Student Information

 
Now is the time to start thinking about your Cross Cultural Studies (CCS) experience. Learn what you need to do to prepare for your experience.

Steps to Enroll

Interested in participating in a cross cultural experience? Below you'll get a step-by-step instruction on how to enroll in a program and what you must do before your enrollment is official

Have your travel photos taken and printed before you need to apply for your passport.

  • Apply for your passport at most U.S. Post Offices or county clerk’s offices asap.

  • Submit a photo of the receipt showing that you applied for a passport to [email protected]

  • If you already have a valid passport, take a good photo of the data page (picture, signature, and data), and email it to [email protected]. Make sure your passport is valid for six months AFTER you return from your CCS program.
  • Electronic Payments – students and parents can pay for CCS costs through the mysau portal by going to: Student Tab > drop down to the heading Finances > click on bullet point Make a Payment to go to your Transact Account by clicking on the Green Box. Drop down to Available Items and click on the View All tab by the tiles, then click on the Cross Cultural Payment tile, View Details and enter the amount you plan to pay and proceed with making payment by electronic fund transfer, EFT. There is no additional cost for EFT payment by using your checking or savings account number and routing number.

  • Credit card payment or any type of Card – please note Transact charges a 85% fee per transaction. Credit cards including Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express.

  • Checks – Please make them out to Spring Arbor University and include your Student ID number on the check. Payments can be dropped off to our Cashier in Upper Dietzman Hall or mailed to: Spring Arbor University, PO Box 219, Spring Arbor, MI 48283. Please allow for mailing time prior to your due date.

  • Tuition Account Transfer – If you have an Actual credit balance on your current semester tuition statement, please email Michelle Boulis at [email protected] and include your student ID number and request the amount you would like to transfer from your student account to your CCS account. You must make this request via your arbor.edu email address.
  • Please do not leave anything blank.

  • Save your form, print it, sign it, and email it from your arbor.edu email as attachment to [email protected]. You can also bring your completed form to the CCS office in lower level Dietman Hall. We are open Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 2:30pm.

Although CCS accepts your paperwork, the Registrar’s Office enrolls students on CCS programs according to your class standing and the date/time you submitted your packet to the CCS office. Being cleared to enroll does NOT guarantee you a spot on the CCS program of your first choice. If your first choice is full, the Registrar will enroll you on your second or third choice destination OR you can be placed on the waitlist of your first choice by designating “Waitlist“ as your second choice. If a spot becomes available, waitlisted students will be contacted by CCS to discuss whether they want to be added to the program. Students cannot be enrolled on one program and waitlisted on another.

Study Abroad Fee FAQs

The study away fee of any student who voluntarily withdraws from the program and does not switch to a different program for the same academic year may be nonrefundable/nontransferable.  If a student does not meet the payment schedule for CCS program fees, the study away fee may also be nonrefundable.


If the program is cancelled by Spring Arbor University, the fee is refundable or transferable to another CCS program, provided there is an opening on another program.  A portion of the study abroad fee is also refundable if a student is on the waiting list for a program and is not allowed to officially enroll on that program.

CCS options must have a minimum number of participants by the end of finals week in May to avoid cancellation at that time.  Also, if enough students drop out of an experience before the final cut-off date in the fall, the CCS office retains the right to cancel the option.  Options can also be cancelled if a U.S. Department of State (DOS) travel advisory indicating risks to security is issued for the country of destination or if safety issues become a concern for that destination. Students will then be asked to sign up for a different experience.  The $200 study away fee is transferable to another experience if SAU cancels the option for which students are registered.

If SAU cancels a program due to low enrollment or due to a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory or safety concerns, the CCS office will contact you by phone and/or email.   

(Airline fees are generally nonrefundable. Students should consider purchasing travel cancellation insurance. SAU will attempt to recover and refund monies paid by students. If students enroll on another open CCS program the study abroad fee is transferrable to the new program.)

 

Travel Preparation

Center For Disease Control Website 
The CDC site recommends immunizations and proactive precautions for travel to specific destinations based on current health risks on location. SAU strongly recommends travelers follow the CDC’s advice.

U.S. State Department 
The State Department’s site has links to embassy sites along with Consular travel information for entry requirements for U.S. citizens, travel warnings, and other useful travel preparation tools. Also, see U.S Students Abroad and Tips for Traveling Abroad for more information. Visa and Passport Applications
Passports are required to enter most CCS destinations! Visas are needed for some destinations. For assistance completing the passport application, please use the State Department’s Passport Application Wizard.

Other travel informational links:

In an effort to determine possible problems which may arise during international travel and contingencies to avoid complications during such travel, Spring Arbor University strongly recommends that CCS program participants are up to date on all childhood immunizations and tetanus immunizations before traveling. See which immunizations are recommended per program. These services are available at the SAU Holton Health and Wellness Services, during clinic hours for SAU students.

You may obtain immunizations at Holton Health and Wellness Services (HHWS), your Primary Care Provider (PCP), a health department, or a travel clinic. If you want HHWS to fulfill your travel needs (immunizations and/or travel prescriptions), set up an appointment with HHWS. You may also stop into HHWS to set up an appointment. It is strongly recommended that you get your prescription(s) filled at least one month prior to travel. 

My destination requires certain immunizations. Where can I get them?

Tetanus: Available at HHWS.

Yellow Fever: The yellow fever injection is required for locations where the destination requires it for entry to the country (ex: Uganda). In other cases it is strongly recommended by the CDC (Ecuador and other locations). Plan ahead and search for Yellow Fever providers in your home area. They are generally listed on the Internet. See Holton Health and Wellness Services or the CCS office with questions.

My destination strongly recommends certain immunizations/medications. Where can I get them?

Hepatitis A: This is a two-shot series immunization. It is recommended to receive the second injection six months after the first to allow for immunity up to or beyond 10 years. One injection immunizes for only a short period of time and is sufficient for CCS participation; however, students are strongly encouraged to complete the series. Hepatitis A is available at HHWS.

Typhoid:  The vaccine is effective for two years and the oral medication is effective for 5 years. It is recommended that students receive typhoid at least 3 months prior to traveling. Both the vaccine and the oral medication are available at HHWS.

Malaria:  This medication is strongly recommended for destinations where the CDC indicates it be given. The HHWS nurse practitioner does write prescriptions for anti-malaria medications for CCS students.  We encourage students to contact HHWS if traveling to a malaria endemic area.

Meningococcal:  This immunization is recommended by the CDC for certain locations, primarily in sub-Sahara Africa (such as Uganda) and is available at HHWS.