Enrollment & Behavior

Undergraduate and academy students must understand that they are first students from their home school (the U.S. school that you applied through). Therefore, you are subject to the academic, financial, and citizenship requirements of your home school. You are also a part of the host school (abroad school), and you must meet their requirements as well. Any unacceptable behavior/immoral activities or breaking campus rules may result in immediate expulsion from the program.

Financial

Students whose financial accounts are not kept current will not be allowed to attend classes or write examinations and will have to un-enroll from the program until proper financial arrangements have been made.

Failure to meet enrollment, behavior, and financial requirements of either the home or abroad institutions may be cause for removal from the program.

The class work taken during ACA’s programs are treated as credit from the home campus in North America. The affiliated school will send official records of the class work to the ACA office in Maryland. The ACA office in turn will pass the records on immediately to the Registrar of the member college or university through which students enrolled. All official transcripts to other schools or entities must originate from the home campus, not from international campuses.

All ACA programs are a completement of a higher education degree pursued at the home university in the United States. Therefore, if the student is transferring to a new institution fo higher education outside of the SDA system, it is advisable not to list the international institutions as an additional school or college attended. The ACA credits will be included in the home university’s transcript. ACA programs should be listed only as study abroad experiences facilitated and endorsed by the home university. For any questions or assistance with ACA transcripts, please contact the ACA office.

If, for whatever reason, an additional transcript needs to be mailed to your home school, please contact the ACA office immediately. These transcripts will need to be mailed from the host school, which can take several weeks.

Withdrawal Before Arrival

Circumstances may change, prompting students to withdraw from an ACA program. If this occurs before going abroad, students should notify the ACA office immediately. We will contact your Program Director on your behalf, but you are responsible for contacting your home university’s:

• ACA Campus Coordinator
• Student Finance Office/Financial Aid Office
• Reigstrar/Admissions Office

There is no penalty for cancelling your application.

Withdrawal After Arrival

If a student requests cancellation of his/her ACA application after checking in at the host campus, tuition and fees will be reimbursed based on the date of the completed withdrawal form that must be submitted to the ACA Program Director. Each host campus will then calculate the charges for dormitory, cafeteria, books purchased, and any pre-paid reservations. These charges are non-refundable and will automatically be deducted from any eligible refund portion.

Summer Session

• Withdrawal during the first 3 days of summer classes = 100% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal during the first 6 days of summer session = 75% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal during the first 10 days of summer session = 50% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal after the first 10 days of summer session = no refund

The ACA application fees and insurance fees are not refundable. 

Academic Year

The deadlines for withdrawal and refunds during the ACADEMIC YEAR SESSION are the following:

• Withdrawal during the first 4 days of the term = 100% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal during the 2^nd week of the term = 75% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal during the 4^th week of the term = 50% refund of tuition cost
• Withdrawal after the 4^th week of the term = no refund

ACA application fees and insurance fees are not refundable.

Contact the ACA office with a copy of your signed withdrawal form, and we will make arrangements for your refund with your home school.

At ACA, we prioritize the safety, health, and well-being of our students. We are committed to providing a secure learning environment by maintaining up-to-date health protocols and implementing comprehensive safety measures in all of our institutions. Each campus follows local and international guidelines to ensure student welfare. Our students have access to healthcare services, counseling, and emergency support. Our goal is to empower students to thrive in their academic pursuits while ensuring their peace of mind throughout their international experience.

Monitoring International Risk

Our office uses the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to continuously monitor the safety of each country where we have programs, and we follow government guidelines. Students are also encouraged to enroll in the STEP program before they travel abroad. More information about this program can be found here.

Health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ACA adapted quickly to facilitate student learning while prioritizing student safety. When it was no longer safe for students to remain in their host countries, we brought them home, transitioning to online learning platforms until it was safe for them to return. When programs were able to open again, we followed public health guidelines and provided students with guidance on travel restrictions and health advisories. We also collaborated closely with our host institutions and local governments to ensure compliance with the evolving health protocols. Emergency plans were activated, including quarantine support, regular health monitoring, and mental health resources to assist students during uncertain times. Our commitment is to continue offering a rich educational experience while ensuring that safety remains paramount in any crisis.

ACA Insurance Policy

We ensure that all students participating in our programs are covered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy designed specifically for international study. This policy provides coverage for medical expenses and emergency evacuation and repatriation, offering peace of mind in case of unforeseen health issues or accidents.

It is important for students to understand the scope of their coverage and review their insurance plan thoroughly before departure. If you have questions about your insurance policy, please contact aca@nadadventist.org.

You can download your full insurance policy here.