China 2017 Global Immersion Program Standards and Procedures INTRODUCTION Wharton Global Immersion Programs (GIPs) are elective, half credit courses designed to provide a high-level survey of the economic, cultural and geo-political drivers behind regions integral to the global economy. GIPs are designed with a focus on the student and include opportunities for participant input in shaping the experience. They are recognized as unique opportunities, providing students with exclusive access to high-level business, cultural and political leaders. Since its inception in 1993, more than 2,100 Wharton MBA students have participated in the GIP. Many have returned saying it was one of the highlights of their Wharton careers. PROGRAM STRUCTURE The Global Immersion Program consists of three main components: 1) academic study; 2) immersion experience; and 3) reflective learning, including a capstone paper due after the travel immersion. As a credit-bearing course, students are evaluated on attendance and participation as well as the quality and completion of written work. Grades will be given on a pass/fail basis. FEE INFORMATION Students tuition covers the academic costs associated with the GIP. An additional program fee is assessed to cover travel-related expenses. All students must pay the program fee prior to departing for the immersion experience. Assuming a minimum of 20 participants, the additional program fee is $1,800. The program has a maximum enrollment of 35 students. Faculty, Directors, and Coordinators are not included in this maximum. This fee includes: Intra-Trip travel * o Travel (including airfare when necessary) between cities in the GIP itinerary o Group transportation to included activities and organizational visits Overnight accommodations Activities and excursions as noted in the itinerary (not excursions denoted Optional ) Breakfast Opening and Closing Receptions Some staff and student coordinator travel Internet access throughout the program Related Fees (interpreters, guides, etc.) Tips for guides, drivers & interpreters arranged for by the program Travel Agent services The fee does not include: Inter-program airfare (travel to and from the region) * Meals & beverages (except breakfasts and opening and closing receptions) * See Travel Policy & Logistics section for more detail
Travel insurance Travel documents (passports, visas, photos, etc.) Health insurance & immunizations Personal phone, fax, & laundry Individual recreation, optional tours, and/or side trips All other services not enumerated in this document The GIP fee will be billed directly through Student Financial Services (SFS) and will appear on students University bills. This charge will appear on your student bill by Friday, January 20, 2017. Students are expected to plan their finances accordingly. Payment is required from students registered for the GIP. All GIP program fees must be paid prior to departure on the study tour. It is the participant s responsibility to ensure that his/her payment has been applied to the GIP program fee. Participants with outstanding fees at the time of departure will not be permitted to travel with the GIP or participate in the program. Questions regarding billing may be addressed to the Student Accounts Office at 215.898.4212 Loans Student loans may be available to those enrolled in the Global Immersion Program (GIP). Loan Funding may be applied to cover the cost of the GIP fee, the estimated cost of international travel and $500 per two weeks of travel for personal expenses. Student loans are possible only if the GIP is required for graduation. Second years who have earned 19cu prior to completion of the GIP are not eligible for student loans. Students borrowing funds are strongly encouraged to submit your loan applications early, as disbursal may take 4-6 weeks. For more information, contact the Wharton Financial Aid Office in Vance Hall (215.898.8728; mba.finaid@wharton.upenn.edu). TRAVEL POLICY & LOGISTICS Travel to and from the GIP: Inter-program travel refers to travel to the first program location and, at the conclusion of the immersion experience, return from the last program location. Participants are responsible for making and paying for their own travel arrangements for inter-program travel. Participants must be present for the entire program and thus, should not make plans for travel that delays arrival or calls for departure prior to the conclusion of the program. Travel between Program Cites: Intra-trip travel refers to travel between program locations. This includes airline tickets and ground transportation. Intra-trip travel ticketing and tipping costs are covered by the program fee. Participants are required to travel as part of the group between program locations in an effort to ensure the integrity and security of the program. Additional costs that may be incurred by the participant with regard to intra-trip travel include but are not limited to costs associated with visa processing, taxes, and additional baggage fees. Accommodations Overnight accommodations will differ between locations. Previous groups have stayed at a combination of moderately priced hotels and corporate training facilities and efforts will be made to make similar arrangements. GIP participants are required to stay at the group accommodations. No reductions in the program fee and/or partial refunds can be made for individual, unscheduled intra-trip travel that results in a participant s room being unoccupied.
Single occupancy, if available, will incur additional cost. Single occupancy requests must be made in advance of the roommate selection deadline. Meals Participants are responsible for paying for their own meals with the exception of breakfasts which are included as part of each hotel s package and opening and closing receptions organized by the planning team. Passport: A valid passport is necessary for international travel. Passports should be obtained as far in advance of the study tour as possible to allow for processing. Participants who require assistance obtaining a passport may contact the GIP administration. For more information on passports, U.S. citizens may visit the U.S. Department of State website - travel.state.gov/passport. Non-U.S. citizens may find helpful the services offered by Travel Document Systems (TDS) 1 - www.traveldocs.com. Visas: Advance entry visas may be necessary depending on the country to be visited and a participant s citizenship. Visa fees are not included in the program cost. It is essential that participants meet all deadlines pertaining to visa applications. GIP administration strongly recommends that participants begin the visa application process as soon as they return for Q3. Aside from providing appropriate sponsorship letters, the MBA Program Office is unable to provide visa processing support. Select travel providers offer assistance with regard to visa processing contact GIP administration for more information. Students have also received visa processing assistance through the following organizations: CIBT * - us.cibt.com TDS * - www.traveldocs.com Travisa * - www.travisa.com Please note that the MBA Program does not have a relationship with these vendors. They are merely options students have used in the past for various programs. The visa needs for each program varies so please be sure to do your research before moving forward with any third party vendor. Insurance Registered participants must show proof of current health insurance coverage before departure. NOTE: Student health insurance offered by the University of Pennsylvania may not be accepted as valid payment for medical services in many GIP destinations. Participants with UPENN s student health insurance who avail themselves of medical services while travelling abroad will be expected to pay upfront for services rendered and submit a reimbursement claim after services have been rendered. Although not included in the GIP program fee, travel insurance is highly recommended in the event of any personal emergency that may necessitate a change in plans. The university contracts with International SOS to provide students, faculty, and administrators with worldwide access to emergency international medical, security and travel assistance (i.e.- referrals to medical clinics/hospitals). Side Trips Personal excursions during the immersion experience are conducted at the participant's risk and must be reported to the Program Director prior to departure. No reductions in fare and/or partial refunds can be granted to participants 1 The Wharton School is not affiliated with this resource.
who deviate from the itinerary or depart prematurely. No excuses will be granted for missing course-related material during the immersion experience as a result of delays brought about by personal excursions. REGISTRATION AND BILLING Registration for this course takes place outside of Course Match via a lottery. To register for the lottery, please submit your details via the Qualtrics survey. Students may withdraw their forms from the lottery any time before 5:00pm on January 11. After 5:00pm on January 11 a lottery will be conducted. All students who win seats in the lottery will immediately be enrolled in the course and held financially responsible for 50% of the program fee billed to the student bursar bill. This charge is non-refundable. Students will receive notification of their enrollment status by 7:00pm on January 12. Waitlist Students on GIP wait lists will not incur a financial obligation unless they accept a seat, at which time the GIP program fee will be billed directly through SFS. CANCELLATIONS The Wharton School reserves the right to cancel any immersion program for any reason prior to the date of departure. In such cases, the Wharton School will not assume the cost of individual travel arrangements made by participants. For this reason, it is highly recommended that travel insurance be purchased. If the Wharton School cancels any immersion program for any reason before the date of departure, all monies received for the program fee will be refunded to program participants. If a student wishes to withdraw his/her registration forms from the lottery before 5:00pm on January 11, 2017 there is no financial penalty. By executing and submitting the registration form by 5:00pm on January 11, 2017, the student agrees that if awarded a seat in the lottery, hence securing his/her space on the program, he/she is liable for 50% of the program fee. This portion of the fee is non-refundable. If the participant cancels after 5:00pm on January 11, 2017 and another student is able to commit (add course via Spike, sign and submit waiver forms) to taking her/his place by 4:00pm on January 30, 2017, the participant cancelling will not be charged for the program and the newly enrolled participant will assume the costs and expectations as outlined in the registration packet. Replacements are only permitted through January 30, 2017, not after. If the participant cancels after 5pm on January 11, 2017 but before 4pm on January 30, 2017, and has not found a replacement, she/he will receive a 50% refund if the program fee has already been paid. If the fee has not been paid the charge to the participant s account will be adjusted down by 50%. In these circumstances, the participant will be responsible for 50% of the program fee regardless of whether or not the bill has been paid at the time of cancellation. If a participant cancels after January 30, 2017, the entire program fee is owed and/or forfeited.
For persons who depart early due to medical or bereavement reasons, there is no guarantee of a refund but every effort will be made to recover all remaining accommodation and travel expenses. NOTE: Circumstances surrounding the potential of said refund may not be known until after the program s conclusion. GROUP EXPECTATIONS The Global Immersion Program is intended to be a comprehensive learning experience. Sessions prior to departure and during the immersion experience are designed to fulfill the academic requirements of the course while introducing students to regional culture and accounting for the safety and expectations of the program s participants. During the immersion experience, except in the case of family crisis or medical emergency, students are required to participate in the entirety of the planned program. Potential participants who cannot commit to the entirety of the immersion experience and/or on-campus sessions should not register. Traveling with a large group over several weeks demands a keen understanding of group dynamics. Special care should be given to balancing the demands of the individual and the needs of the group. This is especially pertinent when traveling in an unfamiliar environment. Participants willingness to participate constructively in group discussions/decisions enhances the quality of the program. Students who choose not participate or have a strongly negative or subversive influence on the group s dynamic may be asked to leave the group in which case they would forfeit the program fee and fail the course. The Wharton School, through its authorized representatives, reserves the right to expel from any immersion program participants whose conduct is detrimental or dangerous to the group or the good name of the Wharton School. Any cancellation fees or additional costs incurred by a participant as a result of expulsion are the responsibility of the participant. No refunds or program fee reductions will be made and the participant will receive a failing grade (F) for the course. FURTHER INFORMATION If you have any questions about the Global Immersion Program, please stop by the MBA Program Office in 300 JMHH or contact: Amy Miller Christine Sweeney Director, Global Immersion Program Coordinator, Global Immersion Program E-mail: amymill@wharton.upenn.edu E-mail: sweeneyc@wharton.upenn.edu Phone: 215.573.9336 Phone: 215.898.5623