IUPUI is Indiana's premier urban research university. The campus enrolls more than 30,000 students in 21 schools and academic units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IUPUI canceling any programs?
How safe are IUPUI students abroad?
What has IUPUI done to address security and safety concerns abroad?
What happens if a study abroad program is canceled?
Are the policies the same for students studying on non-IU/IUPUI programs?
What does a State Department Caution or Warning Mean?
Where can I find more information about world events that may directly affect study abroad programs?
What other resources are available for students on programs abroad?
Is IUPUI canceling any programs?
Status of current programs is available here.
Any decision to suspend or cancel a program is not one that IU system officials take lightly and will involve close consultation and input from faculty and administrators as well as include references to sources such as:
- Indiana staff in-country;
- officials at the partner institutions;
- U.S. Embassy officials in-country;
- other officials from U.S. agencies and/or NGOs;
- the appropriate U.S. State Department country Desk Officer(s);
- other IU System offices; and
- this office’s own assessment of certain events.
Events potentially triggering this decision making process include, in random order:
Public health warnings, declaration of war by the U.S. against the program’s country or an adjacent country; declaration of war by a third country against the program country; significant terrorist activity in the program city or country; protracted or indefinite closure of the host institution(s); inability of IU staff to organize and carry out an academic program outside of the host institution(s); disruption of public utilities and/or services; widespread civil unrest, violence, or rioting; a declaration of martial law in the program city; recommendation of suspension/cancellation by the partners, affiliates or IU program staff in-country; and/or travel warning and/or specific directive by the U.S. State Department and/or U.S. Embassy.
How safe are IUPUI students abroad?
Based on all information reasonably available to us, we believe all students to be safe at their study abroad locations, provided they behave in a reasonable manner and observe standard safety practices for overseas travel.
Basic precautions that are strongly recommended for students are available at Good Practices for Safety and Security Abroad.
We also strongly encourage all students as well as their family and friends to actively monitor and assess safety issues in the regions in which travel and programs take place.
Carry the following phone numbers and email addresses at all times:
- Family at home and work
- Study abroad program resident director, IUPUI Study Abroad emergency contact numbers, or, if applicable, contact numbers for the foreign university international student office
- U.S. Embassy and/or local Consulate in any country you visit
- Travel agent, if applicable
What has IUPUI done to address security and safety concerns abroad?
IUPUI and the IU system have regular meetings at various administrative levels and routinely draw up contingency plans for emergency situations both before departure and when on-site. Staff are asked to encourage students to register their details with the local U.S. embassy or consulate and to follow recommended safety guidelines for living abroad.
For additional information regarding IUPUI’s emergency preparedness please see http://www.iupui.edu/~prepared/.
What happens if a study abroad program is canceled?
In the unlikely event local or world conditions should lead the university to suspend or cancel a specific study abroad program, students and parents should refer to the IU system policy http://www.iupui.edu/~oia/SA/withdrawal_refund1.html.
Generally, programs that are cancelled without the completion of credit attract full refunds for the credit fee components unless the cancellation is due to political, natural, technological, or other catastrophes beyond its control, in which case IUPUI will be able to refund only uncommitted and recoverable funds. Should another sponsoring institution cancel its program, its refund policy, if any, will apply.
Can a student currently on an IU program abroad choose to come back now? What are the academic and financial consequences of withdrawal?
IUPUI students abroad and their parents have certain options available to them. A staff member from the IU system office would be happy to discuss these choices and help work through the implications each would have for individual students’ programs. Available options may include the following:
a. Voluntary withdrawal from the study abroad program and return to this campus before the drop/add period ends: Refunds will be made according to the refund policy as stated in the Statement of Authorization and Consent signed by each student and in line with IU enrollment policy.
b. Voluntary withdrawal from the study abroad program with a delayed return to the U.S./campus after the add/drop period or for a later term: Student must secure permission for personal leave from his/her academic dean and must notify the Study Abroad Office of such plans. Refunds will be made according to the policy set out in IU handbooks and as established in the Authorization and Consent form signed by each student and parent/guardian.
In both cases, the student MUST apply to the Office of International Affairs for permission to withdraw and give written notice to BOTH this office and the foreign institution/program of the withdrawal and departure details. In each case the student will be responsible for all non-recoverable costs associated with his/her enrollment in the program overseas.
Academic:
Students must complete the academic program requirements of the host institution in order to receive credit on study abroad. If a student withdraws prior to completing course work, it is unlikely s/he will receive credit from the host institution. If the student withdraws in time to return to campus for the semester (by the end of the semester’s drop/add period), s/he may enroll on campus.
Financial:
Financial consequences of a voluntary withdrawal are subject to the refund policy in the Statement of Authorization and Consent signed by the student participant and his/her parent or legal guardian. In essence, any deposit made for an IU-administered program is non-refundable. For a semester or academic year IU-administered program, any remaining paid fees will be refunded in accordance with the refund policy outlined in the IUPUI and IU-Bloomington student handbook. If a student leaves an IUPUI/IU-administered summer program for any reason after the balance due payment deadline set by that program, tuition is non-refundable. Program fees will be refunded to the extent that prior commitments have not been made. Non IU/IUPUI sponsors have their own refund policies and should be contacted directly to ascertain the implications of this decision.
Are the policies the same for students studying on non-IU/IUPUI programs?
Students studying on non-IU programs (i.e., direct enrolments outside the IU system including Y496 registrations) are subject to the withdrawal and cancellation policies of their program or host institution. The logistics and timing surrounding the student’s subsequent return to this campus would be dependent on the applicable academic regulations and subject to advice from their academic advisors and department heads.
What does a State Department Caution or Warning Mean?
Travel Warnings http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country.
Public Announcements are used to disseminate information about short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. They are made when there is a perceived threat, usually with Americans as a particular target group. In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, bomb threats to airlines, violence by terrorists, and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.
Where can I find more information about world events that may directly affect study abroad programs?
Participants and their families are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the resources on our Emergency Planning page as part of their decision making processes in participating in study abroad programs.
The Department of State also offers a site on Crisis Awareness and Preparedness.
What other resources are available for students on programs abroad?
Please see our pages on Emergency Planning and Travel Resources.
