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CIEE
Policies
CIEE
has established a number of program policies to help ensure that
the exchange experience is positive for both students and host families.
We've collected a bit of advice on some of the more common policy
questions. Click on the topic(s) below that interest you.
Driving
Academic Performance
Drinking
Internet Use
End of Program
If you have questions about other CIEE policies, please contact
your Local Coordinator.
Driving or purchasing a motorized vehicle (car, motorcycle, or any other vehicle requiring a driver's license) is prohibited. Driving is permitted with the instructor of an official driver's education course and only during class hours. This is solely for the purpose of obtaining a driver's license and does not allow the student to drive after the license is obtained.
While you are here the temptation to drive may be great. It is more than likely that, because the legal driving age in this country is 16, many of your American friends may drive. Some may own cars. You may even already have a driver's license from home. Although 16 is the legal age in this country for driving, participants in Council's USA High School Program are forbidden to buy or drive anything with a motor. This includes cars, motorcycles, mopeds, and all terrain vehicles.
The only exception to this rule is if you participate in an official driver's education class. This may be offered through your school for a fee. As a part of this class you may be required to complete a certain number of hours of driving instruction. You will need to complete all driving with the instructor.
To avoid complications that will, in most cases, result in program dismissal, please observe the guidelines outlined above. If you have questions at any time, ask your host family or Local Coordinator for help. Or, you may call the CIEE office at (800) 448-9944.
Maintain
a C+ average or higher in all courses at the host high school. Courses
must include English and an American history course and two other
academic courses. Attend school every day that it is in session
and follow school policies with regards to absences."
CIEE’s USA High School Program is centered on academics. All
students are required to maintain a C+ average or higher in all
of their classes. We understand that this can be very difficult
when you are trying to adjust to a new culture/language. However,
we expect that you will do everything that you can to achieve this.
It may require a great deal of effort on your part, but in the end
you will benefit from your efforts. You were selected for this program
because we believe that you have the skills necessary to succeed!
If you are struggling with school, the following are some steps
that you should follow to help you to improve.
- Work
with a tutor
- Get
extra help from your teachers
- Study
for a minimum of one hour every night
- Review
class notes or readings when you do not have homework
- Ask
questions when you do not understand (no-one will laugh!)
- Ask
a classmate or host parent for help (but don’t expect them
to do the work for you)
- Take
notes
- Participate
in study groups when possible
- Start
homework in the afternoon rather than late at night when you are
tired
- Begin
studying for tests at least a week before
- Write
down all assignments in a notebook (show it to your teacher to
make sure that you wrote it down correctly)
By taking some or all of these steps you should start to see some
improvement in your work. Also, by taking these steps you will be
able to demonstrate to your host family, teachers, and coordinator
that you are making a sincere effort to do well in school. Depending
on your culture, you may feel that people will look down on you
for asking questions or getting extra help. However, the opposite
is true. In this culture students who get help when they are struggling
with a class are viewed in a very positive light- they are seen
as being responsible.
If you have questions at any time, ask your host family or local
coordinator for help. Or, you may call your Support Coordinator
at the CIEE Office at (800) 448-9944.
Abide
by the federal, state and local laws of the United States and host
town. Under these laws, in every state, the consumption of alcoholic
beverages by anyone under the age of 21 and the use or possession
of illegal drugs is illegal. These laws may also include local curfews.
CIEE understands the pressure that teenagers face when it comes
to drinking alcoholic beverages, including wine and beer. Sometimes,
in order to fit in and hang out with a particular crowd at school,
high school students may be encouraged to drink. You may find yourself
at a party where drinking is taking place and you will be faced
with making some difficult decisions.
These decisions may be even more difficult for an exchange student.
Many of you come from countries where drinking an alcoholic beverage
is acceptable at a very early age. You may not be used to or familiar
with the idea that drinking is unlawful for someone of your age.
These cultural differences might make it difficult for you to understand
that underage drinking is considered to be a serious offense in
the United States.
As an exchange student, you carry a very heavy responsibility. Everyone—your
High School, your Host Family, your Host Community—has very
high standards for exchange students and expects to see excellent
behavior. Please keep in mind that you are an "Ambassador"
for your country. Those around you may form their opinions about
your country and exchange students based on their contact with you.
CIEE expects that you take this responsibility seriously.
Please do whatever you can to avoid situations where drinking is
taking place. This might mean walking out of a party or leaving
your friend’s house. Make sure that your Host Family knows
where you are when you go out and that there is adult supervision
when at someone else’s house.
CIEE understands the difficulties you face. You are a unique and
interesting person who has much to share— You do not need to
prove yourself by drinking alcoholic beverages. If you have any
questions or concerns, please discuss them with your Host Family,
Local Coordinator, or the CIEE Office. We would be happy
to suggest alternative activities for you to do where drinking will
not be present.
The
Internet can be a wonderful tool for gathering information, for
entertainment, and most importantly, for staying in touch with family
and friends. However, it is important to remember that the use of
the Internet at home or at school is a privilege and not a right.
Abuse of this privilege can create many problems both for you and
for your host family.
To help you to avoid these problems, we would like to provide some
guidelines to you that we want all Council participants to follow.
Limit your use of the Internet. We strongly recommend that you do
not exceed three 20-minute sessions each week.
When you use the Internet for long periods of time you tie up the
phone line so that no one else in the host family can make or receive
calls. Depending on the type of Internet account that your family
has, you may be running up a very expensive bill.
The more time that you spend on the Internet chatting to friends
and family from home, the less time you are spend on homework or
on socializing with family and friends here. You came to the US
to experience American culture. You cannot do this successfully
if you are spending too much time focused on home.
If you are homesick, spending a lot of time sending and receiving
emails from your home will actually prolong the amount of time that
you feel this way.
Be very careful to observe Internet protocol. Internet protocol
includes not using obscene language in chat rooms.
Avoid sights that say "Caution: must be 18 or over". These
sights include anything related to weapons, violence, or pornography.
Even if you are 18, viewing of these sights may make your host family
very uncomfortable, not to mention being offensive to their beliefs.
Remember- you are an ambassador for your country while you are here,
and your actions will influence how people view you and your country.
If you have questions at any time, ask your host family or local
coordinator for help. Or, you may call the CIEE office at (800)
448-9944. Good luck!
A
student’s program officially ends two weeks from the last day
of school. If the student decides to leave his or her host family
before that two-week period is over, then the program will end at
the time when the student leaves. For example, if the student leaves
the host family the day after school gets out, then that will be
the last day of the student’s program.
When the student’s participation in the program ends, there
is a 30-day grace period during which the student is allowed to
remain in the US on his or her J-1 visa. However, during that time
the student is no longer the responsibility of CIEE. Any travel
arrangements are the sole responsibility of the student. He or she
must be prepared to leave the US before the 30-day grace period
expires.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (800)
448-9944.
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