Education Abroad

Information for Parents

Welcome! This page is dedicated to providing useful links for parents and other persons who are in support of their loved ones studying abroad. We recognize the concerns that you may have, and welcome you to contact us if you have questions not addressed on this website, or if you would like to discuss these issues further. Please contact us if you would like to suggest the addition of a link that you have found particularly helpful.

You can view an online copy of the Orientation Packet that each student receives before traveling in our forms section. This packet covers material from money matters to culture shock, and is recommended for parents as well.

Before your student goes abroad, we suggest that you discuss the following topics:

Finances : Access to money while abroad, budget, tuition payments, loan papers, credit cards, local currency.
Health : Medications needed while abroad, special medical conditions, health insurance while overseas.
Contact Information for : Site Director or Host Institution, UK Office of International Affairs, your student's residence abroad, closest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Travel Itineraries : Copies of itineraries, passports, International Student Identity Card, and travel contact information.

FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 , protects the privacy of student's education records. As a general rule the University of Kentucky will not release a student's education records to a third party (including parents) without written consent of the student. This includes tuition account information.

What does this mean for my child who is studying abroad? This means that he or she needs to sign the UK Emergency and Insurance Form granting permission for the Office of International Affairs to release information about their study abroad program, tuition, foreign address, and other academic information. The Office of International Affairs will not be able to discuss your student's study abroad program with you unless he or she has signed the release. For more information about UK 's policies regarding FERPA, see http://www.uky.edu/Registrar/ferpa.html

SAFETY & HEALTH LINKS

US State Department: This is an imperative site to monitor for travel warnings, tips for international travel, and safety tips. http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/
- Alternatives to the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories - Get a second or third opinion!
- British Foreign and Commonwealth Office - http://www.fco.gov.uk/
- Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
The Center for Disease Control: This site offers advice for staying healthy in different regions of the world including immunization requirements, when it is safe to drink the water, and how to avoid food-borne illnesses.
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
The Center for Global Education: This site offers a comprehensive safety manual for students abroad, including advice for parents. http://www.lmu.edu/globaled/studentsabroad/adviceforparents.html