Can I Study at Other Programs?

The short answer is Yes! But with some qualifications:
Gordon College reserves the right to deny approval for student study that the dean of Global Education judges to be of inferior academic quality, or for which there are concerns for student safety. Petition programs must have a direct link to the student's academic program. For this reason, students must first fill out an online seat application (link available to Gordon students only), and at the same time file a formal petition with the Global Education Office (you can download the petition form to the right). The deadline for filing both the seat application and the petition is March 15 for Fall semester programs and September 30 for Spring semester programs.  

Please Note: All students accepted to petition/non-approved programs as well as PIKE, IA, and Foreign Language majors will pay Gordon College tuition and fees. This will be applied to the cost of the program and round trip airfare (limit for airfare dependent upon location of program). If costs of the program and/or airfare exceed Gordon tuition and fees, students will be billed for the difference. All Gordon scholarships are applied to the cost of the program.

As with approved and Gordon programs, Gordon College will continue as the financial aid recipient for all federal and state aid for the student and for any loans negotiated by the student or the parent. Students should speak with their Gordon financial aid advisor early in the process.

There are literally thousands of study abroad programs available for consideration. Please stop by the Global Education Office (Jenks 426) and speak with a member of the staff to help narrow down the possible choices.

The staff will be concerned about the following aspects of any program chosen:

Transferability of credit from courses taken
Course credit must be granted from a recognized college or university, preferably from a US institutional connection, or accredited by US agencies. Major colleges or universities in other countries having the appropriate accreditation from their own internal systems will also be considered. Please be aware that the number of credits awarded by other national systems may vary from US standards and may need to be adjusted on the final transcript. This transferability should be worked out with the registrar well in advance of attendance.

Safety of the student
Programs located in areas of the world currently under State Department travel warnings will not normally be approved. Please check the State Department web page for current information on the country in question.

Accommodation
Students should be aware of what is covered in program costs and what is not covered. Housing, some meal plan, and transportation to and from the country are normally areas of concern. Please investigate these areas in searching for an appropriate program and in understanding actual costs.

Contribution to the student's experience and study
Study abroad should not be primarily concerned with location and experience. (Vacations are better for that—and less expensive!) The quality of the educational experience (which includes cultural experience and enrichment) should be paramount. Have an academic reason for your choice and discuss this reason fully with your academic advisor.