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Regardless of whether you will be directly enrolling in a university abroad or studying at a center for U.S. students abroad or on a field-based program, you will likely find exciting new learning opportunities. And you will discover that academics, facilities and your lifestyle can be quite different during your study abroad experience than when you are in residence on the Whitman campus.

Academic Expectations

Academic expectations abroad are heavily influenced by the local educational system and culture and are often different from U.S. higher education practices.  Some typical differences include: 

• Syllabi may be less detailed and left up to the student to read about the subject independently.
• Instructors may prefer to lecture and be less inclined to foster class discussions.
• Assessment may be based on few assignments over the course of the semester with a large part of the grade determined by one final paper or one final exam in class.
• Attendance policies may be much stricter than at Whitman. 
• No flexibility for rescheduling exams.

If you are unsure about assignments or course expectations be sure to ask your instructors or your local program staff.

Drop/Add Abroad

Many study abroad programs and foreign universities have a very strict drop/add period that may be as short as a few days. Clarify the final date to drop/add and the process involved at your study abroad program immediately upon arrival abroad. If you fail to drop a course before the period expires and stop attending the course, you will likely receive a failing grade on your transcript. 

Final Examinations Abroad

At universities in other countries there is more likely to be a lengthy reading period prior to finals. You are expected to remain in your host country until the date of your last final. Whitman will not, for example, proctor make up examinations in Walla Walla for students who wish to return home early because they have booked a flight before their last final. Many foreign universities are much more strict about due dates of assignments and are usually unwilling to alter final examination schedules.

Grade Appeals

³Ô¹ÏÍø does not have the authority to change a grade that you received on your study abroad program. If you feel that you have a strong case as to why you should have received a different grade for a course abroad, then you should contact your study abroad program provider directly to inquire about the process to appeal a grade. Please inform Whitman’s Office of Global Studies about your grievance before you start the grade appeal process with your program.

Research Abroad (IRB)

If you plan to do any human subjects research while studying off-campus (including interviewing people in your host country) that you think might possibly be included in your senior thesis, presented at a conference (even the Whitman Undergraduate Conference), or published in any way, you must have approval from a federally-sanctioned IRB of your study abroad program, if one exists, or from Whitman’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) BEFORE the research begins. Due to federal laws protecting human subjects, any information you gather before getting IRB approval cannot be included in your thesis, conference presentations or publications.

There are three possibilities if your research involves human subjects as follows:

1. If your study abroad program has a federally-sanctioned IRB, you should follow their process and obtain approval before your research begins. After you obtain approval for your research from your program’s IRB, be sure to keep all documentation related to your IRB approval including the identifying project number, so that you can prove that you have gone through the process after you return to Whitman. If you are attending an SIT program, please note that all SIT programs have a local review board that fulfills IRB requirements.
2. If your program does not have a federally-sanctioned IRB in place and you wish to undertake human subjects research, you may still pursue the research but you will not be able to use your findings in your thesis, nor will you be permitted to publish it or present your work publically.
3. If your program does not have a federally-sanctioned IRB in place but you are working with a Whitman faculty member who is willing to serve as a mentor for your project, then you may apply to the Whitman IRB to request approval. To apply for Whitman IRB approval, please see the guidelines at whitman.edu/irb and submit your proposal directly to the IRB committee at irb@whitman.edu. If you have any questions about the specifics of the requirement, please contact William Bares, IRB Committee Chair.

Tips for completing the Whitman IRB Application:

• The IRB Form asks for a “Faculty Sponsor” and “Adviser Signature.” This must be a faculty member at Whitman. 
• If your primary supervisor for the research project is a non-Whitman instructor affiliated with your study abroad program, then please indicate your Whitman major adviser in that space and obtain their signature.
• Apply for Whitman IRB approval at least THREE WEEKS prior to when your research will begin in order to give the Whitman Committee enough time to review your proposal. 
• Keep in mind that the IRB Committee will not meet during Whitman breaks. 
• Proposals submitted less than two weeks prior to the commencement of your research will not be accepted.