Global Education
Dean of Global Education and Assistant Professor: Nick Gozik
Assistant Dean of Global Education and Professor: Mark Kurt
Executive Director of Global Programming: Allegra Laing
The Isabella Cannon Global Education Center (GEC) is a hub for global activity at Elon, providing services for international students and scholars and for all students interested in Elon’s many study away programs, both abroad and within the United States. Through this activity, the GEC supports Elon’s goal to graduate students prepared to be effective in a complex and interconnected world. The GEC comprises three main areas: International Student and Scholar Services, Study Abroad, and Study USA. Additionally, the GEC oversees the Global (GBL) curriculum.
Through its study away programs, the GEC provides Elon students with opportunities to study, conduct research, engage in service learning or intern abroad or for Study USA during Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer terms. Details of the programs can be found at the GEC website.
During Winter Term, Elon offers a wide variety of faculty-led study abroad and Study USA programs. These begin with a 1-semester hour prerequisite preparatory seminar course in the Fall semester, followed by the 4-semester hour program which travels in January.
Elon operates its own study abroad semester programs in London, England; Dunedin, New Zealand and Florence, Italy. An Elon faculty member serves as Faculty-in-Residence for these programs. Local faculty teach additional courses.
Students who study abroad on the many affiliate or exchange semester programs receive Elon credit, pay through Elon, maintain the same financial aid and scholarships available to them on campus, satisfy one to two units of their Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) , and have the support of the Elon campus. The GEC has vetted and approved these programs based on safety, level of support, academic rigor, and fit with the Elon University curriculum and philosophy.
Students may petition to study in a program that is not affiliated with Elon. Students on non-Elon programs are not enrolled at Elon, pay directly to the institution abroad, and do not receive institutional scholarship money. The Registrar’s Office reviews the credits for transfer. See below for more details related to these programs.
Any student applying to participate in a study abroad program must be enrolled full-time at Elon for the semester which precedes the off-campus term. This policy applies to all programs, including Elon-administered programs, affiliated programs, exchange programs, and non-Elon programs.
Study USA includes short term, summer, and semester credit-bearing programs at locations across the United States. Signature programs are located in Charlotte, NC, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. Students enrolled in these off-site programs receive Elon credit, pay Elon directly, maintain financial aid and scholarships, and satisfy one or two units of the Experiential Learning Requirement.
For all GEC programs, courses may not be taken pass/fail or audited. Students on Disciplinary Probation may not be eligible to study away.
Non-Elon Global Engagement (Study Abroad or Study USA) Program Policies
The GEC requires students to attend Elon-vetted programs unless there is a compelling academic reason to attend a program not reviewed and approved by Elon. The GEC has assessed the academic components as well as student life and student support services on each of these programs and works closely with the program coordinators.
Definition of non-Elon Study Abroad/Study USA Program
A non-Elon program is one that is not affiliated with Elon University through an agreement. Elon will approve study away at such a non-Elon program if there is a compelling academic reason. If offered through a U.S. college or university, the institution must be regionally accredited. If offered through an institution in another country, the institution must be recognized by the ministry of education or other accrediting bodies. Contact the GEC for petition submission deadlines and procedures.
Once a petition has been approved, students will be directed to complete the Transfer Request process.
Enrollment Status
A student is not considered an Elon student while participating in a non-Elon program. However, if a student’s petition is approved prior to the non-Elon experience, the student will not need to reapply to Elon upon return. A student’s @elon.edu email address remains active during the term abroad on a non-Elon program. Students who are approved to participate in a non-Elon program should NOT withdraw from Elon; the GEC will notify relevant offices of students’ participation in the non-Elon programs.
Cost
Elon will charge a non-refundable $1,000 administrative fee for all non-Elon semester and year global engagement programs once the petition has been approved. Program costs are paid directly to the non-Elon program and are set by the program provider.
Transfer Credit (Study Abroad and Study USA)
Students who follow the proper procedure and complete the course approval process before enrolling in a non-Elon program may receive transfer credit. Transfer credit is not guaranteed and is granted on a course-by-course basis to be decided by the Registrar’s Office in consultation with academic department chairs as appropriate. Courses with a grade of “C” or better are transferred and the hours earned transfer as well as the course itself. Grades do not transfer and the GPA is not affected. Semester-hour credit transfer the same as awarded by the host institution (e.g., 3 hrs. for 3 hrs.). Students should keep all materials related to coursework abroad: syllabi, course descriptions, class notes, papers, and exams.