Program Advising & Logistics

As your student plans to study abroad, we want them to feel empowered to make this journey their own. Study abroad also requires significant independence and self-reliance. As they prepare for their experience, our primary modes of communication will be with and directed toward your student. This may be a change for you, but we do hope you will respect this and encourage your student to fully embrace responsibility for their experience. 

Information is disbursed to students in pieces over time as to not overwhelm your student. They can expect to receive information via their Arcadia Abroad Portal, via email, and during their pre-departure orientation program. If you or your student are wondering about a topic, feel free to reach out and ask. We do encourage you to have your student reach out to their Program Advisor before you reach out, so that they can advocate for themselves and make this process their own - we want this to be a growing and learning experience for them! Program Advisors host routine open advising hours and are avaialable via phone and email. The volume of questions can be quite large, but we do our best to return all inquiries within 2 business days. 

Program Advisors are available to support your student throughout their application process. If your student has questions about their program or application, they should attend open advising hours, schedule an individual advising call, or contact their Program Advisor via email. Your student has been provided information on how to do these things. 

In addition to individual advising, we hold a variety of virtual meetings before your student travels abroad, including at least 3 that are required. 

Arcadia Abroad is required by law to comply with the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA provides students aged 18 and older with certain rights with respecet to their educational records. This prohibits Arcadia Abroad staff from sharing certain types of specific information without student consent. Protected information includes: enrollment status, grades, disciplinary records, visa status, financial information, health disclosures, housing assignments, and mailing addresses. This list is not exhaustive. If you wish to know any of these details, we recommend that you have a conversation with your student. 

Each student is asked to provide 2 emergency contacts during their application process. Arcadia Abroad does retain the right to communicate with these 2 people in the event of an emergency abroad. 

The Arcadia Abroad Portal is a digital guide for your student's study abroad experience. The Portal is where your student submitted their initial application to Arcadia Abroad and where they will submit subsequent forms and information (like housing and academic forms, passport copies, and flight information). We ask that students pay close attention to all of the tabs in their Portal as they all contain important information, including action items on the Checklist Items tab. 

Portal is a live space that we will use to share information as it becomes available with your student. This will include billing information, travel guidance, program requirements, and more.   

After being accepted to their program, students receive access to an online orientation program. Students are required to complete the program, which includes a virtual course, a pre-departure virtual meeting, and an on-site orientation once they arrive. 

Attendance at all of these events is mandatory as outlined in the Student Handbook.