For Students Currently Abroad
Contacting the International Programs Office in Claremont
In the event of an emergency while abroad, the best plan is to contact your local program director or other support staff. They are in the best position to assist you with the problem or crisis and will contact your family and the International Programs Office as needed. If there is a reason for contacting staff in Claremont for an emergency situation, call the office at 909 621-8104 during business hours in California. For emergencies that happen after hours, contact Campus Security at 909 621-8170 and the security staff will locate an International Programs staff member.
For non-urgent matters, you may email directly to a specific staff member; however, it is always a good idea to also copy the message to studyabroad@pitzer.edu. Messages sent to this address are copied to several people in the office and can be easily directed to the person who can best handle your request. Members of the International Programs staff may be out of the office due to work-related travel, illness or vacation, so using the office email address will prevent your message from going unread while an individual staff member is out of the office.
Remember to provide us with your contact information while abroad. Most correspondence is via email so if you get a new email account for your time abroad, be sure to inform us in the event your faculty advisor or someone else on campus needs to reach you. Send all mailing address, phone number and email address information to studyabroad@pitzer.edu.
Full list of contacts
Health and Safety Reminders
You obtained the recommended immunizations for your program before your departure, but that does not end your responsibility for your health and safety abroad. We want to remind you to pay attention to the health and safety instructions provided by the study abroad or international programs staff during your orientation abroad and the guidelines in the Pre-Departure Handbook provided by International Programs. You must be more alert to issues of safety while abroad because you are in an unfamiliar culture and behaviors that are relatively safe in your home community in the US can take on increased risk while abroad since you may not understand their implications in your new culture.
You may be of legal drinking age in the host culture and a glass of wine at a meal with your host family may be appropriate; however, you cannot be alert to your own safety if your judgment is impaired by alcohol. Illegal drug use risks severe punishment and prison in most countries. Unprotected sex is a gamble that puts your life and future health in jeopardy. While you are abroad, you are advised to avoid excessive alcohol and any illegal drugs and to refrain from sexual relationships. Not only are these behaviors often culturally inappropriate and/or illegal, they put your health and safety at risk and are choices over which you do have control.
Senior Thesis Research While Abroad
Some students want to develop research projects done abroad into the topic of their senior thesis. If you have become excited about a particular topic while abroad, contact your faculty advisor about information to gather while you are overseas that will enhance your senior thesis.
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