The courses available on a given faculty-led program are set by the faculty director(s) for that program. The courses listed on the program online page are the courses available to take. Most courses are worth 3 credits each unless otherwise listed on the program online page.
The courses taught on RSCC faculty-led programs are RSCC courses. This means that the grade you receive in the course counts toward your RSCC GPA, and the credits are applied toward your RSCC degree program as if you had taken the same course on campus. For in-state students, these courses also count toward your HOPE Scholarship GPA and credit hours.
You are expected to take the course(s) for a letter grade. The Director of International Education may grant an exception on a case-by-case basis, if desired.
Unless otherwise instructed to do so by your program leader, you must register for the program course(s) before the start of the spring semester. If you have any issues with registration, you should contact your respective academic department for assistance. The International Education Office (IEO) cannot enroll you in your courses.
Class time and program excursions depend on your program. You should contact your program leader for copies of the course syllabus or with any questions regarding the academic aspects of the program.
The costs for your program will include the normal tuition for the course(s) and a separate program fee that will be available online as well as from the International Education Office (IEO) and your program leader.
The program fee includes roundtrip airfare, program lodging, group excursions, required ground transportation, specified meals and limited health insurance. Expenses not covered in the program fee include, but are not limited to: passport, any required tourist visa, textbooks, personal spending money, some meals, transportation to and from local airport, and any costs/fees imposed by the airline beyond the single seat economy airfare. Additional airline fees can include domestic or international baggage fees and may vary by program and/or airline. Additional seat requirements may also be imposed by the airline if they determine you cannot be safely accommodated in an economy size seat.
A $250.00 deposit is due in early December (the actual date will vary by year). At that same time, you will need to sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement acknowledging that you understand and accept the terms and potential penalties for withdrawing from a program.
The balance of your program fee must be paid on or before the week after Spring Break (actual date will be determined each year).
This will depend on when you withdraw. Refer to the Financial Responsibility Policy for specific dates.
All students approved for a SA program are eligible to receive a scholarship from RSCC. To participate in a SA program and qualify for the RSCC scholarship, a student must maintain a 2.0 GPA through the end of the fall semester prior to the SA program’s departure. In addition, each student must be enrolled in at least 6 hours for the spring semester in which the SA program will take place.
There are additional scholarships that may be available for you and the SA program that you are interested in. Information on these scholarships and if they apply to a particular program can be obtained from the IEO or a SA program leader.
It is possible that Federal and State financial aid can be used to cover some of the cost of approved study abroad programs. You will need to meet with your financial aid advisor to discuss your financial aid profile. RSCC also offers partial scholarships for study abroad. The financial aid office will be able to advise you on how to apply for any available funds at RSCC.
Yes, the IEO will make your roundtrip travel arrangements. RSCC typically utilizes Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson airport for flights but may elect to use Nashville, Atlanta, or other area airports if better pricing and schedules can be obtained. All participants are required to travel with their group on the flight itinerary provided.
Yes, the cost of the roundtrip airline ticket is included as part of the program fee.
RSCC programs offer a variety of living accommodations for faculty-led programs. These can include host family stays, hostels, hotels, and dormitories. The IEO or your program leader can give you specific housing information for your program.
No. Students participating in RSCC faculty-led programs are required to live in the program housing provided by the program.
The IEO encourages any student who requires either physical or academic accommodations to contact us as early as possible regarding his or her needs, preferably before the student applies for a program. With education abroad programs, more time is required to determine possible accommodations than is typically required on campus at RSCC. In most cases, requests for special accommodations will be done in conjunction with the Disability Services Office.
All students participating in RSCC study abroad programs are expected to behave accordingly and follow all the rules of good conduct that are expected of you when you are on campus. Even though you are no longer in the United States, you are still bound by RSCC’s Student Code of Conduct. You should remember that you will be an “ambassador” of RSCC, the State of Tennessee, and the United States.
It is crucial that you familiarize yourself with the laws of the country which you will visit and obey them at all cost.
Behaviors that may be allowed in the U.S., may not be legal in your program country and could result in incarceration or detainment in that country. Your program director will discuss particulars of the country that you will travel to during class meetings and orientation meetings.
The following items apply to RSCC study abroad programs:
If your behavior is not acceptable at any time during a study abroad program, the program leader will give you a written warning. If you receive a second warning, you may be expelled from the program and sent home (at your expense). Additional consequences could be failing the class and possibly receiving further disciplinary actions from RSCC.
Yes. Limited health insurance is included in the program fee for all RSCC study abroad programs. Students will receive ID cards for the insurance by mail following the insurance enrollment process. Coverage is comprehensive but most doctors and clinics abroad require payment upfront (at the time of service). Students should budget and have access to additional funds (cash) to be used for a medical emergency. In the case of serious illness and/or hospitalization, RSCC’s IEO will work with the insurance company on the student's behalf to make arrangements for payment whenever possible. Reimbursement of any cash payments made for medical care abroad should be submitted by the student directly to the insurance company. Claim forms are available from RSCC’s IEO or the insurance website. Submission of reimbursement claims are the responsibility of the student.
It is recommended that you carry your own personal health insurance either through family, work or school. Should you have complications from a medical emergency experienced abroad, the program insurance will not cover you after you return to the U.S. Stateside insurance is always recommended.
RSCC does not provide any travel insurance coverage but you can purchase it on your own. During the enrollment process for the RSCC coverage, you will have the option of adding travel insurance at an additional cost to you. There are also several different travel insurance options available through private insurance companies that can provide financial protection for multiple scenarios. These insurance policies can cover trip cancellation prior to departure, baggage, medical, dental, emergency evacuation, 24 hour traveler assistance, baggage delay, travel delay, and accidental death during your travel dates. Some students and their parents feel this type of insurance is valuable while others choose not to seek additional insurance. This is a choice you should research to determine if you desire such a policy. Some policies do not cover study abroad. Be sure to ask specifically if the coverage will include cancellation policies, ticket reimbursement, clinic or hospital fees, etc. related to a study abroad program. You can begin your research at http://www.insuremytrip.com/plans/index.html for more information.
RSCC recommends that all students research the health and safety conditions reported by the CDC for the program country they will visit. Please go to www.cdc.gov/travel for information. Every person traveling abroad must make a decision about vaccinations s/he may need based on their own personal health and medical history. You should also consult with your personal physician before making any decision about vaccinations. You can learn more about recommended vaccines through your local health department and their international travel clinic. You can go online and do a search for your county health department to find a resource near you. The IEO or your program leader can also advise you on which shots (if any) are required or suggested prior to travel. It is also recommended that you research this information well in advance of your travel plans since many vaccines require a minimum time period to become effective.
The costs not covered in the total program fee include but are not limited to the following: airline fees (ie baggage and additional seat requirements), passport, tourist visa, textbooks, some meals and personal spending money. Your program leader and the IEO can provide specific information for your program.
Current information on how to obtain a passport and the cost can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Your program leader and the IEO can also provide information on the process and cost.
Most program countries do not require a tourist visa for U.S. citizens. If your program country requires a tourist visa, you will be given explicit instructions on how to obtain one and the cost involved. U.S. citizens SHOULD NOT apply for a visa before receiving directions from their program leader. Non-U.S. citizen participants (including U.S. Permanent Residents) may require a tourist visa for their program. Your program leader and/or the IEO will advise you if a specific visa is required for your program.
The question of personal spending money will be discussed during your program’s class meetings and any additional pre-departure meetings. The amount needed for personal spending money is difficult to estimate due to the variety of spending habits and needs among our students. Some students may be able to get by on as little as $500 and others will need $1500 - $2000. Think about your spending habits and make a budget you can afford and have available by the time you leave for your program.
No. All of our programs are taught by RSCC faculty within the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system and are, therefore, taught in English. Programs offering foreign language courses may be taught by RSCC or local foreign faculty. These courses will, of course, be in the target language and count towards foreign language credit. While foreign language skills might make it easier to function abroad, it is not necessary for our programs.
While safety can never be guaranteed (whether in Tennessee or overseas), RSCC follows all Department of State directives and watches for travel advisories to all countries where study abroad programs are located. Our faculty and staff have received appropriate information and training to help assure the safety of our students and follow all security and reporting measures to the best of their ability. In the event of unforeseen problems escalating in any country where a program is planned or currently in progress, your safety will be our first priority and measures will be taken to postpone or cancel a program when necessary. You should also consider having a parent, guardian or other family member obtain a valid passport in the event that you need someone to travel to be with you in the case of a medical emergency. Program fees would be refunded to the fullest extent possible in these situations.
Some air carriers have announced new or newly-enforced policies that apply to what they call "passengers of size" or "passengers requiring extra space." If an airline determines that you are a passenger of size and applies its policy, you may be required to purchase an extra seat to accommodate your need for extra room. To determine if you might fall into this category, please review the information at the airline policy links provided below. Because RSCC purchases tickets in advance as a group, if you are considered a passenger of size or a passenger requiring extra space, you will be required to pay the additional ticket cost by the program fee payment deadline in March. If any refund is processed by the airline, RSCC will notify you following the completion of your air travel. This may take up to 6 weeks after your return to the U.S. It is the participant's responsibility to inform RSCC of their space needs by email before the end of January. Failure to notify RSCC of your seating needs may result in a last minute requirement by the airline to have the passenger pay for an additional seat or possibly denial of boarding with the group. The participant is responsible for any additional cost by the airline or RSCC for unexpected travel costs. Additionally, any lost time on the program will not be reimbursed by RSCC.
Plan to make the most of your study abroad experience. Decide to have a great adventure and to make it a positive and rewarding experience. Characteristics that play a vital role in your success abroad are patience, flexibility, adaptability, teamwork, a sense of responsibility, and a sense of humor.
Avoid rigid ideas of “right” and “wrong” ways to do things. You may find that other societies and cultures do things differently from what you are accustomed to and they may function as well or even better. Be open to new ways and new perspectives.
U.S. State Department
http://travel.state.gov/
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
Currency Converter
https://www1.oanda.com/currency/converter/
Charlie Cobb • (865) 354-3000 ext. 2205 • Click name for email address
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
