Program withdrawal  

After arrival

If you withdraw or are withdrawn from a program after you have arrived on site, please note the following policies and procedures.

VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWALS

If a student has arrived at the program site and decides to withdraw, he or she must begin by discussing the situation with the MSU personnel (faculty, resident director, foreign student adviser) on site.  The MSU personnel will notify OSA to determine whether a solution exists for the situation.  If, after consultation, the student still plans to withdraw from the program, he or she must submit a signed and dated statement of explanation to the on-site personnel.  This statement must indicate the student’s understanding that, effective the date indicated, he or she will no longer be considered a participant in the program or a student, and is therefore responsible and liable for his or her own behavior, insurance, transportation home, etc.   
  
A student may voluntarily withdraw from the University prior to the end of the twelfth week of a semester, or within the first 6/7 (86%) of the duration of the student's enrollment in a summer or special session (calculated in weekdays). Withdrawal after these dates is not permitted.

In addition to receiving a bill for the dropped credits associated with the withdrawal, there may be additional billing, particularly if a student has received federal financial aid funds intended to cover the entire semester educational costs.  Withdrawal up until the end of the first quarter of the semester of instruction will result in 100% billing of that semester's federal grant aid and Michigan Competitive Scholarship and may also result in a partial or complete billing of loan aid.  Withdrawal from any semester during the regular academic year may result in cancellation of a student’s financial aid award for the remainder of the academic year.
 
In case of official withdrawal from the University, tuition and fees and program fees are subject to refund according to the withdrawal and transfer policy previously cited under “Withdrawal and Transfer Policy”.

Upon official voluntary withdrawal from the University, symbols (grades) are assigned to courses in which the student was enrolled according to the effective date of the withdrawal as follows:

1. If withdrawal is before the middle of the semester or summer session, no symbols (grades) will be assigned to courses in which the student was enrolled.
2. If withdrawal is after the middle of the semester or summer session, symbols (grades) will be assigned by instructors to courses in which the student was enrolled as follows: W (no grade) to indicate passing or no basis for grade regardless of the grading system under which the student is enrolled, N to indicate failing in a course authorized for P-N grading, or 0.0 to indicate failing in a course authorized for numeric grading.

If a student cancels or withdraws from a program for any reason (voluntary or involuntary), he or she will be required to return any scholarship funds disbursed by the Office of Study Abroad.  If the program withdrawal is done after the award is disbursed, the student will be billed for the award amount.  This amount will be posted and due on the MSU student account.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Although you may consider yourself independent at home, when you are abroad you are part of a program and serve as a representative of MSU, Michigan, and the United States.  Your faculty leader may be aware of your personal life and be involved in most of your activities. The best way to avoid disciplinary action is to take responsibility for your own behavior and to also look out for your peers.  If every participant takes ownership and responsibility for the success of the whole program, situations resulting in disciplinary action can be largely avoided.

Conditions as stated in the Statement of Responsibility apply to all students. Additionally, Michigan State University's General Student Regulations apply to students in study abroad programs. These regulations may be found on the MSU Web page under Spartan Life.

Michigan State University expects study abroad participants to abide by the laws, regulations, and customs of the host country, community, institution and program.    There are certain areas under which the faculty leader, local resident director or designated MSU staff has the authority to dismiss a student from a study abroad program. Any behavior that endangers another person or property can result in immediate dismissal. The following behaviors are among those that may result in immediate dismissal from the program or temporary suspension pending a final resolution of the matter:

• conduct that violates Michigan State University’s General Student Regulations
• violation of the laws, rules and regulations, or customs of the host country, community, institution and program
• behavior that is disruptive and detrimental to the group learning process and academic success of the program
• conduct that damages or destroys property of another person, institution or organization
• behavior that gives the program director and the MSU Office of Study Abroad reasonable cause to believe that the continued presence of the student in the program constitutes a danger to the health or safety of themselves, persons or property or threatens the future viability of the program
• repeated offenses or severe infractions of the housing rules and regulations as established by the local facilities
• alcohol misuse (as defined previously under “Alcohol use and misuse”)
• physical or sexual assault
• harassment
• possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs
• setting a fire or possession of explosives
• possession of a weapon, including BB guns and knives
• theft
• repeated bad behavior for which the student has been warned in writing

If a student is alleged to have violated the MSU General Student Regulations or participated in these aforementioned behaviors while participating in an MSU study abroad program, he or she may be referred to the University Judicial System for a hearing upon his or her return to Michigan State University. Consequences for drug and alcohol violations may include, but are not limited to, some form of disciplinary probation, required attendance at educational programs, referral for assessment at educational programs, referral for assessment and treatment, and suspension from Michigan State University for sale of illegal drugs or repeated violations of the regulations.

Housing Infractions

In the event of serious infractions of housing regulations or behavior that negatively impacts the housing situation, MSU personnel, in consultation with the MSU Office of Study Abroad and local University faculty members or staff, will first provide students with an oral warning that the behavior is in violation of MSU or host institution/residence facility policies and must cease immediately.   Depending on the severity of the incident, a written warning may be provided instead.  It will outline consequences for repeated occurrences, such as expulsion from the housing facility or other consequences.

Repeated offenses or severe infractions of the housing rules and regulations as established by the local facilities may result in expulsion without notice from housing and expulsion from the study abroad program.  If a student is removed from housing but remains in the program, the student will be responsible for locating and paying for the alternative housing.  If alternative housing cannot be found, the student will be dismissed from the program and forfeit academic credit and any financial refund.
 
If a student is dismissed for disciplinary reasons during a semester, grades are assigned as described in the previous “Voluntary” section.

In the event of an infraction, which does not cause immediate danger and where there is an allegation of a violation of the laws, regulations, and customs of the host country, community, institution or program or a violation of the MSU General Student Regulations, the following steps, in order, will be taken:

1. The faculty member in-residence, or the on-site resident director, or the program assistant representing the Office of Study Abroad (referred to as the “leader”) will investigate the alleged violation using the resources available to him or her and have a frank discussion with the student of expectations and consequences.
2. The student will be informed, in writing, of the alleged violation and will be given an opportunity to respond in person and present any witnesses or ask questions of witnesses, if any, that the complainant has identified. The leader will immediately inform and consult with the Office of Study Abroad regarding the alleged violation and the process to be pursued in investigating it.
3. If the behavior continues, the student will be warned, in writing, of the expectations and consequences.
4. The leader may, with the concurrence of MSU’s Office of Study Abroad, temporarily suspend the student pending final resolution of the matter.
5. After the facts have been examined, the leader will, after consulting with and receiving authorization from the Office of Study Abroad, take appropriate action and inform the student in writing of the decision.
6. Depending on the severity of the case, one or more of the following should apply if the student is found guilty of the allegation:
   1. Letter of warning
   2. Probation with conditions for remaining on the program (i.e. a curfew or an agreement to no longer consume alcohol)
   3. Reassignment to another housing location, if available
   4. Written dismissal from the study abroad program (which automatically means dismissal from Michigan State University for that academic period)
   5. Report submitted to the Judicial Affairs Office to become part of the student’s record.
   6. Referral to the University Judicial System that may include a hearing upon return to MSU
   7. Other action deemed appropriate to the specific case
   8. Possible suspension from MSU and/or the host institution

UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE