For Parents

Reasons for International Experiences

There are many reasons why an international component to your son's or daughter's education is almost necessary in today's world.  The former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, states it best:

"Changing American society tomorrow requires a change in the face of education today. And that means eliminating the inequalities that exist in access to higher education. 

"It also means promoting greater participation and more diversity in study abroad by U.S. students. Just as we need to have students in the K-12 years learn more than one language, so do we need students at the undergraduate level who are engaged in learning about issues that will build international partnerships and strategies for years to come. 

"This kind of competence is particularly important in a global economy where knowledge--particularly knowledge of the world--is at a premium. 

"That is why I am pleased that we are working to develop a Presidential Directive on international education policy that will outline an effective strategy for developing partnerships among federal, state and local organizations, as well as within the education community, business, non-governmental organizations, and other community groups."

[The full text is available on the U.S. Department of Education's web site at www.ed.gov/Speeches/01-2000/20000120.html.]

Special Events

Each year the oIP cordially invites parents and families of students interested in studying abroad to a Family Weekend Reception on the Saturday morning of Family Weekend. Please join us to learn about international study, work, and volunteer opportunities.

location and time for 2008 to be announced

Program directors and oIP staff will present highlights about JMU's study abroad programs at this event.

Safety concerns

Parents of students who are going, or are already abroad are justifiably concerned with their safety. JMU's oIP has done and continues to do the following in an effort to assure that all participants are safe.

Prior to departure...

• we orient students to both host country and American security information provided by the U.S. State Department.
• we speak to students about how to behave abroad, how to maintain a low profile, and how to act responsibly.
• we provide students with emergency procedures, including a card and/or handbook with contact information both day and night for JMU oIP staff.
• we collect pertinent information from students, such as emergency contact and medical information.
• we require all students to have an international identification card (ISIC) which provides supplemental medical insurance as well as emergency evacuation for medical cause or repatriation of remains.
• we inform students that while abroad, they represent the JMU, and that their actions and behaviors are governed by the JMU Honor Code and Judicial Codes.

With regard to safety abroad...

• we register all student partcipants with the closest American consulate or embassy. All students traveling independently are advised to register their whereabouts as soon as they arrive, in most cases with the aid of their program director.
• program directors carry a copies of students’ passports, health and emergency treatment authorizations, and emergency contact information.
• student participants must respect the rules of the program, not take unnecessary risks, and stay in touch with their program director.
• students enrolled in external study abroad programs must stay in touch with the International Student office of the institution where they are located, and the American consulate.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency situation while students are abroad, we ask program directors to follow these procedures:

• make sure that all members of the group are accounted for and in a safe place.
• call the U.S. Consulate or Embassy for instructions.
• call JMU's oIP to report the situation and receive further instructions.
• the OIP will contact the emergency phone numbers of all students on affected programs.

Contact Us

The JMU Office of International Programs is more than happy to answer any questions parents may have.  If your son or daughter cannot adequately answer a study abroad question for you, please feel free to contact us directly.

Links of Interest

For your convenience, we have listed below links that may be of special interest to parents:

• To read the Participation Agreement students sign in order to enroll in a JMU study abroad program.
• Study Abroad Advice for Parents (courtesy of USC)
• For information on costs or fees, visit our Fees Page.  For further inquiries, please feel free to email our office at studyabroad@jmu.edu, or call us at 540-568-6419.
• For information on how financial aid can be applied to studying abroad, please feel free to visit the web site for the JMU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships or call them at 540-568-7820.
• A good reference for parents with general questions on studying abroad is William Hoffa's book Study Abroad : A Parent's Guide: For Parents of College and University Students Contemplating a Study Abroad Experience.  To order your own copy, visit your local bookstore or order online at Amazon.com.