CATHOLIC UNIVERSITYPRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

OUR MISSIONTo educate individuals with the

global understanding necessary to address the

challenges of our interdependent world. With the

world as our classroom, our unique shipboard program

integrates multiple-country study, interdisciplinary coursework, and

hands-on field experiences for meaningful engagement in the

global community.

OUR HISTORY• Established in 1963• A program of the non-profit Institute for

Shipboard Education• University of Virginia is the academic

sponsor• 111 voyages and counting• Alumni: over 55,000 from 1,700 institutions • Current Campus- The MV Explorer built in

2002, is one of the safest, fastest and most technologically advanced ships afloat.

OUR CAMPUS• 9 Classrooms• 7 Decks• 2 Dining Halls• 2 Snack Bars• 9,000 Volume Library• Computer Lab• Student Life desk• Union• Medical Clinic• Mental Health Center• Campus Store• Indoor/Outdoor Fitness

Center• Spa/Pool Deck/Basketball

Court• Deck 8 Observation deck

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITY: THE “ACADEMICAL VILLAGE”• Thomas Jefferson’s “Academical Village” - A place

where shared learning infuses daily life.

• 600-700 students

• 50-100 Lifelong Learners

• 100 faculty, staff and their family members

• Interport lecturers and students

• 200 multi-national crew members

CULTURE ADJUSTMENT CURVE

• Tolerance for ambiguity• Patience and respect• Being open-minded• You are representing your school,

the USA and home country

Preparing for Interactions

ON-SHIP POLICIES

• Student Code of Conduct• Alcohol and Drug Policies• Health and Safety On Board• Add/Drop

Health & SafetyIf you have a chronic physical or mental health

condition:• Local resources• Disclosure• Prepare• CAPS• Clinic, Psychologist, Student Life Team • How is it handled on and off the ship• Disclosing information

If you manage your physical or mental health condition with medication:

• Bring enough• Proper documents and containers• Ensure legality

HEALTH & SAFETY

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Medical History Form– Submit by deadline– Send directly to MHG Medical Consulting Services, Inc

• Email: ISE@mhgmedical.com

• Medications– Yellow-Fever vaccination may be required for entry to Ghana

(semester voyages only) – CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention– Talk with your travel clinic – Make sure to bring personal prescriptions– Seasickness: free Meclizine onboard

• Shipboard Medical Clinic/Mental Health Center

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Pre-Port– Explain all in-country logistics– Always have the Green Sheet

• Safety at Sea– Respect ship rules– Changes in itinerary

• Safety in Port– Port Security– Common sense with pre-port info

• Risk Assessment Resources– The U.S. Department of State– Global risk agency ASI Group– World Health Organization– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SHIPBOARD LIFE

• Ship ID Card• Cabins• Demographics• Communication

– 125 Internet minutes– SAS Email account (Gmail)– Laptop strongly recommended

• Food and Drink– 3 meals, 2 snacks (Buffet style)– Two snack bars

• Laundry– Wash, dry, fold-$6 – Wash, dry, press - $9

Shipboard Life

• Studying – Pace of Classes• Seasickness• Communication with home• Shipboard resources (meals, laundry, etc.)

SHIPBOARD FINANCES

• Bring some US Dollars – Small bills for using in some markets – Large bills for in country exchange

• Onboard Accounts– Cashless society linked to a credit card– Monthly statements delivers to cabin

• Accessing funds in port– ATM / Debit Cards give the best exchange rate– Know who’s charging fees

PROGRAM STRUCTURE: A DAYS, B DAYS AND PORT DAYS!• Classes meet on either "A" or "B" days almost every day that the ship is at

sea, including Saturday and Sunday. (Spring & Fall voyages)

• Classes meet every day that the ship is at sea during the Summer voyage.

• Once in port there is no class. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a Field Lab, Field Excursion or travel independently.

TYPICAL DAY AT SEA• 7am –8:30 am – Breakfast• 9am – Class/study/Break• 10am – Class/Study/Break• 11am – Class / Study / Break• 12:00 – 1:30pm – Lunch • 2pm – Class /Study / Break • 3pm – Class / Study / Break• 4pm – Class / Study / Break• 5pm – 6:30pm – Dinner• 7pm – 10pm - Homework /

Study Group/ Break /Check out Crew Talent Show / Explorer Seminars / Workout

• 10pm – Late night Snack!

SAMPLE COURSES

SAS Standard Courses• World Art History• Marine Biology• International Marketing• World Theater and Performance• Development Economics• World Literature• Travel Writing• Introduction to Oceanography• The West and the World• Global Music• Theories of International Relations• Cross Cultural Psychology• World Religions• Race, Class, and Gender

Global Comparative Lens Courses• Introduction to Anthropology• Nutrition Around the World• Religions of the World• Introduction to Comparative

Politics• Global Perspectives of Business

Ethics and Social Responsibility

• International Law• Sustainable Global

Entrepreneurship• Development Economics• World Geography

COURSE OFFERINGS• Standard Course

offering containing 74 courses

• Global Comparative Lens Series offering 7-9 per voyage

• Two-Thirds of courses are upper division

THE IN-PORT EXPERIENCE– Field Labs

• Hands on classroom experience in-port programs developed by faculty

• Required for each academic course.• Account for 20% of each student’s grade.• Full-day programs that fall on the first or

last day in port

– Field Programs • Unique opportunities• Accomplish a lot in a short period of time• Cross-Cultural explorations• Serve the community

– Faculty-led Trips (non-Field Labs)

– Independent Travel• Shipboard Field Office

ABOUT THE PROGRAM FEES

What’s Included?• Tuition—up to 15 semester

credits• Housing (price varies by

cabin category)• All meals aboard the ship• All academically required

field labs• Full-time, on-site

residential student services staff

• Advisement and assistance by ISE Student Services

Other costs to consider

• Overnight stay prior to embarkation

• Flights to embarkation/from debarkation

• Travel visas• Textbooks• Any appropriate vaccinations• Between-meal food &

beverages while on board• Laundry• Independent travel

FINANCIAL AIDFACT: ISE AWARDS $4 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID ANNUALLY.

AID TYPE AMOUNT VOYAGE ELIGIBILITY

Presidential Scholars Full Tuition All Students

HBCU Scholarship Full Tuition >3.0 GPA, HBCU

C.Y. Tung Scholarship $20,000 Enrolled in China Studies

Global Journalism & Integrated Communication Fellowship

$5,000 Majoring in Journalism or related field

Need-Based Grants $500 – $10,000

All Students

Merit Scholarships $250 – $5,000 >3.0 GPA

Alumni Support Scholarships $500 – $10,000

>3.25 GPA

Work Study $2,000 – $4,000

All Students

NSCS Scholarship – “Scholar at Sea” $5,900 – $10,000

NSCS members only

IMPORTANT DATES - FALL - SPRING - SUMMER

http://www.semesteratsea.org/admission-aid/financing-aid-scholarships/scholarships/

PAYMENT TO SEMESTER AT SEA

• SAS & CUA – have a direct bill agreement, you DO NOT pay SAS, you will pay CUA as you normally do.

• CUA will pay SAS the inside cabin rate on your behalf, should you choose an outside cabin, you will need to pay the difference directly to SAS.

NOTABLE LECTURERS AND GUESTS• SHRM King Mohamed VI (King of

Morocco) • HRH Moulay Rachid (Prince of Morocco) • Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel

Laureate) • Mother Teresa (Nobel Laureate) • Nelson Mandela (First President of South

Africa, Nobel Laureate) • Fidel Castro (Cuban President) • Anwar Sadat (Egyptian President) • Indira Gandhi (Indian Prime Minister) • Mikhail Gorbachev (USSR President) • Corazon Aquino (President of the

Philippines) • Arthur C. Clark (Author of 2001: A Space

Odyssey) • Pete Peterson (First U.S. Ambassador to

Viet Nam) • C.H. Tung (first Chief Executive of Hong

Kong after end of British colonial rule)

SAS Alumni Tips

• Pack light (but the ship is cold!)• Make the most of your time• Represent SAS and America well• Be open-minded• Flexibility is key

ADMISSION RESOURCES• Office of Admission – jfealey@semesteratsea.org

or 800.854.0195

• Our website– www.semesteratsea.org– Visit your specific Voyage page

• Facebook!– www.facebook.com/SemesteratSea– Join your specific Voyage group (after admission)

SAS PRE –VOYAGE LOGISTICS

• Embarkation• Vaccinations (Yellow Fever/Malaria)• Visas• Course Registration • Field Program Registration and

FDP’s• Packing

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Voyage Forms Travel Documents• Check your MyPassport page to

verify your status.

Medical History Form

Passport Copy Received

Passport-sized Photo

Release/Consent, Code of Conduct, FERPA, and UVa Honor Code Forms

Updated Transcript (Unofficial transcript showing Spring 2013 grades.)

Emergency Contact Form

• Required Travel Documents Passport Visas – All US and Canadian

Passport Holders will need a visa for Brazil and Ghana.)

Immunizations• Recommended

DocumentsPassport Card

EMBARKATION• Port Address – Port of Southampton: Port of Southampton Ocean Gate, Atlantic

Way.

• Parent’s Reception – June 15th http://www.semesteratsea.org/event/summer-2014-bon-voyage-reception/

• Hotel Accommodation: See Discounted accommodations under voyage calendar: http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/summer-2014/calendar/

LEGAL ISSUES• “But I’m from the U.S.” doesn’t work• Cultural and religious issues• Do your homework– State Department Country Information

Sheets– Other resources

YOUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME

IS NOW.http://www.semesteratsea.org/2012/11/14/watch-and-share-semester-at-seas-new-promotional-video-your-once-in-a-lifetime-is-now/