program policiesprogram policies
As a High School Abroad or Gap Year Abroad Program participant, you have been granted the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a year abroad, live with a family and attend a foreign school. With this privilege comes important responsibilities which are to be taken very seriously. Please familiarize yourself with the Code of Conduct. It outlines sixteen important policies that MUST be followed while in your host country. They were designed for your safety and created with your best interests in mind. They are key factors to having a successful year abroad. Any violation of these policies may lead to the termination of your participation in the Program and/or an early return home.
Disciplinary consequences to violating Program rules involve a three-step discipline process:
1. Warning
2. Probation
3. Dismissal
Depending on the severity of the violation, any one of the three steps may be excluded. Think of it like a soccer game: When you foul someone on the field, you are warned not to do it again. Repeated fouls or harsher fouls earn the player a yellow card (Probation) and a second yellow card results in a red card (Dismissal). However, based on the severity of the foul, referees can immediately issue a red card and eject you from the game without having previously given you a yellow card. Likewise, a severe violation of the Code of Conduct can result in immediate dismissal from the program.
In addition to following Program Rules, we expect you to excel academically. You should attend school every day, complete work assignments and participate in classes and activities. Even if you have already graduated from a U.S. high school, we expect you to stretch yourself. You should take advantage of the opportunity to learn as much about the host culture as you can. You should thank others sincerely and appreciate the generosity of your host family and give back to the community that is helping provide this experience for you. Remember to be open-minded, tolerant, flexible, patient and have a sense of humor. These are some qualities of a successful exchange student and many of the reasons we selected you!
Successful exchange students have offered the following advice for future participants:
- Be thoughtful about your experience and challenges you may face.
- Remember to communicate, take responsibility, take the initiative, and cooperate.
- Understand the Program Rules and why they exist.
- Keep your expectations realistic.
Code of Conduct
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a Portland non-profit orgnaziation has established the following Code of Conduct for all American participants going on the High School Abroad Program. Violation or non-observation of these standards may be cause for dismissal from the High School Abroad Program.
- All participants in the program are expected to take an active part in the program, including orientation, evaluation seminars, and all other activities prescribed by CIEE. Participants are expected to represent their country as "ambassadors" and thus to make a considerable contribution towards the understanding between your host country and the United States.
- The participant shall live as a member of a host family and shall conform to the obligations, rules and customs of the family. The participant must be prepared to live in any family without regards to race, religion, or color of skin. A host family may be composed of a single parent with child/children, of a couple with child/children, or a couple without children living in the home. The participant must be willing to share a room. Participants who are non-smokers, but begin smoking while abroad may not smoke in the home, unless permission is granted by the host family.
- The day-to-day activities of the participant shall require the consent of the host parent. They must be informed at all times where she/he is, with whom, when and how she/he is returning home.
- Any request from a participant for a change in host family must be done through the Local Coordinator. Each request for a change of host family will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Host family changes are not made solely at the participant's request.
- School attendance is a mandatory component of the program. Unsatisfactory school attendance, poor academic performance, lack of compliance with school rules, and/or poor attitude is cause for dismissal.
- During the stay of the participant he/she may not perform any jobs outside of his/her host family.
- The participant shall have $150-200 per month in pocket money.
- The participant shall be obligated to pay all bills accruing (including telephone, postal expenses and additional medical costs not paid for by insurance and similar) before his/ her return, or, at the latest, after receiving the bill.
- For travel outside of CIEE or school-sponsored activities, participants are allowed to travel overnight on trips only if the natural parents sign the Parental Travel Release Form. In addition, the host family must provide written permission. Students are only allowed to travel if they are not missing school. All students must provide all necessary documentation and permission to their LC and CIEE at least 2 weeks prior to the trip.
- Participants are not allowed to travel independently outside the local area without permission from their partner office. The Local Coordinator shall define the "local area". If a participant wishes to travel independently, he/she must inform his/her Local Coordinator as to the planned trip and request permission. For independent travel, a participant must submit a detailed itinerary including modes of transportation to his/her Local Coordinator two weeks before departure. Please see Rule #9 in the Code of Conduct for additional details.
- Hitchhiking is strictly prohibited for all participants.
- The participant shall be subject to federal and regional laws of their host country.
- The purchase or possession of weapons is prohibited.
- Driving any form of motorized vehicle such as automobiles, motorbikes, and/or motorcycles is prohibited. .
- A return to the U.S. before the end of the program year is only possible under exceptional circumstances, and this requires the consent of CIEE. A return to the US without permission of the organization will result in dismissal from the program.
- The possession and/or use of marijuana or any controlled substance or drug is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
Behavior not in accordance with these Codes of Conduct is cause for the host family, the school, and/or Local Coordinator to warn and/or discipline a participant, and may result in the issuing of a formal warning or letter of probation. Repeated incidents of unacceptable behavior are cause for dismissal and return of the participant to the United States without undue delay. Any additional cost arising there from shall be borne by the participant.
Notice to terminate agreement: A serious violation of this Code of Conduct shall result in immediate dismissal from the program and the return of the participant to the U.S. without undue delay. Any costs arising as a result of the premature termination of the stay shall be borne by the participant. Serious violations include but are not limited to breaking any federal or regional law and hitchhiking. The cost of the flight for the early return to the U.S. due to withdrawal or dismissal from the program will be the responsibility of the participant