Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Click on any of the following to skip to the answer. Underlined phrases are links to additional pages or documents.
Which CIC universities participate in the program?
Is there a Traveling Scholar Program (TSP) deadline?
How many semesters or terms can I be a Traveling Scholar?
Can I use TSP in the summer, too?
Do I have to pay the host institution for any other fees?
Can I use TSP in conjunction with the CIC FLEP grant?
Can I use TSP to participate on a CIC-sponsored study abroad program?
After I return from the host campus, how do my grades get transfered?
What are the Admissions steps?
Once I FINALIZE my online application, what happens then?
What if I am Rejected?
What if I want to Withdraw my application?
What do I do if the host campus does not publish its course listings before the 6-week deadline?
What is the CIC Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement for Graduate and Post Baccalaureate Professional Students?
What if I do not know my host faculty advisor?
1.
Which CIC universities participate in the program? All twelve CIC institutions participate in the program along with the University of Illinois - Chicago and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
2. Is there a Traveling Scholar Program (TSP) deadline? Yes, students are advised to apply at least six weeks prior to the start of the intended course at the host instituion.
3. How many semesters or terms can I be a Traveling Scholar? You are allowed up to two semesters or three quarters. The following three CIC institutions are on the quarter system: University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Ohio State University.
4. Can I use TSP in the summer, too? Yes many students use Traveling Scholar during the summer term(s).
5. Do I have to pay the host institution for any other fees? Yes, you will have to pay the same additional fees that the home campus students must pay i.e., health, library, recreational, housing etc. The host campus' Traveling Scholar Contact will inform you of what will be required.
6. Can I use TSP in conjunction with the CIC FLEP grant? Yes, that is allowed as the FLEP is meant to support your living expenses while studying a less commonly taught language during the summer at another participating CIC FLEP institution.
7. Can I use TSP to participate on a CIC-sponsored study abroad program? Yes, you may be able to apply as a Traveling Scholar on a CIC study abroad program but please keep in mind that this may not always be feasible as some CIC institutions waive tuition for study abroad programs. This means that there are only program fees for the study abroad program, thus making Traveling Scholar ineligible. Additionally, please note that most study abroad programs have deadlines that are 60-90 days before the program departs thus if you plan to apply for Traveling Scholar then you need to follow the deadline for the study abroad program and not the TSP deadline listed in Question #1. Also, please be aware that you will be required to pay the host campus for the various application fees and deposits when they are due. Moreover, the host Study Abroad Office may make payments and financial commitments on your behalf in the host country prior to departure, thus you will be held responsible for withdrawal and/or cancellations fees and other non-recoverable costs should you cancel before or during the program. Please contact the host campus' Study Abroad Office for exact details.
8. After I return from the host campus, how do my grades get transfered? The host campus' Traveling Scholar Contact will arrange for a grade sheet or transcript to be sent to your home campus' Traveling Scholar Contact who will make sure that your home transcript is updated with your TSP experience. Rest assure, all credit transfers (semester-to-quarter credit or vice versa) will be calculated by your home university's Registrar.
9. What are the Admissions steps? Please complete the short online application form. You will need to know the name and email address of your Faculty Advisor and Department Head as well as the general course description or name of the course you are interested in before you can FINALIZE your applicaiton. You are allowed to return to your application as many times as you like before you FINALIZE the application. Once your application is FINALIZED, it is now ready to begin the electronic approval process which is a six step process. Please inform your Faculty Advisor and Department Head that you have applied and prepare them that they should expect an email message from the CIC Traveling Scholar application database shortly (i.e., within minutes of your FINALIZED application) seeking their approval.
10. Once I FINALIZE my online application, what happens then? As you noticed when filling in the online form, you were asked for the names and email addresses of your Faculty Advisor and Department Head. The online application sends out emails to both of them for their approval. Four other electronic signatures are required before your application is fully approved and these will be procured on your behalf by your Home and Host Traveling Scholar Contact. Once all six electronic signatures are positively procured you will receive an email message from the Traveling Scholar database with your next steps.
11.What if I am Rejected? Sometimes, a rejection does occur. It usually is not a reflection of your academic standing but due to a campus operational issue. Such reasons range from: the course you are interested in is very popular and is over-subscribed by local students at the host campus or certain summer courses are operated within a 'summer institute' which is generally run with grant funds or on a cost recovery basis which means that they can not operate without receiving tuition from each participant. So in this case, the summer institute would be happy for you to apply directly to the summer institute as a full-paying student but not as a Traveling Scholar. Please do not get discouraged, you are more than welcome to apply at a later date or for another course at any time.
12. What if I want to Withdraw my application? At any time you may withdraw your application for whatever reason and you are more than welcome to re-apply at a later date. Please contact your Home Traveling Scholar Contact who will in turn withdraw your application or contact your Host Traveling Scholar Contact to do so.
13. What do I do if the host campus does not publish its course listings before the 6-week deadline? Please apply before the 6-week deadline and indicate in your application the general course description/name and department of the course you are interested in. Alternatively, you could contact the host department's Office Administrator who often knows of the anticipated course listings before they are actually published.
14. What is the CIC Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement for Graduate and Post Baccalaureate Professional Students? It is a CIC library borrowing privileges arrangement between the various CIC schools. As a Traveling Scholar, you will be eligible to receive library access per the CIC agreement. The details can be found at the above link or please speak to the Head of Circulation Department on your home campus.
15. What if I do not know my host faculty advisor? Please check with the host department for your host faculty advisor name and contact information. Please do not list a TA or GA contact information in this section of your application, as the host faculty advisor needs to be a faculty member. If a faculty member has not yet been assigned to your particular course, do not worry about including that in your online application, the Host Traveling Scholar Contact will add that to your application once that information is available.
16. Does the University of Michigan's ICPSR and ISR summer institutes accept Traveling Scholars? As of Fall 2007, the University of Michigan will no longer be accepting Traveling Scholars for their two summer institutes ICPSR and ISR. Please plan accordingly for Summer 2008 and beyond as you may need additional time to find the funding to be able to participate.
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