Study Abroad Info for Parents

When designing programs and forming new partnerships with universities overseas, health and safety are our first priority. Students encounter many of the same risks while studying abroad as they would on campus at St. Mary’s or elsewhere in San Antonio. At the same time, we recognize that being farther away from home may complicate hardships.

All students:

• enroll with an inexpensive international health insurance provider, which supplements the student’s regular domestic plan
• have 24-hour phone access to the St. Mary’s Student Counseling Center
• have 24-hour emergency contacts both on site and at St. Mary’s
• attend orientation at least one month prior to departure
• must obtain a health clearance
• register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which alerts U.S. embassies that U.S. citizens are traveling in the region and provide the student with safety updates.

All students need a passport valid at least 6 months beyond their return date. Depending on the country of travel and the duration of stay, students may need a visa to enter the country. The Center for International Programs helps students apply for visas. In some cases, a student may need to travel to Houston to visit an embassy or consulate or mail in their passport for processing. Passport and visa costs are educational costs and are partially funded through financial aid.

While your student is making travel arrangements, we recommend at least one family member also possess a valid passport. This way a designated family member can travel on site, in the rare instance it is needed. Some parents join students after a program ends for additional independent travel.

We encourage students to plan with family ahead of time how they will maintain contact while studying abroad. With increasing global access to wireless internet and advanced telecommunications, families are more connected than ever at a low cost. Families can overcome distances by connecting via Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime.

St. Mary’s Center for International Programs and other University offices also maintain contact with students throughout their program, informing students of important dates and events such as course registration. Students can also share photos and stories on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

While we welcome questions from parents and families, as adults, students maintain the legal rights for privacy through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

We encourage students to sign a waiver that allows us to contact families and various institutions on their behalf.

In the case of an emergency, the University does maintain the right to contact families on the student’s behalf without requiring their written permission.