A COMPACT
between
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
and
______________________________
(Participant’s name)
______________________________
(Program or institution abroad)
The University of Pennsylvania advocates and supports undergraduate study abroad as one of the most
important ways by which our students can prepare themselves for the challenges of global citizenship in the 21 st
century. By recognizing and facilitating your initiative to study abroad, Penn makes the assumption that you –
as an individual – are seeking to build skills that will enrich you intellectually as well as serve you in your future
career.
Our purpose in making the opportunity to study abroad available to you is, broadly stated, to expose you to new
and different perspectives on knowledge and the socio-economic contexts, languages, traditions, and cultural
assumptions that give rise to them. Penn emphasizes whenever possible deep immersion in the host culture for a
significant period of time and your individual responsibility first, to prepare for learning abroad and, thereafter,
to seek out and profit from every learning moment that presents itself.
The following document constitutes a compact between you and the University of Pennsylvania. On behalf of
the undergraduate Deans and Directors of our College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied
Science, School of Nursing, and Wharton School, I ask you to read and sign this compact which outlines Penn’s
philosophy regarding study abroad, its expectations of your behavior, and its official policies. In signing the
compact, you agree to carry out your studies abroad in a manner consistent with the philosophy, expectations
and policies of the University of Pennsylvania.
____________________________
Geoffrey Gee
Director, Study Abroad
SIGNATURE
I indicate by my signature below that I have read and understood the attached statements and that I commit
myself to observing the University of Pennsylvania’s policies and expectations regarding my participation in
study abroad.
______________________________
(Signature)
______________________________
(Date)
PLEASE RETURN THIS SIGNED PAGE TO:
Office of International Programs
University of Pennsylvania
Suite 1W, 3701 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3199
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PENN ABROAD 2002-03
A COMPACT
between
THE STUDENT PARTICIPANT
and
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
(RETAIN THIS DOCUMENT FOR YOUR REFERENCE)
The University of Pennsylvania advocates and supports undergraduate study abroad as one of the most
important ways by which our students can prepare themselves for the challenges of global citizenship in
the 21st century. By recognizing and facilitating your initiative to study abroad, Penn makes the
assumption that you – as an individual – are seeking to build skills that will enrich you intellectually as
well as serve you in your future career.
Our purpose in making the opportunity to study abroad available to you is, broadly stated, to expose you
to new and different perspectives on knowledge and the socio-economic contexts, languages, traditions,
and cultural assumptions that give rise to them. Penn emphasizes whenever possible deep immersion in
the host culture for a significant period of time and your individual responsibility first, to prepare for
learning abroad and, thereafter, to seek out and profit from every learning moment that presents itself.
The following document constitutes a compact between you and the University of Pennsylvania. We ask
you to read and sign this compact which outlines Penn’s philosophy regarding study abroad, its
expectations of your behavior, and its official policies. In signing the compact, you agree to carry out
your studies abroad in a manner consistent with the philosophy, expectations and policies of the
University of Pennsylvania.
LEARNING ATTITUDE
A successful study abroad experience hinges almost entirely on your positive predisposition to learn in an
unfamiliar academic and social system. It is not expected that you will understand everything
immediately. What is expected is your personal investment of hard work and an open-minded attitude.
We hope you will be an eager and willing learner, and you are encouraged to take a proactive approach to
learning and to engage voluntarily in learning activities that complement the formal curriculum and will
reinforce your language and cultural skills. We encourage you to be respectful of your hosts and their
culture, and to be mindful of customs which may be sometimes different from yours.
You are advised to distance yourself as much as you can from other students from American universities.
Given the structures of some kinds of study abroad, it may be very difficult to distance yourself physically
from other U.S. students, but you should make a conscious effort to do so in your mind. Successful study
abroad is essentially an individual growth experience that can be hindered by too much reliance on group
identity. Staying in a group is often a barrier to integration into local society and therefore reduces
opportunities for your basic cultural assumptions to be challenged.
You are expected to attend class regularly, to come prepared and to participate actively in classroom
discussion. Absence from a class may be excused normally only for a legitimate medical reason.
Absence from classes or other scheduled activities due to travel or visitors, including family, is not
tolerated under any circumstances and may lead to sanctions.
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PREPARATION FOR STUDY ABROAD
The study abroad advisors in the Office of International Programs provide extensive pre-departure
preparation programming that is designed to ease your adaptation to living and studying abroad. You are
expected to attend any and all pre-departure orientation meetings that may be held to brief you about your
program or university abroad. Important information is provided at these meetings and it is assumed that
you will give them your highest priority. Permission to study abroad may be withdrawn if you do not
attend.
You are also individually responsible for preparing yourself for study abroad in the site you have selected.
In addition to the information meetings, you are expected to make yourself as well-informed as possible
about the history and traditions of the people who will be your hosts by devoting personal time to reading,
seeing films, taking language classes or practicing your language skills informally, and similar activities.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
You are reminded that good physical health and emotional stability are very important to your academic
performance and a successful study abroad experience. Admission may be rescinded if your medical
report reveals information that gives University authorities cause for concern about your ability to study
abroad without detriment to yourself or to fellow students.
ADAPTING TO LOCAL CONDITIONS AND CUSTOMS
You are expected to demonstrate a willingness to adapt to local study and living conditions. It is assumed
that by seeking to study abroad, you realize many things will be different from what you are used to and
that you are ready and willing to cope with the differences you will encounter, even when this is difficult
or inconvenient.
You are herewith forewarned that in many sites, even in countries with developed economies, you should
not assume you will find the conveniences and comforts of life in Philadelphia or your home. Examples
of differences to which you will need to adapt may be: long commuting distances between accommodations and classes; lack of privacy in accommodations; restrictions on heating and/or water usage;
absence of or lack of easy access to a telephone or restricted telephone usage; lack of easy access or no
access to word processing and/or electronic mail; unfamiliar foods that you do not like or you perceive as
unhealthy.
A very important part of the study abroad experience is your learning to cope with these differences and
Penn generally expects you to make that effort. Penn does not make it a practice to intervene with local
authorities on behalf of students who are having initial difficulties in adapting unless there are legitimate
reasons to do so. If you have a health condition or other circumstances which may require special
attention, you are responsible for making this known to the appropriate study abroad advisor before going
abroad. You must be sure to alert your advisor about any special study or living requirements you may
have, so that steps can be taken to meet your special need, if possible, in the context of local conditions.
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS
You are an ambassador of the University of Pennsylvania and of American higher education, and you are
expected to represent these institutions honorably. You are expected to strive for academic excellence
abroad just as you do at home.
Wherever possible, Penn emphasizes immersion in a university setting alongside regular degree
candidates from the host country. You are expected to duplicate as much as possible the experience of
the host country student and Penn expects the host institution to teach you and evaluate you according to
the same standards it applies to its own regular degree candidates. You should expect to encounter
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different teaching styles and to have to adapt to different academic expectations. You should not be
surprised if your grades are not as high as you are used to getting at home, particularly if you have trouble
adapting to new academic expectations. When it comes to your final grade, be careful not to confuse your
hard effort with your actual performance judged objectively. You should try to remember that your goal
is to build knowledge and competence, not to be concerned about your g.p.a.
Penn also emphasizes foreign language study abroad, in full immersion settings wherever possible. If you
are in an English language island program abroad, you are expected to study the host country language as
one of your courses and to try to use the language as a matter of courtesy for routine daily activities like
shopping and when using public transportation. If you have already a good background in your target
language, you are expected to set a goal of using the language 24 hours a day. Your progress in achieving
greater foreign language fluency is entirely in your hands and requires effort and practice.
If you are a student in the College, you are expected to have declared your major before you study abroad
and, normally, you are expected to take at least half of your classes in your major or in major-related
subjects, unless your home department does not support your studies abroad.
Remember that excessive traveling is likely to interfere with the important goals of study abroad. Travel
fatigue may affect your academic performance, and traveling also hinders your ability to meet people and
immerse yourself in the rhythms of your local setting. You are expected to observe a five-day workweek
and to undertake long distance travel only during scheduled breaks or holidays.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Performance Prior to Study Abroad: Universities and programs abroad set minimum g.p.a.
standards for participation as does your home school. You are required to meet and/or maintain these
minimum standards during the semester prior to participation or your permission to study abroad will be
rescinded. Furthermore, you may not study abroad if a grade notation of "I", "NR" or "GR" appears on
your transcript, unless permission is specifically granted by your home school.
Credit: In order to receive academic credit toward your Penn degree from study abroad during the regular
academic year, you must have the permission of your home school and you must apply and register
through the Office of International Programs. During your semester or year abroad, you will remain
registered at Penn and you are required to pay regular Penn tuition and the study abroad fee for the period
you are away.
Individual academic departments at Penn are solely responsible for determining exactly which courses
taken abroad will receive credit in particular disciplines and whether the courses fulfill major or other
requirements. You are responsible for determining prior to going abroad whether your proposed courses
are approved or provisionally approved for credit by the relevant Penn departments. You are therefore
expected to have sought the advice of your major advisor in planning your studies abroad. Under no
circumstances can you expect to obtain credit for business courses except in sites that have been preapproved by the Wharton School.
Upon arrival at your study abroad site, if you wish to take different courses than the ones you had preapproved or provisionally pre-approved for Penn credit, you must communicate all the relevant
information about your final course selection to your undergraduate home school advisor and to your
study abroad advisor.
Grades: Grades earned during study abroad are reported on your Penn transcript and are calculated in
your cumulative grade point average. The grade of A+ is normally not recognized for courses taken
abroad and is converted to A; any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the home school.
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Grades earned during study abroad are based on your academic performance as judged by individual
instructors according to local practice. Once reported, no grade may be changed without a detailed,
written explanation from the individual course instructor about the reason for the change. The principles
of grade conversion to Penn grades from the academic system in which you study abroad are not subject
to appeal.
Unlike Penn faculty, professors in universities abroad are not obliged to report grades within a minimum
time delay. You are hereby alerted that your official transcript reflecting your academic performance
while studying abroad may take up to six months or more to reach Penn and that Penn has no power to
influence that process.
Course Load: You are normally required to carry a full-time course load -- defined as a minimum
equivalent to four Penn course units – while studying abroad. However, at some institutions, the number
of courses that constitute a full-time course load may be different than at Penn due to differences in
academic calendar or course weighting. If, for example, a full-time load is three or five or six courses per
term at your study abroad site, you are required to observe local regulations, even if Penn’s normal
requirement is higher or lower. You are responsible for knowing the required number of courses you
must take abroad before leaving Penn and approximately how much Penn equivalent credit will be
awarded by discussing this with your undergraduate school advisor. In cases where a full-time course
load abroad is the equivalent of only three Penn course units, you will still be charged regular Penn
semester tuition and fee.
The maximum amount of Penn-equivalent credit that may be awarded for a semester of study abroad is
five course units and for an academic year, ten course units.
Registration/Drop-request and Withdrawal from a Course: In most cases, registration for specific courses
actually takes place at the university or program site upon arrival after consulting with local staff and
professors.
The rules for dropping and requesting a new course and withdrawal from a course abroad are different
from the rules on campus. When studying abroad, you may adjust your course roster by adding a new
course according to the regulations of the host institution, but not after the end of the second week of
classes. However, once you have registered for and begun attending a course abroad, you are normally
not permitted to withdraw. Permission may be granted in exceptional circumstances by your home school
in consultation with the staff of the Office of International Programs and with the approval of the host
institution. The host institution is under no obligation to grant a withdrawal, especially when it is
apparent that a student has done no work in a course.
Pass/Fail Option: You are permitted to take a course pass/fail while studying abroad in accordance with
the policy of your home school. If you wish to exercise this option, you must write to your undergraduate
school and request permission, usually before the end of the fifth week of your classes abroad but earlier
in the case of short courses. Check with your undergraduate school advisor about specific deadlines.
If you are permitted to take a course pass/fail, you must realize that your instructor will continue to treat
you in exactly the same way as s/he would if you were taking the course for a grade and will expect you
to fulfill all the requirements for the course, including regular class attendance. In fact, the instructor will
never know that you are taking the course pass/fail; this is an academic option made available by Penn
and is usually not recognized by universities abroad.
Courses Outside the Program: When you are admitted by a university or program abroad, you are limited
to taking courses for academic credit only at a designated institution or institutions. You are not
permitted to cross-register for courses at institutions not designated as part of the program (even if
affiliated with Penn Abroad) or to register for courses at non-affiliated institutions. If you do this on your
own initiative, you are responsible for any additional fees and you will not receive Penn credit.
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Unfinished Work: You are expected to complete all assigned work and exams before leaving the study
abroad site at the end of the semester or year. You must have written permission from your
undergraduate home school advisor to leave a site before completing all of your academic obligations.
PERSONAL CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
You are required to observe the laws of the country in which you are studying abroad and all academic
and disciplinary regulations in effect at the host institution. While you are studying abroad, you remain
concurrently enrolled as a degree candidate at the University of Pennsylvania and, consequently, continue
to be subject to Penn’s Code of Student Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity. You may be expelled
from your study abroad program for violation of these codes and/or for academic failure or disciplinary
disturbances. Misconduct of any kind will be referred to the University’s Office of Student Conduct.
You are not permitted to study abroad if you currently stand charged or are charged prior to the beginning
of your study abroad with violation of a University regulation under the University of Pennsylvania’s
Student Disciplinary System or if you are under disciplinary sanction.
A FINAL COMMENT: WHY IS THE STUDY ABROAD COMPACT NECESSARY?
Study abroad will constitute from 12% to 25% of your undergraduate time at Penn and will continue to
have a profound impact on your studies when you return and on your future career. You cannot afford to
waste a moment of this precious learning time. Unlike when you are on campus in a highly supervised
learning environment, when you study abroad, the responsibility for staying on course is primarily on
you. For most of you, this is the time when you will mature emotionally and intellectually at the greatest
speed. This compact serves as a guide to steer you toward successful skill building and to steer you away
from academic tourism. Penn shares this compact with university officials and study abroad colleagues in
every site where our students go so that they will know how seriously Penn considers education abroad as
an extension of our educational programs at home.
Good luck on the adventure you are about to undertake! We look forward to welcoming you back to
Penn next year and to having you share your rich experiences with your fellow students and teachers.
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