IES Internships Manual - Assets.its.uiowa.edu

abroad. This will severely limit your ability topay attention to your surroundings, and maymake you a target for crime.- Do not share your travel itinerary, address,specific location, or international travel plans onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any othersocial media. Since these resources arepublically searchable, it is fairly easy forcriminals to search for and target individualswho post this information online. It is fine foryou to share this information with friends andfamily, but it is best NOT to share thisinformation in any sort of public forum.- If you use Uber, AirBnb, or similar serviceswhile you’re abroad, it is important that you doas much research as possible on the individualsyou are staying with or riding with. Thoroughlyread and pay attention to the reviews for theindividuals you are working with, travel ingroups, etc.- Finally, keep emergency contact names andnumbers for local emergency responders, IESstaff on site, your accommodations, friends, thestudy abroad office at the University of Iowa,and your family on hand at all times. If you runinto any problems, this information can beextremely valuable!Safety and GenderPlease take a look at the following links forinformation about safety and gender.Study Abroad’s Gender Issues rst-steps/identity/genderJourneywoman- advice on clothing and othertips for international female travelers:http://www.journeywoman.com/Identity SupportPlease take a look at the Diversity and IdentityAbroad section of our website for informationabout a wide variety of identity issues related tostudy abroad, including Race and Ethnicity,LGBT, Disabilities, first-generation, and nontraditional students, and feel free to contact usif you have any questions or d/first-steps/identityLGBTI Travel resources can be found throughthe Department of n/go/lgbt.htmlMore informationISIS/TerrorismThere is no indication that ISIS or any otherterrorist organization poses an active threat toany of the IES internship locations. However,the safety of our students is our primaryconcern, and we will continue to monitor anypotential threats and respond accordingly. Formore information about terrorism and safetyabroad, please take a look at our Health andSafety page epare/health5If you’d like to speak to someone in our officemore specifically about gender or identityconcerns, please contact Amy Bowes at amybowes@uiowa.edu or 319-335-0353.Emergency Response PlansLocal program staff, and the Study AbroadOffice at the University of Iowa have specificsafety plans in place to respond to emergencies.If an emergency occurs it is extremelyimportant that you stay in contact with yourlocal staff and the Study Abroad office at theUniversity of Iowa for updates.

Staying in ContactWhile you’re abroad, it is essential that youcheck your University of Iowa email accountfrequently- at least several times a week. TheUniversity of Iowa will direct all communicationto you through your UI email account. This willbe especially important in case of emergency. Ifthere is an emergency of any kind while you’reabroad, the University of Iowa will be in contactwith you through your University of Iowa emailaccount to 1) check in on your status andensure that you are safe, 2) provide follow upinformation to you about getting help andstaying safe.It is essential that you check your University ofIowa email address, and respond to anymessages you receive from the Study Abroadoffice while you’re abroad.Travel SafetyIf you plan to travel outside of your hostcountry during your study abroad program it isimportant that you follow IES’ policy for sharingitineraries and register your travel itinerary withthe US Department of State’s Smart TravelerEnrollment Program en/go/step.html. Registering your travel plans withthe US Department of State allows them tocontact you in the case of an emergency, andprovide health and safety/evacuation support.If you are NOT a US citizen, you may contactyour home country embassy for informationabout any similar programs that might beavailable to you from your country ofcitizenship.Identity Theft/Data ProtectionIdentity and data theft is not uncommon amongstudents travelling abroad. To help preventthis, it is a good idea to ensure that yourpasswords and data are as safe as possible.Please take a look at the following article for6advice on to help keep your personalinformation, bank accounts, credit cards, data,etc as safe as possible:https://its.uiowa.edu/securityConduct while abroad- First, remember that you are a representativeof not just yourself, but of the University ofIowa, Iowa City, and the US in general. Ofcourse, everyone knows that the behavior ofone individual doesn’t represent everyone fromthat place, but your behavior will stronglyinfluence the way that people you meetperceive other people from the US. All safetyissues aside, please act accordingly.- It is important to note that the University ofIowa Code of Student Life applies while you areabroad in the same way it does while you areon campus, and appropriate conduct is all themore critical given the international and crosscultural context. All students are expected toadhere to the University of Iowa Code ofStudent -life-16-17/), as well as policies andregulations established by IES.- Finally, keep in mind that while you areabroad, you are subject to the laws of your hostcountry. If you violate laws in abroad, theUnited States, the University of Iowa, and theStudy Abroad office WILL NOT have any powerto change the legal implications of yourbehavior.Billing and Financial Aid- For University of Iowa programs, studyabroad program fees are charged to the U-Bill,following the University of Iowa billing calendar.Payment options will be explained on the billitself (i.e. due date, Billing Office contactinformation, etc).

As with any other academic session, financialaid (grants, scholarships and loans) will bedisbursed about seven days before the programbegins, and will apply to your U-Bill first, withthe remainder being refunded back to you.The Course Fees and Administrative Feesrelated to your program vary based onprogram, and can be found under the ProgramCosts Sheet heading of the Application sectionon each program’s website.- You will also be responsible for the mandatoryCISI health insurance, which will totalapproximately 80 for the 8 week session.- Finally, if you receive any sort of financial aid(scholarships, grants, or loans) it is importantthat you set up direct deposit with theUniversity of Iowa. Having this set up allowsthe University of Iowa to deposit any aid that isleft over after paying your U-Bill directly intoyour bank account. If you do not have directdeposit set up the University of Iowa will sendyour refund via check which can take severalweeks to process.You can set up direct deposit on MyUI using theinstructions provided on the Billing Office’swebpage: ect-depositAcademics- All interns are enrolled in the Leading AcrossCultures course (IN 395) for either 3 or 6 credithours. In some locations you can also optionallyenroll in a language course for 3 more hours.Syllabuses for the courses can be found underthe Academics tab on your IES programwebpage.- At the point of application you were asked tosign the Credit Agreement and indicate thenumber of credit hours you were receiving.After this point in time you are not able to7change the number of credits you’re enrolledin.- You will be earning academic credit/semesterhours for your program, and your courses willsatisfy your degree requirements based on theapprovals you received on your Credit ApprovalForm (CAF). You will earn a letter grade and theletter grade will be reported on your UItranscript as resident credit affecting your UIGPA.Housing/AccommodationHousing/Accommodation AbroadYou will receive information about housingfrom IES. Housing is included in the program feeand roommates can be indicated on yourhousing preference form through IES.FlightsWhen to Buy Plane TicketsOnce you’ve heard back from IES about youracceptance, it’s generally okay to buy yourplane tickets. Ticket prices will start to increasesignificantly within about six weeks of yourdeparture date, so it is strongly advisable thatyou to purchase your tickets as soon as you can.If you think you’ll have problems paying foryour ticket, please contact Amy Bowes (amybowes@uiowa.edu or 319-335-0353) as soon aspossible so we can discuss your options.Which Airport to Fly Into, and How to Get toYour Accommodations When You ArriveIES will provide you with information aboutwhich airport to fly into, and how to get fromthe airport to your accommodation. Somelocations offer airport pick up, be sure to arriveduring the given arrival window or plan to waitat the airport until the shuttles/taxis depart forhousing.

Pay attention to airport codes! Many large citiesin Europe have multiple airports, some of themare far outside of the city center. It is importantthat you fly into the correct airport and aremindful of which airport you’re flying into whenyou coordinate independent travel during theprogram.How to Purchase Plane Ticketsa missing visa, denial of entry to your country,illness, or any other reason.It is important to be aware of all fees related tochanges or cancellation of your tickets beforeyou finalize your purchase.Weather Delays/Travel insuranceIf you want to work through a travel agent, werecommend working with Meacham TravelService. Meacham is a locally run, vetted,University-sanctioned travel service provider.They can generally provide good deals andexcellent logistical support throughout theprocess. You can contact Meacham Travel at319-351-1360.If you purchase your ticket through MeachamTravel Service (319-351-1360), they will be ableto provide you with an insurance policy calledTravel Guard Gold. This policy insures againstchanges to flight plans for covered reasons suchas inclement weather and documented illness.The cost for this insurance policy is variablebased on the policy holder’s age, destination,etc. Meacham will be able to clarify the cost ifyou choose to pursue this option.You can also purchase your tickets directlythrough an airline or through a website like STATravel, Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, etc. Studentsthat purchase their own tickets online generallyhave good luck with STA Travel, which is astudent-oriented travel service, but you shoulduse the option that works best for you.If you choose to purchase trip insuranceelsewhere, it is essential that you confirm that itcovers travel delay or cancellation due toinclement weather as many insurance policiesdo not. The University of Iowa will not beresponsible for paying any fees associated withyour airline ticketing.How to Avoid Unexpected Fees/PenaltiesDoes CISI Insurance Apply to Travel Delays?It is essential that you thoroughly read andunderstand the terms and conditions of anyflight arrangements you make, as a wide varietyof rules, restrictions, and additional fees canapply.Not always. While the CISI policy you’reenrolled in has robust coverage for medical andsecurity emergencies, it offers only limitedinsurance coverage for travel delays. Under theIowa Regents CISI insurance policy, some hotelstays and other costs resulting from a traveldelay may be reimbursable to you if you file aclaim with CISI insurance. You will be enrolled inthis policy for the duration of your internship.You can find a claim form and details about thetrip delay coverage of the mandatory IowaRegents CISI insurance policy epare/health/insuranceIf you need to rebook your ticket for anyreason, you will be responsible for all costsassociated with rebooking your ticket. TheUniversity of Iowa will not be responsible topay for any additional fees incurred as part ofany flight changes.This applies to rebooking for any reason,including a weather delay that prevents arrivalto the airport in time for your flight, a flightcancelation due to bad weather, a lost passport,8

VisasFor most IES locations US passport holders donot need a visa to travel. Instructions forobtaining a visa for Shanghai, London, andSydney will be located in your IES pre-departureguide. Non-US passport holders should consultthe document Non-US and Non-EU PassportHolder Visa Instructions which is found underthe Preparation tab on the program website.PackingGeneral Packing Advice- Emergency contact card- The emergencycontact tional.uiowa.edu/files/emergency card 4.27.15.pdf) is a place for you to easily access localemergency contact information for your hostcountry, as well as the contact information forthe Study abroad office. It is important that youkeep this information with you at all times soyou are prepared to seek help in an emergencysituation.- Prescription drugs, enough to last theduration of your program and in their originalpackaging.- Your CISI health insurance information. If youhaven’t received this information by emailalready, you will very soon! Be sure tounderstand your CISI health insurance policy,and how to use it while you’re abroad.- Copies of your passport- you won’t need tocarry your passport with you while you’reabroad, so go ahead and keep it in a safe placein your apartment/homestay when you arrive.However, it is important to carry a copy of yourpassport with you, so be sure to make aphotocopy and keep it with you at all times.This can help with identification, and help speedup the process of replacing your passport if itgets lost or stolen.- Outlet adaptors- These allow you to plug inyour US plug-ables into the outlets abroad.Plugs in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and Chilelook like this:Plugs in the UK and Ireland look like this:- Your academic advisor’s name, email, andphone number. You can use this to get in touchwith your advisor if you have any academicissues along the way.- Bring your US driver’s license or other form ofgovernment-issued ID. You will not be able todrive while you’re abroad, but your US driver’slicense is a good alternative form ofidentification to have on you just in case.- Student ID for discount admissions and traintickets.- A travel guide from Lonely Planet, Let’s Go,etc.9South Africa plugs look like this:

Australia and China plugs look like this:Come prepared for a lot of direct sunshine andpack clothing that is light and breathable.- Layers- For those of you interning in thesouthern hemisphere you’ll want to pack plentyof layers. During the day it will be mild, but itcould be rainy or windy.However, countries in Europe (and around theworld) have different outlet designs, so most ofour returnees recommend bringing a universaladaptor (or maybe more than one) so you’recovered if you plan to travel. Something likethis should do it:- Address for your accommodations- Bring acopy of your street address for youraccommodations! You’ll want to know exactlywhere you’re going when you arrive so you canget there easily on your own, or tell a taxi driverexactly where to drive. Remember, you’ll betired and jet lagged when you arrive and tellinga taxi driver that you live “IES Milan” isn’t goingto get you to your apartment or the programcenter!- 24/7 contact information for IES. Havinginformation about who you can contactanytime of the day or night from IES will behelpful if you run into any problems withaccommodation, transportation, etc. when youarrive.Many electronic devices can now be charged byUSB. Hotels are even starting to install USB wallchargers instead of typical outlets that requiretravelers to use adapters. You may wish topurchase a USB “brick” like this one if most ofyour devices charge by USB:- Clothing- Check with your work supervisorabout what is appropriate to wear daily towork. Some work situations may lendthemselves to business casual, others mayrequire more formal business attire.- In general, pack fewer clothes! It’s easy tofind cheap clothes abroad, and they tend to bea little more locally fashionable. Save the bagspace for stuff you want to bring back homewith you!Transportation- Shoes- You’ll be walking A LOT every day, soplan to bring several pairs of good shoes thatdon’t hurt your feet and keep you stable whenwalking on uneven terrain (cobblestones).- Sunblock/sunglasses/sunhat- In the summerthings heat up in the northern hemisphere.10Public Transportation- On your daily commute you’ll make use ofmetros, trams, trains, buses, and your feet!Prepare to walk more than you walk here in theUS and bring comfortable shoes.

Taxis/Uber- When taking a taxi you have several options.You can call and request a taxi for private pickup (more expensive) or you can go to a taxistand. In most cities outside the US, taxis willnot pick you up just anywhere, they are legallymandated to pick you up from the taxi stand. Besure to take marked, government-registeredtaxis.- Uber may be the most convenient way for youto get to and from work each day, depending onthe city and the location of your job. Listen tothe advice of IES when it comes to utilizing Uberand try to plan your rides with other interns soyou can share the expense.Trains & Train Passes- Trains are a very popular option when youwant to visit another city. You have severalchoices when you book: you can usually choosebetween the fast train or regional/slower trainand you can decide what class ticket you want.The best part about the train is that you canusually buy tickets the day of travel and there’sno limit to the amount of baggage you can bringon board.- A note on train passes: Generally train passesare a good idea when traveling continuouslybefore or after the program, or during SpringBreak. But you probably won’t want a train passfor your whole stay because you won’t be ableto use it often enough for the price tag to beworth it. During the program it’s recommendedyou buy from Trenitalia, you’ll save yourself alot of money.- You can find information on train tickets andpasses ay-map.htm stralia (Australia)11- In South America and Africa it is much morecommon to fly or take buses. Lonely Planet andRick Steve’s are both great sources ofinformation when it comes to how to getaround via other forms of public transportation.Phones/CommunicationIES requires every student to have a cell phonethat can send and receive phone calls (Wi-Ficalling will not be sufficient). It is important thatyou decide on your cell phone strategy beforeyou depart and discuss all potentialcosts/implications with your cell phoneprovider.- You generally have three options if you’d liketo have a cell phone/smart phone while you’reabroad:1- Use your current phone, and purchase a SIMcard abroad that will allow you to access thenetwork there. Check with your US-basedservices provider to ask if your current phonecan be unlocked, and/or if it c

- ISIS/Terrorism Abroad 5 - Banking Fees 13 - Safety & Gender 5 - Power of Attorney 13 - Identity . bowes@uiowa.edu), or 319-335-0353) as soon as possible. Health For general information about health and Safety, please see our Health and Safety Abroad website here: