CCS Payment, Cancellation & Refund Policy
Nonrefundable CCS Study Abroad Fee and Payments:
All COR 374/375 Experiences
In order to apply for any CCS or study abroad program, each student is required to pay a $150 NONREFUNDABLE study away fee each academic year a student plans to study abroad. Should you decide to change programs, this fee may be applied to another program in the same academic year. The study abroad fee provides basic medical evacuation insurance, travel photos and support services.
Note: Your student tuition account must be in good standing according to the SAU Business Office in order to register for CCS or any kind of study abroad. You will not see CCS charges on your tuition account. Each student has a separate CCS account. When making payments, please specify that the payment is for your CCS account. Otherwise, it will likely be assumed that the payment is for your tuition account. It is advisable to see your Financial Aid Counselor or the Student Accounts Coordinator in the Business Office to discuss funding your CCS program before you enroll. File your FAFSA by February or early March so you can fund your CCS program!
University discount eligible students will…
1. Pay the $150 study abroad fee to enroll.
2. Meet payment deadlines for COR 375 listed below if the cost of their program is more than their university discount. The university discount will be applied to the program cost on the last payment deadline. If you have questions about your CCS balance, please call the business office at 517-750-6421.
3. Make your CCS payment through the mySAU portal: Go to the student tab, click on “make a payment” link and choose “Cross Cultural Program.” Make your payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or credit card. Please print your receipt and bring it to the CCS office. You can also pay with a check or cash at the business office. Note: A service fee of 2.75% is charged for credit card transactions. Credit cards accepted are MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Visa or Diner’s Club. No service fee for EFT or check payment. Contact the business office at 517-750-6421 for more information.
CCS Program Charges and Payment Schedule
Professor Led Experiences:
January Programs
A $500.00 payment toward the cost of your CCS program is due by June 1, 2023 for January programs. The balance of the program cost is due in full by July 1, 2023 for January programs. SAU tuition and fees for fall must be paid according to SAU deadlines before your air ticket can be purchased. CCS participants who do not meet payment deadlines may be removed from the program and should consult with the Business Office regarding payment arrangements prior to payment deadlines. Any necessary loans should be arranged and approved well in advance of payment deadlines.
May/Summer Programs
A $500.00 payment toward the cost of your CCS program is due by November 1, 2023 for all May/June and summer programs. The balance of the program cost is due in full by December 1, 2023 for May/June programs. SAU tuition and fees for spring must be paid according to SAU deadlines before your air ticket can be purchased. CCS participants who do not meet payment deadlines may be removed from the program and should consult with the Business Office regarding payment arrangements prior to payment deadlines. Any necessary loans should be arranged and approved well in advance of payment deadlines.
SAU Semester Programs – Fall
Program costs must be paid in full by April 1, prior to the fall semester program. SAU tuition and room/board for fall semester must be paid in full by July 1 if you are going abroad for fall semester.
SAU Semester Programs – Spring
Program costs must be paid in full by September 15 prior to the spring semester program. SAU tuition and room/board for spring semester must be paid in full by December 15 if you are going abroad for spring semester.
IOCCS Experiences
Individualized option students are responsible for their own financial and travel arrangements; however, a $250 nonrefundable deposit is due within two weeks of the proposal approval by the Faculty Cross Cultural Committee in order to initiate the required COR 374 semester preparation. Of this deposit, $150 goes toward the study away fee and $100 is credited toward tutorial fees upon completion of COR 375. Tutorial fees for 4 credit hours (COR 374/375) apply to all IOCCS students.
CCS Program Withdrawal
Withdraw In Writing:
Once accepted, your CCS application and forms are considered binding; therefore, cancellation must be submitted in writing. (See the CCS office for the appropriate withdrawal form.)
Withdrawal Penalties:
January Programs
A. Withdrawals before September 15, 2023 — 50% of the total program cost may be forfeited.
B. Withdrawals between September 15 and October 31, 2023 — 75% of the total program cost may be forfeited.
C. Withdrawals after November 1, 2023 until departure — 100% of the program cost is forfeited.
May/Summer Programs
A. Withdrawals before January 15, 2024 — 50% of the total program cost is forfeited.
B. Withdrawals between January 15 and February 28, 2024 — 75% of the total program cost is forfeited.
C. Withdrawals after March 1, 2024 until departure — 100% of the program cost is forfeited.
Semester Programs
Withdrawals from semester programs will be handled on a case by case basis and financial penalties are subject to monies spent on behalf of the student at the time of withdrawal.
Airline Refunds
Airline tickets are negotiated several months prior to departure. In order to obtain the best price possible, SAU buys only nonrefundable air tickets. Thus, if a student withdraws after the airline tickets are negotiated and/or purchased, no refunds or transfer of tickets can be made.
In the case of a death in the immediate family or an illness that prevents the student from traveling (documentation required), an exception might be granted by the airlines for a voucher upon presentation of proper documentation. It would be the student’s responsibility to document in detail and negotiate with the airlines or the travel agent if such a case should arise. Any money refunded to SAU will be passed along to the student provided his/her SAU account was paid in full. Because this process sometimes deals with ticket consolidators, the process can take several months to a year to complete. Students may purchase trip cancellation insurance on their own and is recommended for at least the price of the air ticket. Please see below for information on obtaining such insurance.
Individual Travel Dates
In the event that a student has elected to travel at a time or by a means other than by the designated plans of his/her CCS program, money expended for any airline tickets or other travel arrangements already made for the student may be forfeited and no refund may be available to the student. The student shall be solely responsible for making any such arrangements and shall be solely responsible for the incremental costs of any travel or accommodation necessary for the student to travel at any time other than the previously designated schedule of the program. Additional administrative fees will be assessed for individualized travel plans when the CCS office assists the student in making air arrangements for such plans.
Additional Financial Information
Tuition for Cross Cultural Studies Only
If you are a full-time student at SAU both Fall and Spring semesters 2023-2024 and plan on participating in a COR 374/375 experience in May term or Summer 2024, you might consider not taking a class for Interim (January 2024) as your January “free class” would then be applied to the tuition charges for a May term or Summer 2024 CCS experience. If you take a January class and are enrolled on a May term or Summer 2024 CCS experience, in addition to the cost of your CCS program you will be charged for 3 credits of May term or Summer tuition. Tuition and CCS program costs are separate monies.
Information Regarding CCS Program Pricing
January 2024 program costs are firm prices. May term and summer 2024 program costs are projected at the time of this publication. Actual costs for May programs will be available during fall 2023. Costs for all program options are inclusive except for personal spending money, unless otherwise noted. (SAU reserves the right to make adjustments in all program costs if there are extreme fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate or airline costs.)
Travel Insurance
Students may purchase trip cancellation insurance on their own and are encouraged to speak with CCS personnel to get information on obtaining such insurance. This insurance is available from various insurance providers. One such provider, Travel Guard, has information available on their website: www.travelguard.com. Air tickets purchased for CCS programs are nonrefundable tickets. It is recommended that students consider insuring at least the cost of their air ticket. Please inform the CCS office if you purchase travel insurance.
Immunizations/Medications
It is recommended that you work with your primary care physician (PCP) or local travel clinic for travel immunizations during summer 2023. Holton Health and Wellness Services (HHWS) can help students obtain immunizations and prescriptions if students order, pay for and make appointments for those services at least 60-90 days prior to their program. All students are given the opportunity to sign up with HHWS during early COR 374 and pay for immunizations in the Business Office or on the portal via CashNET. Select “CCS Immunization Payment” on the drop down menu (NOT Cross Cultural Studies).
| THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (WWW.CDC.GOV/TRAVEL) RECOMMENDS FOR MOST DESTINATIONS: | HOLTON HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES (HHWS) Offers: |
| ♦ Current childhood immunizations | Varies by immunization |
| ♦ Current tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (valid for 10 years) | Yes |
| ♦ Hepatitis B (3 shots – all destinations) | Yes |
| ♦ Polio (4 shots – all destinations) | Yes |
| ● Influenza | Yes |
| ● Hepatitis A (2 shots – various destinations) | Yes |
| ● Typhoid (various destinations) | Yes |
| ▲ Yellow Fever (various destinations) | Not available at HHWS ($100.00 or more off site) |
| ▲ Covid (required for some destinations) | Not available at HHWS (available at RiteAid, Walgreens, and most pharmacies) |
| ● Anti-Malaria medication prescription (various destinations) ● Antibiotic for traveler’s diarrhea (various destinations) | Schedule an appointment with HHWS or your primary care physician at least 60 days prior to departure for a consultation and prescriptions which should be filled at least 30 days prior to departure. |
♦ required by SAU ▲ required for entry to some countries ● strongly recommended by SAU/CDC
1 CCS program costs are monies paid out for goods, services, and required activities on your experience and therefore, must be remitted in U.S. dollars per institution policy.
2 Passport, trip cancellation insurance and immunization/medication costs are NOT included in the CCS program cost.
3 An official record of complete childhood immunizations must be provided to HHWS in order to participate in CCS or any study abroad program.
4 Prices are subject to change. Many insurance companies do not cover travel immunizations but do cover routine immunizations. Students are encouraged to check with their insurance provider to verify coverage. Students whose insurance covers these shots should obtain immunizations at their Primary Care Physician’s office or a local travel clinic. Immunization records with the student’s name clearly printed on the record may be faxed to the HHWS at 833-561-2587.