Yikes! I’m Far Away
Students returning from study abroad programs tell us about their wonderful adventures and also some of their concerns. It can be difficult and frustrating for students studying abroad to take care of financial aid checks, registering for classes, student account issues, graduation planning, schedule changes, and so on.
The Wang Center staff will do our best to assist you with any questions and problems that arise when you are abroad. If you need assistance contact us right away. Unless it is an emergency, e-mail is the best form of communication when you're studying off-campus.
Presented below is some helpful information on topics that may arise while you’re away. You may use the navigation on the left to of this page to explore additional information about your time away including health and safety, class registration, PLU housing, graduation, and voting.
PLU Catalog. The catalog is available on PLU's website. You will find that the online catalog will be helpful when selecting your courses for your return, to check on major and minor requirements, and also as a guide for selecting program courses abroad.
Junior Review. The junior review process is required for all students with junior standing. If you need to complete the review process, please contact Academic Advising at advising@plu.edu.
Financial Aid Awards. The Student Services Center and the Financial Aid office work together to assist students with the disbursement of their financial aid checks. Mailing checks abroad to students for endorsements is "risky business" for all concerned. Before you leave the country, be sure to take these appropriate measures:
Stafford Loan, Supplemental Loan and any state grants (e.g. Washington Scholar, Washington State Needs Grant, Alaska Student Loan, etc): You must sign a Power of Attorney form and leave it with the Wang Center, which will share it with Student Services.
Perkins Loan: Sign a Promissory Note and leave it with Student Services.
Student Status While Abroad. All students participating in PLU sponsored programs are registered under a special course identifier for study abroad students and appear in the Banner computer system as full-time students carrying 16 semester credits. (You may be taking more or fewer credits in your particular program; however, the 16 credits remain listed until you return and your grade report is filed after receipt of your official transcript).
Grading Policy. Students participating on PLU study abroad programs receive letter grades for their coursework. Courses, credits and grades are recorded on the PLU transcript; however, study abroad grades will not be calculated into the cumulative PLU G.P.A. except if you are graduating with honors and if you are in the School of Business.
You may elect to use your pass/fail grading option for study abroad courses if that option is still available to you. Check your transcript to see if this option can be used. The exception to this grading policy is the calculation of grades for independent studies abroad and the PLU faculty led programs. Any independent study project arranged with PLU faculty will have grades recorded and calculated into the PLU G.P.A. (e.g. the science courses taught at Sichuan University, with examination grading done by PLU faculty, fall under this independent category). Those programs administered by PLU faculty, for instance the Trinidad and Tobago program, will have some grades computed for the courses evaluated by our faculty.
Remember, you are not taking your study away courses pass/fail. Letter grades are recorded and may be an important record for graduate school applications.
Student Accounts. Although The Wang Center staff does not get involved in your financial arrangements with the PLU Business Office, we can assist families with some questions or contact Student Services on your behalf. This may save time, long distance charges, and frustrations.
Overseas Address. After you have settled into your new home overseas, please notify our office of your address. We have the program site addresses and generally send correspondence to that address. However, if your home-stay or apartment address is the best for receiving information, please inform our office at wangctr@plu.edu. During the semester our office receives requests from fellow students and other offices for overseas addresses of students. If you have any objection to having us release your contact address overseas, please notify The Wang Center prior to your departure.
E-mail Address. As soon as you arrive at your study site, check to see if you can access the Internet. Using the Internet will be the most efficient way (in time and cost) to stay in touch with family, friends and offices at PLU. Your PLU e-mail account will remain active while you are abroad. If you have not activated your account, you should do so right away. The Wang Center will be frequently communicating with you via e-mail while you are studying abroad.
The Wang Center Phone Numbers. Reach us at 253-535-7577 or 253-535-8754.
Payment Plans. The deadline for choosing payment options is due in The Student Services Center within two weeks of receiving your offer of financial aid.