Travel Handbook

Student conduct

All students must respect and abide by the laws and customs of the host country, the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, and any rules and regulations for student conduct made or adopted by IU or its partners, including but not limited to local partner rules and regulations for student conduct designed to safeguard health, well-being and safety. This is applicable from the official program arrival date through the official program completion date.

By your signature on the Agreement and Release form, you have agreed:

• to respect the laws and customs of the host country, the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, and all other reasonable standards of conduct promulgated by IU, its agents and consortium partners.
• to participate fully in the academic program by attending classes. You have acknowledged that if the program staff, with the concurrence of the College Office of International Affairs, determines that your conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the program or of IU, your participation in the program may be terminated.

In criminal matters (which may be defined differently outside the U.S.) neither IU nor U.S. consular officials can intercede effectively on your behalf. In some countries, the burden of proof rests with the defense and not with the prosecution. The U.S. Embassy/Consulate cannot get you out of jail or represent you in a trial. It can only assist in notifying family and help connect you to resources in the event of arrest, hospitalization or other emergencies.

You are expected to be alert, on time and engaged during all program activities. You are receiving a grade for this experience, and failure to arrive on time and participate can result in a lower grade or in denial to participate in future excursions of the program. Showing up to any program activity hungover or drunk is inexcusable, and will result in disciplinary action and academic repercussions.

Alcohol and other drugs

The possession, use or distribution of any drugs that are considered by host country law to be illicit or illegal drugs or controlled substances is prohibited. Drugs can impair your judgment in situations that require increased awareness. In addition, penalties abroad for local drug law violations can be very severe. You will not be eligible for U.S. legal protection, and you will be held to the laws of the country where you are living.

Remember that your insurance policies may not cover you if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Students who choose to consume alcohol do so with the knowledge that they remain responsible for their actions at all times and are expected to drink responsibly. Although alcohol may be more accessible at your program site than in the U.S., if you drink alcohol at all, do so in moderation. Not only may inebriation be culturally offensive, but more importantly, it can impair your judgment in critical moments when you most need to be alert (e.g., finding your way home late at night, socializing with strangers, etc.).

Be smart, keep it classy, and don’t make yourself into a warning story for future students.