Welcome Family Members

Dear family members,

Thank you for lending your support to an experience that may be one of the most exciting and significant events of your student's life. Study Abroad provides your student an opportunity to learn about another country, its culture and its people, while earning academic credit toward his or her KU degree. The experience also provides a chance to learn about oneself in the context of the world community.  We are so pleased that your student has chosen to participate in an international academic program through the KU Office of Study Abroad.

KU study abroad advisors have been working closely with your student and have supplied each program participant with a copy of our Study Abroad Handbook (pdf) (academic policies, cultural adjustment, health and safety, and other information relevant to the study abroad experience) and program-specific materials. We ask that students discuss this information with their families.  Your student has also requested that we share this information with you.  Please browse these resources and others available on the Family section of the the Office of Study Abroad website and to talk to your student to better understand the program, the process, responsibilities, and benefits of study abroad.

We want to assure you that the health, safety and security of students is of the utmost importance to everyone in the Office of Study Abroad.  In addition to the information provided to your student, we encourage you to take advantage of the useful health and safety information available for all foreign countries from the U.S. State Department and from the Centers for Disease Control.   The Study Abroad Handbook contains additional information, including a description of services provided to all KU study abroad participants by AIG Global Assistance Services (Travel Guard) and New Directions, which can offer support to students in a variety of unexpected or emergency situations.

If you do not have a passport, I would encourage you to consider getting one in case of an emergency.  In the past, we have had times when a student has become ill or has been injured and the presence of a family member was desirable.  While these types of incidents are uncommon, it’s certainly advisable to be able to join the student abroad, if needed.  Information on applying for and obtaining a U.S. passport is available through the U.S. State Department.

Please bookmark this page as a handy quick reference while your student is abroad.  If you have particular questions or concerns you would like to discuss, I urge you to contact our office.

Sincerely,

Angela Perryman

Director

KU Office of Study Abroad