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FAQ: For Parents and Guardians
What does CC-CS do to promote safety while my student is studying abroad?
The security and well-being of our students has been of paramount concern throughout the 40 year history of CC-CS programs. We understand your concerns as parents and faculty about safety and communication when students are so far away. That is why CC-CS maintains a comprehensive set of Safety Guidelines to promote health and safety on all of our programs. CC-CS also arranges and requires health insurance in the host country for all participants to ensure they are adequately protected if medical needs arise.
An important part of the study abroad experience is to learn how to be independent, and students on CC-CS programs are expected to make good decisions to promote their own safety. At orientation, Resident Directors and staff review important safety tips with students to help guide students to make smart decisions while exploring their host city.
The Resident Director and support staff of each program monitors all aspects of students’ well-being throughout their stay abroad. All participants are made fully aware of the services CC-CS provides so that they know what to do in the event of a problem. CC-CS is also in regular communication with Spanish and Argentine civil authorities and with U.S. Embassy officials abroad. In the unlikely event of a severe emergency in the host country, appropriate steps will be taken to arranged the safe return home of CC-CS students.
If my student calls with a problem while abroad who should I contact? What should I advise my student to do?
If your student encounters a serious problem while abroad, the first people he/she should contact are the members of the CC-CS staff in the host country. CC-CS personnel abroad are best-equipped to handle any major issue. If he/she does call home with a problem, parents should encourage him/her to get in touch with the Resident Director of their specific program for assistance. All students are provided with a 24-hour emergency number so that they can always contact a member of the staff in their host country.
What can I expect my student's experience to be like abroad?
Although everyone's experience studying abroad is different, most students find that they face many challenges and rewards from studying abroad. Immersion into another culture requires students to step away from their comfort zones. Thus, there will most likely be days when your student will be "so happy to be living abroad" and other days when they will be unhappy or frustrated with the experience. This a normal reaction to culture shock and it often passes as students become accustomed to living in a new place. If you are concerned about your student, encourage them to talk to a CC-CS staff member or Resident Director. They have been trained to help students to get through this process.
Check out your Family Handbook(mailed to you by CC-CS) and check out the Cultural Resources to find detailed information on cultural shock and cultural norms in your student's host country. Also, encourage your student to read their student hand book and do research on their host country before leaving. Learning about cultural norms before departure can help to ease the transition to a new place.
How do I contact my student when he/she is abroad?
If you are sending any regular USPS mail to your student, you should send it to the local CC-CS Address. If there is an emergency, you can contact the appropriate Emergency Contact Number. In each program location, students have both email and internet access. Computer labs at the host universities and at the Center in Seville maintain regular computer lab hours.
When making telephone calls from the U.S. to your student's host country, please bear in mind any time changes. Your student's host family will have a home telephone. However, the home's telephone is restricted to receiving calls of short duration. Placing calls from the home phone is not permitted unless absolutely necessary. Please do not call the student's home before 10am and after 10pm (local time for your student).
Your student may opt to get a cell phone while abroad. If he/she is on a CC-CS Spain Program, he/she will have the option of leasing a cell phone through CC-CS. Under this plan it is free for your student to receive calls on his/her phone, while the student's phone is in Spain. However, you would still be charged for making a phone call from the United States to Spain. You may want to look for calling cards or contact your telephone provider to find the most economical option.
Please note that international calls, including calls to the United States, can become expensive very quickly. It is often a good idea to talk to your student before they go abroad on limiting the amount of contact home. In addition to saving money, limiting the contact home will help him/her to spend more time experiencing his/her host country.
Can I visit my student while he or she is abroad?
Parents can certainly visit their students while they are abroad, just as long as any visit does not interfere with the student’s class attendance and academics. Families of students studying in Seville may wish to participate in our pre-organized Family Week in Seville program, which gives families a first-hand look at the life of their student overseas. Family members may also choose to visit their student independently, in which case they will be responsible for their own individual travel and accommodation arrangements. Please note that it is the policy at CC-CS that visiting friends and family members may not stay with the host family or at the student residence. Families are encouraged to communicate with their students to decide the best time to visit.
What can I expect when my student returns from studying abroad?
Again, while every student's experience is different, most students find that they experience "reverse culture shock" when they return from their time abroad. After the initial euphoria of returning home, your student may experience feelings of frustration, anger, alienation, loneliness, disorientation, and helplessness and not understand exactly why. As with all transitions, your student will gradually readjust, often with a new understanding of the world and self. To help your student with this adjustment, learn more about reverse culture shock and encourage your student to find ways to integrate their experience into their life back home.
Other FAQ Pages:
Prospective Students
Application Process
Post-Acceptance Process
Preparation for Living Abroad
Financial Matters
CC-CS Published Resources
CC-CS Information Bulletin and Course Catalog
CC-CS Handbooks and Contracts |
