Preparing to Go Off-Campus
Once you have been approved to study off-campus and are accepted by the program of your choice, you must complete several steps prior to departure. These preparations will help you address issues of academic credit, financial aid, insurance, and ensure that you maintain your correct student status at Lake Forest even while away. Please note, too, that all students are expected to remain in good academic and judicial standing prior to and during their semester off-campus.
Course approval
Students participating in a non-Lake Forest, non-ACM/Washington program must obtain course approval from their academic advisor and from the appropriate department chair if they want to request credit in a major or minor. Download the Course Selection form and ask those professors for their signatures.
Advisor approval is not necessary for Lake Forest or ACM/Washington Semester programs, but the latter may require chair approval for credit in a major or minor.
Pre-departure session
ALL off-campus study participants are required to attend a pre-departure session, announced in advance. This meeting will provide important information on what to do in case of an emergency, final instructions about checkout, tips from students who have returned from off-campus programs, and a chance to ask questions. We often have as a guest speaker someone who works in the field of intercultural relations.
Checkout procedures
At the pre-departure session, students will be given a Final Checkout document. When the appropriate signatures have been obtained from the on-campus offices indicated, this form will confirm that the student has completed all essential pre-departure activities and will maintain status as an enrolled Lake Forest College student.
