Standards of Membership

Implementing ISEP's Mission and Vision

The key words for effective cooperation among member institutions are: trust, flexibility and commitment.   - Mirta Barreiro, Director of International Cooperation, Universidad del Salvador, Argentina

What Member Institutions Expect of ISEP Central

Member Relations

• Continuously assess member needs and interests 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
• Mediate in case of disputes between member institutions regarding benefits or balances
• Provide training of new coordinators
• Organize ISEP conferences and annual member meetings (with the Council of Advisors)

Communication and Information

• Maintain a website that serves the needs of coordinators and students
• Provide access to information about programs based on information supplied by member institutions
• 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
• placement progress
• Fairly consider all applicants for placement
• Implement J-1 program
• Provide assistance when participants experience problems and support in emergency situations
• Distribute transcripts received from host institutions and help with interpretation and resolution of discrepancies as needed

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.

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
• Ensure that fees are paid by due date

Responsibilities towards Outbound ISEP Participants

The ISEP coordinator will:

• Be familiar with ISEP programs 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
• Provide course information on the institution's website
• 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
• Allow participants to take those courses for which they have pre-requisites unless exceptions are stated clearly in information provided to ISEP
• Issue transcripts within 6 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 in ISEP conferences and annual member meetings
• The Institution will channel exchanges with ISEP member institutions through ISEP unless bilateral agreements pre-date ISEP membership; ISEP-Direct program providers will only accept fee-paying students from ISEP members or affiliates as ISEP participants, not as "free movers."

December 2002