BestSemester Update Spring 2009
In this issue: Spring 2009 Enrollment, Application Deadlines, BestSemester Fees 2009-2010, Revised Withdrawal/Refund Policy, QuickFiles, NAFSA Reception 2009, SAPC Update, Pending Curriculum Updates, New BestSemester.com, Program Visits to BestSemester Sites, CCCU International Forum 2010, and Keep Us Posted...
Spring 2009 Enrollment
All eleven spring 2009 BestSemester programs are now underway. We have a record spring enrollment of 363 students from 78 different campuses. Of these 78 campuses, 76 are CCCU member or affiliate schools. Added to the fall 2008 semester, we have a total year enrollment of 727 students sent by 97 different CCCU campuses. We appreciate your support, which made this enrollment possible!
Application Deadlines
With the fall 2009 semester quickly approaching, we have passed the early application deadline of February 2nd and are now working toward the regular application deadline on April 1st. The application deadline for the Oxford Summer Programme has been extended to March 18th.
Spring 2010 online applications are now posted and available for students. The early spring 2010 application deadline is May 1, 2009 and the regular application deadline is October 1, 2009.
For every deadline, acceptance notices are sent electronically 17 days after the deadline.
BestSemester Fees 2009-2010
BestSemester 09-10 fees are now posted at www.bestsemester.com/fees. Please contact us for any questions concerning proposed semester fees.
For a breakdown of individual programs' costs, click on the "Admissions" tab of each program's website. The left sidebar will include a link containing billing processes and fees for the upcoming semester or year. For easy access, each program's cost page has a quick link in the formula of www.bestsemester.com/program acronym+fees. (E.g., www.bestsemester.com/aspfees; www.bestsemester.com/ssofees, etc.)
Revised Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Our withdrawal/refund policy has changed and will be effective for the fall 2009 semester. As our policy stands currently, students lose their confirmation fee of $300 and any unrecoverable expense if withdrawal occurs after confirmation. The change, in brief, will pro-rate the total program fee based on the date of withdrawal. Below is our complete new withdrawal and refund policy. You can also find it on our website at www.bestsemester.com/withdraw. Accepted students acknowledge the refund/withdraw policy as part of their confirmation process.
After students are confirmed to participate on a BestSemester program, they must notify the CCCU's Student Programs Office if they decide to withdraw from the program. Notifications must be in writing or by email. Depending on the date of notification, the following withdrawal/refund policies will be followed.
Students who are accepted into a semester program, confirm their participation with the nonrefundable deposit, and withdraw more than 30 days before the posted start date for the program (or optional flight scheduled departure) are responsible for paying all unrecoverable expenses not covered by the deposit, plus any nonrefundable travel costs (if optional travel was selected).
Students who are accepted into a semester program, confirm their participation with the nonrefundable deposit, and withdraw within 30 days of the posted start date (or optional flight scheduled departure) are responsible for paying 25% of the total program fee (instructional fee and room and board) plus the optional travel cost (if selected).
Students who withdraw or are dismissed from a semester program after the program begins may be eligible for a partial refund of the instructional fee. Room and board fees will not be refunded. Withdrawal/dismissals within the first three weeks of the program are eligible for a 50% refund of the instructional fee; from four to eight weeks, 25% of the instructional fee will be refunded; and after eight weeks, none of the instructional fee will be refunded. All refunds and withdrawal fees are calculated from the date a written statement of withdrawal or dismissal is received by the Vice President for Student Programs.
QuickFiles
2008-09 QuickFiles are available for download at www.bestsemester.com/quickfile. QuickFile PDFs for specific programs can also be found on each program's Overview web page. Please feel free to download and print at your convenience. If you would like additional hard copies, please email your request to info@bestsemester.com.
NAFSA Reception May 2009
The NAFSA annual conference is in Los Angeles in May this year. If you'll be attending NAFSA or will be in the LA area, please save the evening of Thursday, May 28, 2009 for a CCCU/BestSemester hosted reception at the offices of the Los Angeles Film Studies Center.
If you or your colleagues plan to be in Los Angeles at this time and would like to come to the CCCU/BestSemester hosted reception, please send an email to info@bestsemester.com in order for us to gauge campus interest in this event (this is not a formal RSVP).
SAPC Update
Current Student Academic Programs Commission (SAPC) members are:
- Dr. Carol Taylor (Chair), Provost, Vanguard University of Southern California;
- Dr. Robin Baker, President, George Fox University;
- Dr. Robert Herron, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Waynesburg University;
- Dr. Mark Sargent, Provost, Gordon College;
- Dr. Brock Schroeder, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing, Malone University; and
- Dr. Kathleen Storm, Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students, Whitworth University
The Student Academic Programs Commission (SAPC) reviewed the Washington Journalism Center (WJC) at the end of February. Watch for a WJC SAPC report to be sent out later this spring. For copies of the latest review of any program, please email info@bestsemester.com.
Future SAPC reviews are scheduled as follows:
- Fall 2009: CMC
- Summer 2010: OSP
- Fall 2010: LASP
- Spring 2011: MESP
- Fall 2011: ASP
Pending Curriculum Updates
At a SAPC business meeting later this month, SAPC is reviewing the following curriculum items.
Pending SAPC approval, the following Uganda Studies Program curriculum changes will take effect for the fall 2009 semester:
Cross Cultural Immersion/Missions Practicum
(to replace Introduction to Christian Mission and Contemporary Missiology)
Two new electives:
Uganda Studies Emphasis Practicum
Social Work Practicum (available to Uganda Studies Emphasis students only)
Syllabi for these proposed courses can be found at www.bestsemester.com/usp/academics/.
Pending SAPC approval, the following Russian Studies Program curriculum changes will take effect for the fall 2009 semester:
RSP will no longer offer International Relations and Business (2 credits)
Russian Literature and History (to replace Russian Peoples, Culture & Literature)
Announcements regarding BestSemester course offerings and any other SAPC business will follow the March 2009 SAPC business meeting.
New BestSemester.com
Have you noticed the new BestSemester.com? On February 25, 2009 bestsemester.com got a face lift. Among the improvements is the ability to search for programs in one of four ways:
- by program name
- by location
- by topic of interest
- by student's major
Visit the new homepage at www.bestsemester.com!
Please note that former bookmarks may need updating. Here are the links directly to each program:
| Australia Studies Centre: http://www.bestsemester.com/asc/ |
Middle East Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/mesp/ |
| American Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/asp/ |
Oxford Summer Programme: http://www.bestsemester.com/osp/ |
| Contemporary Music Center: http://www.bestsemester.com/cmc/ |
Russian Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/rsp/ |
| China Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/csp/ |
Scholars' Semester in Oxford: http://www.bestsemester.com/sso/ |
| Los Angles Film Studies Center: http://www.bestsemester.com/lafsc/ |
Uganda Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/usp/ |
| Latin American Studies Program: http://www.bestsemester.com/lasp/ |
Washington Journalism Center: http://www.bestsemester.com/wjc/ |
Program Visits to BestSemester Sites
On February 25-27, the American Studies Program hosted its annual spring program visit and welcomed six faculty members from our CCCU institutions. During their three days in Washington, DC, these faculty guests were able to catch a glimpse of what CCCU students experience on the American Studies Program. They were also able to observe class sessions, visit student internship sites, and participate in briefings with people who are making a difference in the nation's capital. Please consider joining us for an ASP program visit next spring!
Another group of CCCU faculty and staff will join us for a professional development study tour to Costa Rica and Nicaragua on August 1-12. Hosted by the Latin American Studies Program, this study tour will give participants a first-hand encounter with various segments of Latin American society and culture. During conference sessions, participants will have the opportunity to engage local perspectives on the political, economic, social and religious realities of Latin America. For information about future CCCU study tours, please visit www.bestsemester.com/studytours.
CCCU International Forum 2010
The CCCU will hold its fourth International Forum on Christian Higher Education February 24-26, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Ga. The 2010 International Forum theme will be Critical Breakthroughs. Please visit www.cccu.org/forum2010 for more Forum details, as well as the Call for Presentations (due April 15, 2009). It would be wonderful to see off-campus study programs represented in the program. Hope to see you in Atlanta!
Keep Us Posted...
We need your help to make sure personnel on your campus always receive relevant BestSemester communication and materials.
Please keep us informed of any changes in how we should stay connected to your campus, including:
- The Primary Campus Contact for all BestSemester programs
- A Secondary Campus Contact, if applicable, for all BestSemester programs
- Assistant to the Campus Contact, if applicable
- Faculty, Staff, Administrators interested in receiving updates and materials for individual programs
- BestSemester Invoice Receivers
Phone or email updates to: 202.546.8713 or info@bestsemester.com.
