Parents & Families

What is education abroad?

• Education abroad, also known as study away or study abroad, is when students take their college classes in another part of the world. They receive Cal Lutheran credit for their courses and, with planning, stay on track to graduate on time.
• Cal Lutheran offers study abroad programs on six continents.
• Students can go for a semester, a summer, or on a travel seminar, where they travel with a faculty member for about two weeks in connection with a class.

What are the benefits?

• Students who study abroad gain an edge academically and professionally, developing skills employers value, including problem-solving, flexibility, and resilience. 
• Study abroad helps students understand more about the world around them, a critical asset in today’s global society.
• Only 10 percent of undergraduates study abroad, so those who do stand out among college graduates.

Health Insurance

• Students who study abroad on a Cal Lutheran program outside of the United States are automatically covered by insurance sponsored by Cal Lutheran. 
• The EIIA International Travel Program provides broad emergency coverage, as well as travel assistance services, but is not intended to replace the student’s primary insurance coverage.
• Students are strongly encouraged to maintain their primary insurance when possible.

Safety Measures

• California Lutheran University is committed to ensuring the safety of all students, faculty and staff.
• All students are required to register their trips through the university’s Travel Registry, which provides country and city intelligence to help them make informed decisions while traveling; safety and security alerts to let them know of any events that could potentially impact their travel or safety, and an instant check-in option allowing them to report their status to Cal Lutheran administrators in case of an incident.
• The Office of Education Abroad also requires students to attend pre-departure orientation, in which they receive information on health and safety, as well as what to do in an emergency, among other topics.

Privacy Issues

• The Office of Education Abroad abides by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), a federal law that states no one outside California Lutheran University will have access to a student’s education records. 
• This means the university cannot disclose information from those records to parents/guardians without the student’s consent. Exceptions include cases of emergency and personal safety, and notifying parents of changes in their student's academic standing.
• Students are primarily responsible for their study abroad experience, so the Office of Education Abroad will send them all program information and instructions. We encourage students to share this information with their families.

 

What to do in case of an emergency

If students have an emergency when they are studying abroad, we recommend making your phone calls in the following order:

1. Make sure that your student has called Generali at +1-240-330-1551 (International).

2. After your student has called Generali, ask for their claim number.

3.. At any time, you may call Generali 855-901-6712 (Domestic) or +1-240-330-1551 (International). to check the status of your student’s condition/situation, using their claim number.

4. Contact the Office of Education Abroad at Cal Lutheran: oea@calutheran.edu or 805-493-3750.

• Students who study abroad on Cal Lutheran semester programs pay Cal Lutheran tuition and housing, as well as the $200 Study Abroad Registration Fee. They can take all their financial aid with them, except for work study. 
• Students who study abroad over the summer through an affiliate program pay the program directly, and pay a a $100 Study Abroad Registration Fee to Cal Lutheran. They cannot use financial aid for a summer program, but they can apply for scholarships. 
• Students participating in a travel seminar pay for their class credits with their spring tuition and a $100 Study Abroad Registration Fee. They pay for the travel segment of the course through Student Accounts.
• The Office of Education Abroad offers the Cal Lutheran OEA Scholarship, which is open to all undergraduate student who study abroad. Scholarships generally range from $200 to $1,000.
• Students also can apply for national scholarships, as well as scholarships offered through their program. Advisors in the Office of Education Abroad will assist students with their applications for highly-competitive scholarships.