Parents & Family

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Welcome to the Center for Global Education's webpage for parents and family!
Whether you are currently researching study abroad options or your student has just returned home, we hope that you will find useful information on this site for every stage in the process.

For a comprehensive pre-departure resource, please access the Pre-DepartureCanvas course which covers the major policies and practices, along with helpful resources, for studying abroad with CSB+SJU. Many of your questions may be answered in this course.

We greatly appreciate the support you are providing for international education. We trust this will be a significant experience in your loved one's life. Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing [email protected].

Before you go

  • Encourage your student to explore all their options. All CSB+SJU students are encouraged to attend a Study Abroad 101 session to begin gathering information about international options.
  • Discuss their goals. CSB+SJU challenges its students to choose a program that matches their academic, personal, and professional goals. Ask your student what do they want to get out of this experience? What opportunities might they take advantage of while abroad to can help build their resume and skill set?  
  • Academics. Students should meet with their academic advisors early in their academic career at CSB+SJU to map out a plan to ensure they utilize all of the opportunities available to them, while still graduating on time. This ensures a student stays on track to graduate and fulfull graduation requirements while abroad. 
  • Finances.  When reviewing costs for the programs, review the financing information found on our website.  CSB+SJU provides several resources to help families plan for the financial obligations of study abroad. We encourage your family to plan early.
  • Pre-departure resource, please access the Pre-DepartureCanvas course which covers the major policies and practices, along with helpful resources, for studying abroad with CSB+SJU. Many of your questions may be answered in this course.
  • Review safety and health information. Help create a management plan for any mental or physical health conditions. Re-visit the conversation on responsible use of alcohol and dangers of drug use abroad.   
  • Help your student develop a money management plan. Review the provided program budget with your student. Talk through developing a weekly or monthly budget, and help them forecast expenses for food, experiences, and travel. Look up the exchange rate together and the cost of living in the host country.   
  • Create a communication plan. Prior to departure, it is important to establish a communication plan with your loved ones and discuss how frequently you will communicate and with what  methods will you use (Facetime, Whatsapp, email, etc.), frequency of communication, and use of social media. Remind your student not to post anything vague or alarming on social media that can cause concern until they make contact.   
  • Review the CSB+SJU Travel Insurance or program insurance information with your student. This may be the first time they have had to review and understand their coverage. Students are automatically enrolled; they simply need to print out their card.  

While on-site

  • Culture Shock. Support your student as they experience the range of emotions that comes with adapting to a new culture and remind them it is normal.  You may be their outlet during a particularly stressful time, or you may not hear from them for weeks because they are busy experiencing their host country. Both of these scenarios can be very challenging for family and friends back home.  If you think your student is experiencing something outside the norm, contact our office! You know your student best.  
  • Foster ownership for their experience. Parents often receive the first phone call during challenges or difficult times. Encourage your student to reach out to the proper resources for support and for help with resolving questions or concerns.   
  • Considering visiting. If you are, talk through the timing of your visit with your student. It is a wonderful opportunity for the entire family, but keep in mind that students are truly studying abroad, with required class hours and study time. Be sure to have your son or daughter talk to the program contacts to find the best time for you to visit. Select a time when he/she would not be otherwise engaged in program courses or excursions and activities. We suggest you consider visiting during a program break or before or after the program. During finals may include extra program activities or academic requirements.  If you do visit at a time when they are expected to be in class, please understand that your student won't be able to devote their entire time to family activities. Visits from family and friends are not reasons for excused absences. 
  • Send a care package. Sometimes seeing your parent’s handwriting is the best!   

Re-entry

  • Listen to all the stories that your student will have about their time abroad.  We encourage you to support your loved ones as they process all that they experienced during their time abroad.
  • Students returning home from a study abroad program will sometimes experience difficulty in readjusting back to life in the US (we call this reverse culture shock). The Center for Global Education, along with faculty directors, will meet with students upon return and serve as a resource for the return adjustment process. If you notice your son or daughter particularly struggling with reverse culture shock, please do not hesitate to have your son or daughter to reach out to Counseling services. 
  • Have your student visit XPD office on campus to translate their study abroad experience on their resume and at future job/internship interviews.