International Center Services

The International Center provides the following support services for study abroad programs which are administered by individual Colleges/Schools/Departments.  In exchange for these services, the International Center charges each study abroad participant a $75.00 Study Abroad Administrative Fee.

• Serve as 24-hour emergency contact for the MU Police Department in case of an emergency affecting the health, safety, or security of an MU student abroad.  Keep copies of student information and their emergency contact information at our homes in case of an emergency occurring outside of IC office hours.  The IC has an Emergency Response Plan for both emergencies affecting individuals and those affecting entire programs.  The IC also maintains an MU Core Crisis Management Team for study abroad emergencies.
• Provide a common core of health, safety and security materials for all MU students participating in study abroad programs.  Distribute, collect, data enter, and file hard copies of these forms in IC files.  Follow up with students who have not yet completed and returned forms until they turn in the forms. Materials provided to students include:
• UM System Assumption of Risk and Release form
• MU Program Confirmation & Conditions of Participation form .
• Health Insurance Verification Form . Ensures that all participants in MU study abroad program are enrolled in comprehensive health insurance that will cover them overseas. Provides information on the UM preferred Study Abroad Insurance, currently administered by HTH Worldwide.
• Information on international health resources at MU (where to go for about immunizations, anti-malarial medications, etc.)
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC) application and card (ISIC provides insurance for Medical Evacuation (up to $250,000) and repatriation (up to $25,000)
• Health Information Form to encourage disclosure of health needs.  If the student requires an accommodation abroad, the IC will work with the faculty program leader, and appropriate offices at MU (i.e., Disability Services), the student’s insurance provider, and contacts abroad to provide reasonable accommodation for the student.
• Organize and hold mandatory pre-departure comprehensive General Orientation meeting. All students are provided with a comprehensive Orientation Handbook . During the orientation meeting, students receive information on health, safety, and security abroad, cross-cultural adjustment and communication, academic issues, and financial aid.  In-depth information on these topics is included in the orientation handbook distributed to each student.  Students enrolled on the MU campus are excused from this orientation only if they have an academic conflict or if their MU College/School has made previous arrangements with the IC to cover all information discussed in the General Pre-departure Orientation for students participating on programs run through their College/School.
• For the participants who are not on the MU campus, the IC mails each the General Orientation Handbook, and program-specific materials distributed at orientation, along with a letter encouraging them to contact the Assistant Director for Faculty-led Programs if they have questions about the materials.
• Organize e-mail distribution list for students abroad to which the IC sends U.S. Department of State travel advisories, and information about maintaining health, safety and security while abroad.  The IC will also send updates about administrative procedures at MU to all MU students abroad.
• Upon request, and with the students’ permission, include the person listed as the student’s “Emergency Contact” in “Study Abroad Family” e-mail distribution list.  This enables students’ emergency contact person to receive copies of all health, safety and administrative information sent through the above mentioned e-mail distribution list.
• Provide re-entry cultural adjustment information and programming for MU study abroad returnees to facilitate reintegration into the MU community.   Includes information re-entry mailings, the Welcome Back Reception, Study Abroad Photo Contest, Volunteer Corps, and individual meetings upon request.
• Faculty Workshops.  The International Center provides a series of workshops and written materials for faculty managing study abroad programs, which include detailed information on all aspects of study abroad program development and administration.  Special workshops on managing emergency situations abroad and student conduct issues are held each year with the assistance of the UM Director of Insurance and Risk Management.
• International Memorandums of Understanding (IMOU). Provide a template for an International Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU) and advice in drafting IMOU.
• Student Application Forms. Provide access to IC on-line study abroad application forms, which can be modified for use by departmental program applicants.
• Assist with program promotion by displaying program materials in the Study Abroad Resource Room (N52 Memorial Union), linking program information to the IC Study Abroad web site, and providing space to display informational materials and promote programs to students at the IC’s annual Study Abroad Fair.
• Centralize all contact information for MU students and faculty abroad in IC study abroad database.   This information is provided to the IC Assistant Director for Faculty-led Programs.
• Investigate students’ Disciplinary Standing (for MU Students Only). Upon receipt of a copy of the first two pages of a student’s “MU Application for Study Abroad,” which includes questions regarding the student’s disciplinary standing and a waiver of these records, the IC Director of Study Abroad will review each student’s disciplinary standing.  If the student indicates that he/she is on disciplinary probation at MU, the Director of Study Abroad will contact MU Judicial Affairs for details and, if appropriate, help the MU faculty member establish a “Behavioral Contract,” stipulating specific behaviors to which the student must adhere while abroad in order to remain on the program.
• MU Family Packet mailing. Unless otherwise indicated by student, the IC will send blank copies of all study abroad program confirmation and acceptance materials to parents/guardians of accepted participants in the form of the “MU Family Packet.”   The Family Packets also include information on emergency preparedness, a phone directory of key MU offices, and U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories (if any). Parents/guardians are invited to the MU Mandatory General Pre-departure Orientation meeting for study abroad.