Thank you for supporting your student as they consider studying abroad or away. Parents and loved ones play a crucial role in providing emotional and practical support throughout the process, from selecting a program and type of abroad experience to financial planning to adapting to the experience abroad and the return home.
We encourage you to communicate with your student about their goals and expectations long before they set out on the journey. Your support and enthusiasm are impactful at every step of their education.
Health and Safety
Global Learning prioritizes student safety and well-being. In collaboration with the UC Office of the President and other organizations, we continuously monitor global events to evaluate risks affecting students, faculty, and staff abroad. Global Learning provides local program support, UC system-wide travel support, and support for emergencies. Additionally, students abroad can contact the 24-hour Campus Dispatch telephone number.
If an emergency incident occurs, Global Learning will mobilize resources in coordination with campus and UC staff, local onsite staff and faculty, local authorities, and emergency organizations.
The University of California provides insurance that covers illness and injury, plus evacuation in the event of medical need, security incidents, and natural disasters. This insurance is included in the program fee. See Student Travel Insurance FAQs or Student Off-Campus Travel Benefits Summary for more information.
Student Privacy
We comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that governs what information can and cannot be shared with a student’s loved ones. This includes a student’s activities while abroad, medical information, disciplinary actions, and more, except in rare cases of emergencies. If a student would like for their information to be made available to others, they must first complete a FERPA waiver. Please visit FERPA for Parents for more information about FERPA.
Our promise to you
- We host pre-departure sessions and provide resources to prepare your student to adapt, learn, and excel in their new environment.
- We mitigate risks appropriately and as best we can in all locations where we place students.
- We and our partners communicate with your student’s host institution appropriately with information pertinent to their experience before, during, and after their education abroad experience.
- We listen to your student and respond promptly to their concerns regarding registration, billing, and other university matters.
Tips for supporting your student
Encourage your student to
- Understand the importance of their role in creating a positive abroad/away experience by disclosing any needs they have that might affect their health, safety, or wellness. Students should feel comfortable sharing issues directly with us, faculty leaders, program staff in their host country, and other program administrators.
- Pay any bills, library fines, or balances owed to UCSC on time.
- Discuss their goals and expectations for their international or intercultural experience. Think ahead about housing and registering for classes for the quarter following their education abroad experience.
- Share with you and the Global Learning staff any additional travel and activities they have planned that are independent of their education abroad program.
- Share information with you and serve as your primary contact for updates, rather than Global Learning staff.
Research the host country/community
Helping your student research their host country before starting their program can greatly reduce the severity of your student’s culture shock. For international programs, general information about countries can be found on the State Department’s Country Information Pages. We encourage you to talk with your student and read about your student’s host country prior to departure.
We recommend working with your student to create a folder of practical resources and information, including:
- Name, address, phone number, and email of the host family or residence where your student will be staying while abroad.
- Information for the UCSC Global Learning office and the study abroad office in the host country, if applicable.
- The phone, fax, and email address of your student’s academic advisor.
- An emergency contact name, phone number, address, and email domestically and abroad.
- A copy of your student’s passport, flight information, travel itinerary, and credit cards.
- The address, directions, and phone number to the nearest U.S. Embassy in the host country.
- Addresses, phone numbers, and emails for the loved ones your student wishes to contact while abroad.
- Landmarks and places of interest. Tourist-type websites usually list historical information, admissions costs, opening times, directions, and special events for places of interest.
- Historical, political, and current event information about the host country in addition to cultural etiquette, national sports, music, and food.
Develop a communication plan
Connecting across continents and time zones can be tricky. Talk about how you will communicate as well as how often. Be prepared for less frequent communication. Your student is experiencing, exploring, and seeking an opportunity for cultural immersion.
- Email – Email should be easy, but internet access might not always be available overseas.
- Phone – Contact your phone provider to learn about international rates. Another option is to purchase a calling card with reduced rates for the country your student is studying.
- Video Chat (Zoom/Skype/Facetime/WhatsApp) – These are free, downloadable software applications that allow users to make live video and/or voice calls over the internet or using mobile data.
- Mail – Students often appreciate sending and receiving letters or postcards with loved ones while they study abroad/away.