STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENTSTUDY ABROAD FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS (CREDIT-BEARING)
This Student Understanding and Agreement (the “Agreement”) is a legally binding contract between Lehigh University(referred to as “Lehigh” or “University”) and the undersigned student (referred to as “student”, “participant” or “you”)
that sets forth the requirements and expectations for participation in a study abroad program offered by Lehigh University.
In exchange for being granted the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program at Lehigh, the student, intending tobe legally bound, agrees to the following terms and conditions:
A. ELIGIBILITY AND COMPETENCIES
1. ELIGIBILITY: In order to be eligible to participate in a study abroad program at Lehigh, you must:
a. Be enrolled full-time at Lehigh or your home post-secondary school in the semester immediately prior tostudying abroad;b. Be in good financial standing with the Bursar’s Office;c. Be in good academic standing;d. Not be on disciplinary probation; ande. For graduate students only: Receive the Program Director’s approval and enroll in the program for credit.
The Study Abroad Office and Program Leader(s), in consultation with the Dean of Students Office, will review each
student’s disciplinary records prior to determining whether to grant approval to study abroad. Students whose records
indicate a history of inappropriate conduct should expect to have their cases reviewed in depth and considered fully inthe final decision about whether such student may study abroad.
2. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: In order to participate in credit-bearing activities conducted off-campus, youmust demonstrate the following required competencies:a. Ability to be flexible and adapt to new, unexpected circumstances as they occur. Navigate independently
and/or appropriately in a new and /or unfamiliar environment. (Ex: live in a host dorm with non-Lehighstudents; use urban/rural public transportation systems).
b. Ability to be responsible for all known personal medical and psychological needs prior to participation in thisoff-campus activity, as well as the ability to be functionally stable for at least six months prior toparticipation.
c. Ability to respect the host culture and its different language(s), values, customs, and belief systems.
d. Knowledge of, and willingness to uphold, reasonable and appropriate standards for living and learning
environments.
If you are unable to demonstrate the competencies at any point prior to or during a Study Abroad program, Lehighmay reconsider your approval to participate in such program. You may contact the You may contact the Program
Leader(s), the Director of the Study Abroad Office or the Associate Dean of Students if you have questions about
the competencies.
3. COURSE OVERLOAD POLICY: SUMMER: If you are participating in a faculty-led study abroad program
during the summer, you may not enroll in any online course during the summer session that you are abroad.
EMBEDDED: If you are participating in an embedded program, you must include the credits for the program inyour registration of the standard 18 credit load. See the Registrar’s Office web site for the complete Overload
Policy.
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B. COST AND PAYMENTS
1. DEPOSIT AND REGISTRATION FEE: A $200 non-refundable deposit and a $50 non-refundable
registration fee are due at the time of program registration. Lehigh will only refund your deposit andregistration fee if you are not accepted into the program by the Program Leader(s), or if the program iscanceled due to an insufficient number of participants. Lehigh will only transfer your deposit to a program
offered concurrently with the program to which you applied/registered (i.e., not to a program offered during a
different year or term).
2. ACCEPTANCE: By submitting a registration form online to a study abroad program, you are agreeing to enroll
in the program for which you applied/registered if you are approved and accepted. Programs may requireinterviews, written statements, or both, before deciding to accept a student.
3. PROGRAM COST AND BILLING: Upon acceptance into the program, the Bursar’s Office will send you aninvoice for the program cost less the deposit. Full payment is due as stated on the invoice and all tuition payment
policies apply. For specific costs, please refer to the applicable program.
If you are a graduate student, the Bursar’s Office will send you an invoice for the graduate per credit hour tuition
applicable to the particular college less the deposit.
4. STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: In order to withdraw from a program, you must notify the Study Abroad Officein writing. Since Lehigh may undertake substantial financial commitment on behalf of students prior to thebeginning of study abroad programs, you will be charged for all non-recoverable funds Lehigh has committed onyour behalf including, but not limited to, airfare and housing costs.
5. DISMISSAL BY LEHIGH: If your conduct after registration and prior to departure leads to disciplinary
probation, you will be dismissed from the program and will forfeit your deposit and registration fee as well as anynon-recoverable funds Lehigh has committed on your behalf up to the date of dismissal. If you are dismissedfrom the program at any point after the program starts including pre-departure meetings on campus, you will bebilled the full cost of the program (i.e., no refund will be given).
6. PROGRAM CANCELLATION: Please refer to the Study Abroad Office’s website(www.lehigh.edu/studyabroad) for the cancellation policy.
C. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
1. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE: Lehigh University has established the LehighUniversity Student International Services and Insurance Program (LUSISIP) for students abroad on Lehighsanctioned programs: www.lehigh.edu/~incis/documents/ServiceandInsuranceProgram.pdf. You will pay aregistration fee for the cost of this program at the time of registration.
Undergraduate student: This mandatory insurance program is primary for sickness, accidents, urgent care, andrelated prescriptions, and works in concert with International SOS (see C.2 below) for the official duration of theabroad portion of the program. Preventive and routine care or related prescriptions are not covered. You will
be responsible for obtaining your own insurance and/or services package within the United States as well as forany travel abroad before or after the official duration of the abroad portion of the program.
Graduate student: You will receive the benefits of International SOS for the official duration of the program,but not the insurance portion of LUSISIP, and are required to provide or purchase your own health insurance.
2. WEB REGISTRATION FOR INTERNATIONAL SOS: You must register your international travel prior todeparture on the International SOS portal, which can be found on the Study Abroad website:www.lehigh.edu/studyabroad. You will receive directions for registering, which will include a registration
deadline.

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3. AIRLINE RESERVATIONS: You are generally responsible for making your own travel arrangements.
However, some programs include flights, which are coordinated by the Program Leader(s) and/or the Study
Abroad Office.
4. PASSPORT: You must obtain your own passport which must be valid for at least six months beyond the last dayof the program. You must submit a copy of your passport to the Study Abroad Office prior to program predeparture. American citizens may obtain forms at www.travel.state.gov. Please note that it may take up to eightweeks to process an application for a U.S. passport. Non-US passport holders should consult their home embassy.
5. VISAS: You are generally responsible for obtaining proper visas and paying all costs associated with such visas.
However, some programs include visa processing, which is coordinated by the Program Leader(s). U.S. citizens
may be required to obtain a visa if their plans include travel outside the designated study abroad country before orafter the program. Importantly, non-US passport holders need to consider very carefully any visa requirements.
Obtaining visas may be a lengthy and detailed process involving persistence. Check www.travel.state.gov forspecific entry requirements for each country.
D. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. RELEASE OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION: In consideration for the use of premises or facilities
owned or operated by Lehigh University and/or in consideration for permitting me to participate in this program,on behalf of myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, I hereby release and forever
discharge Lehigh University, its trustees, employees and agents from and against any and all actions, causes ofaction, suits, damages, claims, and demands, on account of personal injury, including death, or any other cause
whatsoever, which I may have by reason of or arising out of my participation in this program.
Further, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Lehigh University, its trustees, employees and agents from anyand all causes of action, claims, demands, losses or costs of any nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way
related to my participation in the program and my use of facilities, equipment, or services in association with theprogram. Lehigh University will not accept liability for any act I commit, willful or negligent, which results indamages or injury to persons or property, and I agree to undertake full reimbursement to the injured party shouldsuch damage or injury occur.
2. RISK FACTORS: I understand that my participation in this program involves risks not found in study at Lehigh
University. These include risks inherent in traveling to, and returning from, one or more foreign countries;
foreign political, legal, social, and economic conditions; different standards of design, safety, and maintenance ofbuildings, public places and conveyances; and local medical and weather conditions. I represent that I have mademy own investigation and am willing to accept these risks.
3. REPORTING OBLIGATIONS: I agree to report to the Study Abroad Office, Program Leader(s), hostinstitution, and/or experience provider any serious physical, safety, personnel or other problems that I may
encounter during the program. I understand that the University is not responsible and I agree to hold theUniversity harmless for any claims, disputes, losses, damages, injuries, adverse events, or outcomes arising out ofor caused by the host institution, experience provider, or internship, including but not limited to such claims,disputes, losses, damages, injuries, adverse events, and outcomes caused by their actions, inactions, or negligence,even if the University has been advised of the possibility of such.
4. MEDICAL CONSULTATION: I agree to consult with my personal physician about necessary immunizations
and any other medical matters relating to my participation in an international program. I understand that I amstrongly encouraged to disclose to the Study Abroad Office and/or Program Leader(s) any personal, physical,medical, and/or psychological or emotional concerns/issues I might have which would, without reasonableaccommodation, prevent me from performing my responsibilities on my program. I understand that if I have adisability which requires reasonable accommodation by the program provider, I will advise the Program Leader(s)at a time sufficiently prior to the commencement of the program to allow the Program Leader(s)/providers toSeptember 2013

make reasonable accommodations.
5. PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION & MEETINGS: I understand that I am required to attend and complete
all mandatory pre-departure orientations and meetings with the Study Abroad Office and Program Leader(s).
6. ATTENDANCE: I agree to attend the program in accordance with its established location and schedule,
including all orientations, meetings, work assignments, classes, excursions, and exams on campus and abroad. Iagree to complete all University requirements/assignments associated with my program.
7. INDEPENDENT TRAVEL, ABSENCES, FREE TIME: I understand that Lehigh is not responsible for mywelfare or liable for my actions during periods of independent travel, absences from the program, or free time.
Free time means any time(s) when students are not under the direction or supervision of the program or its agents.
8. PROGRAM MODIFICATION: If necessary, Lehigh reserves the right to change or modify any arrangement
concerning the location and/or content of the program.
9. PAYMENTS AND BILLING: I will pay all tuition, fees and charges due according to the regularly scheduledbilling by Lehigh and I am responsible for the timely payment of all other charges incurred by me or on my behalf
in connection with my participation in the program.
10. HEALTH AND SAFETY; INSURANCE: Lehigh reserves the right to make such decisions and take suchactions that it believes are necessary to maintain my health and safety, and I shall not hold Lehigh responsible forsuch decisions or actions. I fully understand the insurance programs described in Sections C.1 and C.2 above.
11. AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES: I hereby authorize Lehigh, its faculty, staff and agents,
at their discretion and without obtaining any further consent, to arrange medical services and treatment as may bedeemed necessary for me at my/my parents’ and/or guardians’ sole risk and expense. If deemed necessary ordesirable by Lehigh, I may be returned to the United States by commercial airline or other means at my expense
for medical treatment.
12. RULES, STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT: I will, at all times, act
responsibly and comply with the policies, rules, standards, and instructions for student conduct and behavior ofLehigh and the host institution(s). Lehigh will enforce appropriate standards of conduct and may terminate myparticipation in the program for failure to maintain these standards or for any actions or conduct which Lehighconsiders incompatible with the interest, harmony, comfort or welfare of participants. Unacceptable conduct
includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized absence from the program, harassment, assault, vandalism, publicdisturbance, gambling, solicitation, and any illegal activity.
I understand and agree to be bound by the rules and policies of Lehigh University and, in particular, theStudent Code of Conduct as well as those of my host institution(s).
13. ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES: Lehigh will not tolerate alcohol or drug abuse (by U.S. definition,or that of any other country visited) and/or excess. I understand that if I am impaired and cannot fully participate
in expected classroom attendance, group activities, excursions, and/or my conduct is disruptive or incompatible
with the program purpose and objectives, Lehigh and/or the host program may require my immediate terminationfrom the program and I will return to the United States.
14. REMOVAL FROM PROGRAM: If my program participation is terminated, Lehigh shall have the right torequire me to leave the program and return to the United States without refunding my tuition or fees and without
academic credit (if I return prior to the program end date). If Lehigh directs me to return to the United States, I
agree to cooperate and abide by such direction and cover all associated costs.
15. UNFORSEEN COSTS: I understand that I am responsible for any additional unforeseen costs (e.g., housing,board, travel fees) associated with my participation in the program in the event of an emergency that detains me
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outside of the program and/or planned program dates. I am responsible for the purchase of trip
interruption/cancellation insurance.
16. DAMAGE; THEFT: I accept full responsibility for any damage/theft, losses, or charges associated with myhousing or other accommodations or the common areas or grounds of the host institution and its equipment
including, but not limited to, telephones, vending machines, washers and dryers. Public area damage/theft thatcannot be attributed to specific individuals will be billed on a pro-rated basis to residents of that suite, section,floor, or building in accordance with the Lehigh University Damage Billing Policies and Procedures. I am also
responsible for the actions of guests whom I allow to enter housing/residences. Willful destruction of property iscause for disciplinary action. All damage billing incurs a 15% service charge.
17. EMERGENCY CONTACTS: I agree that the Lehigh Study Abroad Office staff and/or the Program Leader(s)may distribute information about my participation in a study abroad program to the parent or guardian whom I
have designated as my emergency contact. I further agree that such staff may discuss my academic anddisciplinary records for the purpose of ensuring my continued health, safety, and student status, as it pertains to
my study abroad experience.
18. AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE OF COPYRIGHTS: I grant permission to Lehigh to use my photograph,likeness or comments in any medium for educational, promotional, or any other purpose in furtherance of the nonprofit missions of the University.

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