Honors and Education Program in Rome Winter 2011
Student Guidelines for Conduct on Study Abroad
- Commit to open communication; communicate well with roommates, classmates, and instructors.
- Respect differences among classmates and be respectful of differences between our culture and that of the Italians.
- Be respectful of other people living in your apartment, as well as your building, in terms of noise (no loud noises in common areas such as stairwells, entry way, etc., and be aware of how much noise you are making, especially at night in your apt.
- Respect roommates’ needs for personal space and quiet time.
- Respect common areas in apartments and classrooms (dump garbage daily, maintain clean kitchen, work area, etc.).
- Consider a buddy system. Always walk with a classmate at night.
- Watch out for each other’s safety. Let somebody know where you are going or leave a note.
- If you are the last one to leave your apartment make sure the lights are turned off, windows are closed, and that the deadbolt locks on the door are all turned.
- Be alert and aware of your belongings, and watch out for pickpockets.
- Instructors will set an appropriate level of academic workload that is challenging for students, and allows time for reflection, individual exploration, and relaxation.
- Speak Italian and encourage others in the group to do so as well.
- Ask permission before you borrow anything from a classmate, roommate, or instructor.
- Be friendly, sociable with everyone in the program. Don’t be exclusive.
- Establish procedures and ground rules for managing the apartments.
- Be an active participant in all program components. Come prepared, pay attention, ask questions, and be an engaged listener. Also, be a responsible participant (don’t dominate the conversation).
- Be supportive of each other’s learning – don’t be overly competitive.
- Don’t share your phone number or address with anyone outside the program; don’t let strangers into your apartment.
- Make classmates aware of new acquaintances.
- Be respectful and aware of differences in financial situations.
- Be on time for all class meetings and trips. Don’t keep people waiting.
- Dress appropriately in public spaces, particularly when visiting religious sites, foreign embassies, etc.
- Don’t complain (i.e. whine)
- Keep your cell phone charged, with money on it, and with you at all times.
Additional guidelines:
- Tolerate unexpected changes in the schedule.
- In general it is not a good idea to address people you don't know well, who are older than you, or who are in a position of authority over you by using their first name unless they invite you to do so. To be on the safe side use Signore, Signorina, Professore (for Italians), Mr., Ms., Dr. or Professor for others.
- If you drink alcohol, drink responsibly. (In Italy it is considered bad manners to be drunk in public, and it may also result in your expulsion from the program).
- Do not ride public transportation without validating a ticket (you will be taken off the bus and fined on the spot if caught).
- If you travel outside of Rome during your free days, you must provide the instructors with your contact number, hotel information, and itinerary. We recommend that you do not travel alone.
Signed: _______________________________________________________________
