Standards of Membership

Implementing ISEP's Mission and Vision

Mission

ISEP promotes academic and cross-cultural learning through its worldwide network of higher education institutions.  ISEP facilitates academic mobility through innovative and affordable programs to achieve authentic global learning.  ISEP enhances institutional infrastructures and fosters campus internationalization.

Vision

ISEP will be recognized for setting the standard for worldwide cooperation in international education.

I. Member Institutions Expect ISEP Central to:

Member Relations

• Continuously assess member needs and interests, review policies and fee structures, and develop programs to serve members
• Carefully review new member applications
• Provide stewardship of resources to achieve optimum balance between quality and cost
• Monitor membership standards to maintain quality and consistency in implementation
• Mediate in case of disputes between member institutions regarding benefits or balances
• Provide training of new coordinators
• Organize ISEP conferences and member meetings (with the Council of Advisors)
• Maintain personal contact with coordinators and institutional leaders through site visits and participation in conferences

Communication and Information

• Provide access to information about programs based on information supplied by member institutions
• Use terminology in providing program information that reflects the global nature of the ISEP membership and is transparent to all members
• Develop and distribute publications that enable coordinators to recruit and inform students
• Respond to coordinator inquiries in a timely manner
• Advise coordinators about programs available, supplementing published information

Before, During, and After Placement

• Review applications in a timely manner and provide information about placement progress
• Fairly consider all applicants for placement
• Facilitate J-1 program
• Provide assistance when participants experience problems; support in emergency situations
• Distribute transcripts received from host institutions and provide assistance with problems

Health Insurance and Financial Services

• Offer a quality health insurance program and process student enrollment
• Maintain contact with insurance providers in medical emergencies
• Send invoices and record payments in a timely and accurate manner

II. What ISEP-Central Expects from Member Institutions

A Member Institution Will:

• Designate an ISEP Coordinator
• Assure incoming students receive a full-time course (15 to 18 hours) of study
• Provide housing from Official Date of Arrival through Last Day of Benefits, inclusive of:
• Orientation
• Exams
• all in-semester and winter breaks
• Provide Orientation at no cost
• Ensure that housing and meal levels are the equivalent to those provided to students of the host school, not necessarily of the sending school.
• Provide 19 to 21 meals per week, inclusive of all in-semester vacations, from the Official Date of Arrival through Last Day of Benefits.
• Ensure that tuition, housing and meals are covered within ISEP benefits, with no other mandatory fees
• For Exchange Members: Commit to engaging in reciprocal exchange with numbers proportionate to the level of institutional resources available.
• For Direct Members: Commit to sending students on Direct programs proportionate to the level of institutional resources available.

III. What Member Institutions Expect from Each Other

Relationship with ISEP Central

The ISEP coordinator will:

• Monitor ISEP-L and on-line status reports and review information sent by ISEP
• Respond to questions from ISEP-Central
• Notify ISEP Central when administrative problems (e.g. with stipend payments or housing) or major emergencies such as strikes or natural disasters occur (see "Emergency Response" in the Coordinator's section of the ISEP website)
• Return placement confirmations (HIPC's) as close to deadline as possible, clearly indicating any special conditions
• Facilitate the payment of invoices by due date

Responsibilities towards Outbound ISEP Participants

The ISEP coordinator will:

• Be familiar with ISEP programs, policies and services
• Guide students through the application process, providing them with accurate information and imparting realistic expectations
• Ensure that students understand the contents of ISEP placement materials and provide pre-departure orientation
• Facilitate the integration of returnees into the home institution including credit transfer

Support for Incoming Students

The ISEP coordinator and the member institution as a whole will:

• Update description for the ISEP Directory annually to reflect actual conditions
• Complete the Institutional Information Sheet (IIS) on time, providing accurate information
• Respond to student inquiries after confirmation
• Adapt standard information materials sent to visiting students to reflect ISEP conditions (e.g. with regard to payment of rent, tuition, etc.)
• Provide housing that meets acceptable standards for safety and cleanliness; ensure that housing and meals are available by the Official Arrival Date and further stipends issued on time; provide vacation benefits according to ISEP Terms of Participation
• Provide orientation (included in ISEP benefits) and general assistance with integration into the host institution and registration
• Ensure that coordinator or other designated advisor is available at appointed times and in emergencies and designate a substitute during absences from the office
• Provide transparent information on the institution’s website about academic programs, noting language of instruction and limitations on access where relevant.
• Allow participants to take those courses for which they have pre-requisites unless exceptions are stated clearly in information provided to ISEP
• Issue transcripts by the date stated in the Institutional Information Sheet and forward transcripts to ISEP Central. Transcripts should be issued within six weeks of the end of exams.

Relations with Other Member Institutions

• Coordinators will observe the Coordinator Communication Guidelines posted in the Coordinators’ Section of the ISEP website
• The ISEP coordinator and/or other institutional representatives will participate regularly in ISEP conferences and member meetings
• When considering new bilateral agreements with other ISEP members, the institution will take into account the impact on the ISEP network and make a good-faith effort to explore channeling student exchanges through ISEP

June 2010