The Salamanca Program

• Eligibility
  Eligibility to participate in the program requires a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in at least 12 units of previous college level course work. Students not meeting this eligibility requirement may petition for consideration to participate through their campus study abroad office.

Contact Katie O'Brien
(562) 463-3223 or @ kobrien@riohondo.edu  for more info.

• Academics
  Classes are held at the Colegio Hispanico Miguel de Unamuno in Salamanca's university quarter. In the heart of the old city, the Colegio accommodates students from around the world. Students enroll in 12-14 units of college credit classes designed to enhance the study abroad experience and maximize the benefits of living and studying in Spain. Most classes meet general education requirements transferable for a bachelors degree. Courses taught by faculty from your home college or from other community colleges who are members of the Southern California Foothills Consortium. Instruction is complemented with cultural and social events and guided excursions. Students are encouraged to enroll in a Spanish course, but Spanish is not required. Follow this link for a listing of courses offered in Spring 2009 http://www.citruscollege.edu/apps/pubs.asp?Q=4&T=Courses%2C+Faculty%2C+Itinerary&P=225

• Program Cost
  Program cost: $6,395 based on a minimum 30 students
  Program fees cover: group transfers, accommodations and laundry service, meal plan (three meals a day/seven days a week), services of the AIFS representative in Salamanca, social and cultural activities and listed excursions, Spanish life and culture briefings and field trips, medical and fee refund insurance.
   

• Housing and Meals
  Students have two options.  The first is to live in Spanish homes. Not only do the students experience Spanish culture firsthand, but they have a special opportunity to practice Spanish daily. Accommodations are based on two students per room and include two meals a day for 5 days and laundry service. Single rooms are limited and optional and cost an additional $500.  The second option is to live in an fully furnished apartment.  These apartments come equipped for cooking, have twin or triple-bedded rooms, a lounge, a TV, a kitchen and a washing machine.  Single rooms may be available for an additional $460.

Excursions and Cultural Activities
Activities included in the program fee include:

Excursion to Lisbon, Portugal $465
Three-day/two-night optional excursion (in three- or four-star hotels in twin or triple-bedded rooms with private facilities) to Lisbon, Portugal. This excursion includes group transportation by private, deluxe air conditioned motor coach; daily breakfast and one group meal; sightseeing tour of Lisbon and entrances to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the services of a multi-lingual AIFS Tour Manager and professional local guide in Lisbon. The excursion is offered at a cost of $465 per student. A minimum enrollment of 25 students is required for this tour to operate. A deposit of $50 is required with the application.
 

Application and Registration
Students apply to participate by submitting an AIFS application and paying the deposit of $350 (add $50 if you'll be going on the optional tour of Portugal.)

 Paying the AIFS deposit does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Applications are reviewed for academic eligibility, and students will be notified by mail if they do not meet requirements. If a student is deemed ineligible for academic reasons, the deposit will be returned.

Registration materials are mailed to applicants after their AIFS application has been accepted. Enrollment for 12 units of credit is mandatory. Registration fees are paid at the student orientation prior to departure.

Follow this link to review an "Important Timeline for Spring 2009 Study Abroad Students" http://citruscollege.edu/Projects/225/Steps-to-take.pdf.

For an application or additional information, please contact Katie O'Brien, the Study Abroad Coordinator,  at (562) 463-3223 or at kobrien@riohondo.edu .

Financial Aid
Grants, loans and academic scholarships are available if you qualify. It is important to note that if you will be seeking financial aid, you must apply through Citrus College.  Follow this link to being this process immediately http://www.citruscollege.edu/Projects/225/spain-finaid-factsheet.pdf .  Please note that the Cal Grant deadline for Spring 2009 is September 2nd, and if you are already receiving a Cal Grant you must inform CSAC of the change in schools. 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange to have documentation sent from the financial aid or lending institution stating the amount of the award and the date it will be disbursed. AIFS provides applications with an AIFS financial aid form. This form must be completed and returned to Patty Cardenas, AIFS, River Plaza, 9 West Broad St., Stamford, CT  06902-3788  on or before the payment deadline.

Applicants notified that they will NOT be awarded aid (full or partial) and, therefore, are unable to participate in the program must send notification, including verification of the denial, 45 days before the scheduled departure date. Requests for refunds must be made in accordance with AIFS refund policy.

Medical Insurance
AIFS provides each student with a group insurance policy issued by Virginia Surety Company, Inc. The policy provides two distinct types of coverage:

• Before the program begins, AIFS will refund fees paid by students who are unable to participate in the program because of covered injury or illness or quarantine in area of travel. However, a fee is retained from the fees paid which includes a $65 processing fee, the $35 non-refundable application fee and any non-refundable tour deposits.

• Once the program has begun, the plan covers the cost of medical treatment abroad - up to a maximum of $10,000 per sickness or accident and with a daily hospital charge limit of $300 per day. There is a $50 deductible for each accident or illness.

These two categories of insurance are mutually exclusive -- the policy does not cover medical expenses before the program begins, nor does it refund any portion of the AIFS program fees once the program has begun.

The insurance also covers return air fare if a student is unable to complete the program due to a covered accident or illness or quarantine in a travel area. It offers 24-hour travel assistance in case of emergency, legal assistance, medical transportation and emergency cash transfer in case of theft or loss. Details of the coverage are provided to students with their final invoice for payment of the balance of program fees. Your campus coordinator also has information about insurance and claims.

AIFS Refund Policy
If a student's application is not accepted by AIFS, a refund of all payments is made. If a student withdraws before December 8th, full refund will be made less a $150 processing fee and any non-refundable tour deposits. Notification of withdrawal must be made in writing to Patty Cardenas, AIFS, River Plaza, 9 West Broad St., Stamford, CT  06902-3788  on or before December 8th.

If a student is forced to withdraw from the program because of medical reasons after final fees have been paid, but before departure to Spain, full refund of all payments will be made, less the $150 processing fee, any non-refundable tour deposit, through the Fees Refund and Medical Insurance Policy, which requires proof of medical reasons.

Students withdrawing voluntarily for any reason less than 10 days prior to departure, or withdrawing because of medical reasons not protected under the fees refund policy, receive no refund of fees paid unless they are able to provide a qualified replacement. In this case, they receive a full refund of all payments less a $100 processing fee and any non-refundable tour deposits. Once the program has started, students withdrawing receive no refund under and circumstances. Please note: AIFS cannot accept verbal notification of cancellations or substitutions.

The following policy applies, using the postmark date of a student's withdrawal letter, as the official withdrawal date. If a student withdraws more than 45 days prior to departure, he/she receives all fees less $200. If withdrawal is 10 to 44 days prior to departure, he/she receives all fees less $400.

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