Note for Parents

IPSL Global Engagement programs unite study abroad with volunteer service and build upon a students' desire to not just see the world, but act in it for the good of others. The programs give students cultural immersion, in-depth understanding of cultural and global issues, and a chance to make a difference in local communities worldwide.

Parents of previous students have told us time and time again how proud they are of the work their now-adult children have done in IPSL programs, the knowledge they acquired, the skills they developed, and the values they have chosen to govern their lives.

Judi M. IPSL Review for Parents

Margaret, an IPSL Parents

"My son appeared to have an experience of a lifetime.

The combination of schooling and “work” opportunities, the interactions with people from all over the world, the opportunity to travel to nearby regions, the wonder of experiencing another culture in its varying degrees... made for a fantastic experience!

In my opinion, this opportunity has shaped his vision for the future.

Thank you for offering a safe and successful program for young students who wish to broaden their worldview. I am thankful to have him home, but he is already planning his return to Vietnam!"

– Margaret, an IPSL parent

Sarah M.

Sarah M. started as a pre-med student, then came to the IPSL graduate program to explore other facets of Global Health. In Italy and in Thailand, Sarah served with a variety of health care-related organizations and her culminating project was developing a program to lessen the effects of the stigma of those living with HIV/AIDS in SE Asia.

Sarah now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and is the Country Operations Manager for an international NGO that works to ensure access to health care to marginalized populations throughout SE Asia.

Tyrone

Tyrone came to us from a nursing program where he was foundering. He knew he was interested in some area of global health, but was not sure what or where. By leveraging his nursing background, Tyrone has created a unique program model for developing countries that lack any Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) infrastructure.

His idea is to train members of the community in First Response Techniques (CPR, etc...) and then to create a mobile network of these trained individuals to be dispatched on an as-needed basis, similar to the Lyft or Uber model. When you need a ride, you use an app to summon a Lyft driver. When you need emergency assistance and a ride to the hospital, you can tap into Tyrone's crowd-sourced Emergency Response Teams. Tyrone has presented at conferences in Jamaica, Vietnam, and New York on his project.

Jamal

Jamal founded a nonprofit shortly before starting a program with IPSL. The organization provides support to the African Diaspora around the world through a variety of programs for youth and adults. Through the IPSL graduate program model, Jamal connected with descendants of Africans in Peru and SE Asia.

He worked directly with organizations in countries that work to create visibility and social and economic justice for the African populations living there. Jamal's organization also has youth development programs in place that permit young people to travel and learn about African populations in other countries and the challenges they face.

Parents Provide Advice to Parents

You love, provide guidance, education, and financial support for your child. You have tried to instill in them the values that will make their lives satisfying and productive. Now your child has expressed interest in living, studying and volunteering in a different culture, contributing their talent and energy to help make the lives of those in need a little easier.

You, as parents, play a vital supporting role for your students both before, during and after their experience abroad. There are many resources that can help you understand the many changes your students will go through and to help you support them. Students typically undergo distinct stages of adjustment both upon what we call "entry" to the new culture and "re-entry" back to their home culture.

Research shows that studying abroad gives participants a broader understanding of career possibilities AND the confidence to pursue these career paths. Many students experience unintended benefits in terms of not only developing skills and shifting attitudes but also of opening career pathways and opportunities that had been either previously unknown or simply unconsidered.

Student Safety and Security

IPSL has a 24-hour emergency contact system that can be utilized in case of a student health or safety emergency.
Before departure, students are provided with health information about the program location with advice to consult the Centers for Disease Control in order to find out what immunizations are recommended, if any.
Each IPSL program site has excellent nearby medical and mental health facilities and support available.
All programs begin with a period of formal orientation. Students are taught practical skills like telephone, banking and public transportation information; how to remain healthy and safe; how to get health services and how to recognize cultural signs and customs.

We are happy to discuss your project. Please email to irb@westminsteru.edu to find out more.

Communication: Helpful Hints

Advice about communicating with your student while abroad is abundant. While IPSL does not presume to dictate the parent/child relationship, there are some guidelines to keep in mind to facilitate your child’s adjustment process to their new culture and living situation.

Aside from a quick check-in to let you know that they have arrived safely, it is best to limit communication for the first couple of weeks to help ease homesickness and speed acclimation.
We highly discourage parents (or other) from visiting their child while on the program as it is best to allow your child to have their own, personal experience without parental presence.

Parents (or other) are not allowed to accompany their child on an IPSL excursion, observe courses nor be present or participate in any of the official IPSL program components. In addition, it is not advisable to stay at the student’s homestay.

We understand that parents may go through many changes as well during this process, but remember that this is your child’s experience. We encourage you to help them get the most out of it.

VIEW the IPSL Communication Guidelines

Homestay Experience

A key component of the IPSL student experience is the homestay. Most of our programs provide this unique opportunity. Living with a host family is part of the immersion experience and gives your child the opportunity to get to know what it’s like to be a part of the culture.

The benefits of living with a host family are enormous and our alums regularly tell us that this (along with their service) was the most impactful and enjoyable part of their IPSL program. The homestay offers students the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce language skills, and experience the culture from "the inside."

All IPSL host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students (in particular, North American students). Host families are vetted, go through an extensive screening and initial orientation process, participate in annual refresher orientations and are visited by the on-site homestay coordinator staff during the term(s) they are hosting. Many host families have been with IPSL for a number of years. In each program location, families have formed a network that supports one another and are guided and supported by the IPSL housing coordinator on-site. Students are supported in the homestay experience by the housing staff as well as part of the orientation, where cultural and typical family norms are reviewed.

Visas: Scope of Responsibility

It is the participant’s sole responsibility to obtain the correct visa, if one is required for legal entry into the host country or if the student is staying (for most countries) longer than 90 days.

Visa issues are complex and frequently change without notification. IPSL cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of these guidelines. It is therefore the student's responsibility to verify the current visa application process and to complete the application for their visa.

Participants must take the initiative to inform IPSL staff members of their intended dates of departure from the U.S. and to remind IPSL staff members if their visa and other travel documents have not arrived by two weeks before the date of departure. All IPSL participants are also required to send IPSL a copy of their visa as soon as they receive it.

group of various aged black individuals pose for photo