.
Is there any risk in applying for a field experience?No. Chatham will announce if summer study abroad is permitted in January 2021. Participating students would not be asked for a deposit or any other commitment until after that announcement.
When will students be notified of acceptance to a field experience?If a field experience receives enough applications to meet its minimum enrollment number prior to the 12/2/20 deadline, applications will be reviewed and accepted students will be conditionally accepted. Otherwise, students can expect to hear about the status of their application in mid-December.All summer 2021 Chatham field experiences are conditionally approved at this time. A decision on summer 2021 study abroad will be announced in January 2021.
I am graduating in spring. Can I participate? Chatham field experiences are academic programs. Participants must be current undergraduate students taking the courses for credit. If you are graduating in spring, you may only participate if you need credits or need this specific course to fulfill your graduation requirements. Contact your academic advisor with questions about fulfillment of graduation requirements.
What’s included in the program fee? Specific inclusions vary by program. Please read the “What is Included” section of Chatham.abroadoffice.net for each field experience for information.Generally included: RT airfare to/from Pittsburgh; housing; travel insurance; in-country transportation; activities and excursions that are part of program; some meals (varies)Not included: personal expenses, passports, Chatham tuition + fees (Costa Rica)
When would I need to have a valid passport? For Taiwan, by December 15 for visa processing.For Costa Rica and Cyprus, TBD, but plan on having your valid passport/ applying no later than January announcement.Passports are good for 10 years. Apply/renew now!
Where do I apply for a passport? First time applicants must apply in person. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/where-to-apply.htmlIn Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Dept. of Court Records, 414 Grant Street, 412-350-6071, does not require appointments. Open 8:30-4:30 M,T,R,F; 8:30-7:30 W.To renew your passport, you may be able to apply by mail.See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/
What do I need to apply for a passport?
- Form DS-11 (complete online)
2. Citizenship evidence (US birth certificate or expired/unexpired passport)3. Photocopy of citizenship evidence4. ID (driver’s license or US passport)5. Photo (must meet photo requirements)6. FeesSee specifics of document requirements https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/
How much is a U.S. passport?Passport book is $110Execution fee is $35Expedite fee is $60 (if you need a passport in 4-6 weeks)See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/
What will happen when programs are approved? When the university approves programs (January 2021), accepted students will be contacted and asked to make a $500 deposit and sign a Participation Agreement including Informed Consent regarding COVID-19.Program leaders will announce pre-departure meetings and required pre-departure training for each field experience.
How do students get the $1200 voucher? Students do not need to file any additional paperwork for the $1200 one-time study abroad voucher. If you qualify (have 30 or more credits, 15 at Chatham) by start of program, voucher will be added to your aid for the term in which you study abroad, reducing the amount students pay by $1200.
Where can I learn more about the International Studies Certificates and the $1,800 International Studies Certificate voucher awarded to students who are in the process of completing their International Certificate?International Studies Certificates are completed through the International Studies department. Please see certificate requirements at https://my.chatham.edu/tools/_departments/advising/checklists/list.cfm?CatalogID=15&CatID=4. The coordinators for the certificates are Dr. Sene, Africa, Dr. Kingsbury, Asia, Dr. Rossbach, Europe and Middle East, and Dr. Martin, Latin America.
How do students demonstrate eligibility for the International Studies Certificate funding ($1800)?Complete and have certificate advisor sign off on the Verification form. Please return scan or photo of completed form to internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.
When would I pay for a summer field experience? For programs that are moving forward, students would make a $500 deposit in January. As field experiences are summer programs, the balance of program fee + tuition would be billed by Student Accounts in March/April, due in May. Students may sign up for a summer payment plan through Student Accounts.
What if a program is interrupted/cancelled? While Chatham would make every effort to refund any fees that have not been allocated, there are hard costs to programs that may not be recoverable. Enrollment is not without risk (participating students agree to share this risk in the Participation Agreement with Informed Consent regarding COVID-19).
What does travel insurance cover?Travel insurance is a supplemental insurance policy that covers you while you are abroad. Travel insurance is through iNext, https://www.inext.com/. Travel insurance for the program dates is included as part of your program fee:iNext Comprehensive Basic Plan, $250,000 Medical / $500,000 AccidentTravel Delay (12 hours) (up to $250/Day) ..................................... $2,500Baggage and Personal Effects............................................................. $2,000Baggage Delay (24 hours) ......................................................................... $200Accidental Death & Dismemberment (24 hour)......................... $20,000Accident Medical Expense ............................................................... $500,000Sickness Medical Expense ............................................................... $250,000Emergency Medical Evacuation, Medical Repatriation and Return of Remains ............................................................................................... $1,000,000 Coverage includes a 24-hour emergency assistance line.If participant contracts COVID during covered period (study abroad) it is considered a covered illness.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation?No, it does not. Individual participants can consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance, also known as a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) or Interrupt For Any Reason (IFAR) Policy. Policies will have varying coverage (typically up to a percentage of total cost of program).The following sites are offered as information only (not endorsed)https://www.culturalinsurance.com/https://www.insubuy.com/
Please also see previous post http://blogs.chatham.edu/oia/2020/09/25/chatham-summer-2021-field-experiences/ for important field experience information.Do you have a question that is not addressed here? Please reach out to internationalaffairs@chatham.edu. Thank you!