Global Academy

Summer English and Cultural

Immersion Program

Living In the United States All the basics so you can be prepared

What to bring??? Use the packing list to make

sure you don’t forget a thing!

Program Objectives Make the most of your time!

PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

The following information is intended to help you prepare for your visit to

Utah State University. Please make sure you read it thoroughly, if you have

any questions do not hesitate to let us know. We are looking forward to your

participation in the program and hope to see you soon.

Founded in 1888, USU has evolved from a

small, agricultural college to one that

internationally recognized for its intellectual and

technological leadership in land, water, space

and life enhancement. USU is comprised of

eight colleges: the College of Agriculture, the

Caine College of Arts, the Jon Huntsman

School of Business, the College of Engineering,

the College of Humanities and Social Sciences,

Utah State University

The College of Natural Resources, the College of Science, and the Emma Eccles Jones

College of Education and Human Services. The university has more than 170 majors,

130 research-related classes and more than 140 graduate degrees.

More than 900 international students, representing 90 countries are enrolled at USU.

The main campus, with an area of 2.0 km, is located in the City of Logan.

Logan, Utah

The City of Logan is located in Cache

Valley in northern Utah, about 130 km

north of Salt Lake City. Cache Valley has

a population of approximately 127.945

residents; of which 49.534 live in Logan.

The city has an extension of 42 sq km

and an elevation of 7.296 meters above

sea level.

Morgan Quitno declared the Logan

Metropolitan area one of the safest in

the United States in 2005 and 2007.

Climate

Summers in Logan are mild. The average high/low temperatures in the

month of June are 26/9 Celsius; July 32/12 Celsius; and August 31/11

Celsius. The average precipitation in June is 34.79 mm, in July it is 17.27

mm, and in August it is 22.35 mm.

Electric Appliances

In the United States the electrical current is between 110-120 volts AC using a

standard three-pin plug. Some visitors may need an adaptor socket. Hairdryers

and electric razors cannot be used without a transformer.

Time

The City of Logan is on Mountain Time zone. When the local time is 12:00 pm in

Logan; the local time in your country is:

Santo Domingo: 2:00 p.m.

Kinshasa, DRC: 8:00 p.m.

Sana’a, Yemen: 10:00 p.m.

Seoul, Korea: 3:00 a.m.

Housing

Students will stay in apartment-style accommodations with kitchens, so they can

cook meals according to their individual tastes.

Students will be provided with a meal allowance to purchase meals/food supplies.

Students can also use their food stipend to purchase individual meals on or off

campus. The apartments will be shared with students from other countries. This

provides an opportunity for participants to practice their English skills and to learn

about other cultures.

The residences are located within easy walking distance of campus. An efficient

and free bus service serves the university and community, so students will have

easy access to city services and activities.

Laundry Service

Cellular Phones

There are washing machines (washers) and drying machines (dryers) in the

residence complex. Instructions for using washers and dryers are posted in the

laundry room. Instructions on how to operate these machines will also be given

during orientation. You must supply your own laundry detergent.

Your current cell phone may work in the USA, however you may end up

paying high rates. A calling card will be provided upon arrival, you can

also buy one at most local stores or purchase a prepaid cell phone.

Internet Access

You will have Internet access on USU’s campus and at your place of residence. More details will

be given during orientation.

Post Office

The United States Postal Service has an office in Logan located at 75 West 200 North. It also has

a convenient location in the lower level of the Taggart Student Center on the USU campus. The

Logan office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 pm weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on

Saturday. The campus office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. It does not

open on Saturdays.

If you would like to receive mail while in Logan, you can use the residence hall address assigned to

you upon arrival.

Shopping

Logan is the business hub for the Cache Valley

area so it offers a wide variety of stores,

including major retail chains, and restaurants.

You can use the free local transportation

system to do your shopping.

Public Transportation

Logan is served by a local FREE bus system

called the Cache Valley Transit District (CVTD).

The system consists of routes that serve Logan

itself and North Logan. There are also routes

that serve the northern and southern parts of

Cache Valley.

U.S. Classroom Culture

Many international students find American university classrooms very different than those of their

home country; particularly in the way students interact with their professor. You should treat your

professor as an equal, but also as a respected expert in his or her field. Often classroom sessions

will include interactive discussions and group activities, as well as hands-on projects and

presentations.

Students are expected to be active learners, sharing their opinions and ideas and asking questions

when they do not understand. You should feel sharing your views even if they are different from

your professor’s. Remember to do it in a respectful and polite manner.

This topic will be discussed in more detail during orientation.

U.S. Classroom Culture

In the U.S.; all denominations of paper money are the same size and color (green): $1, $5, $10,

$20, $50, $100. Quarters are 25 cent coins, dimes are 10 cent coins, nickels are 5 cent coins, and

pennies are 1 cent coins. There are also larger, gold-colored $1 coins. $1 is equivalent to 100

cents.

Banks are usually open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; and on Saturdays from

9:00 – 12:00p.m.

Travel to the U.S.

In case of an emergency while en route, please contact:

Eric Sims- (435) 554-1164; eric.sims@usu.edu

Shelly Hernandez- shelly.hernandez@usu.edu

We will have members of our office meet you at the Salt Lake City airport. They will accompany

you on the bus ride to Logan.

Important Notes

• Participants are required to depart the U.S. at the end of the program.

• Participants are not allowed to travel within the U.S. other than on program related activities

• Participants are not authorized for any type of employment

• It is not possible to directly enroll in a USU degree program after completion of the program.

Participants who are interested in studying at USU in the future can inquire about the various

USU degree programs while they are in Logan.

This information is also available online at:

https://globalengagement.usu.edu/htm/programs/global-academy

Look for us on Facebook:

Global Academy of Utah State University

Students learn about sustainability on the USU

Student Organic Farm!

Embrace the

Challenge at the Ropes Course

RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST

While in town you can dress casual (jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes), to business casual or

formal, depending on the occasion. However, you will be going on field trips, so we recommend

you include the following in your packing list:

• Sweatshirt or jacket, and rain jacket or rain pants

• Outdoor clothes, they will get dirty (long pants)

• Comfortable shoes for outdoors walking on dirt paths and

over rocky ground

• Clothes appropriate for water activities, you will get wet,

possibly cold

• Water shoes/athletic shoes for water activities

• Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat

Important Documents

Make sure all of your important documents, such as visa, passport, airline tickets, important phone

numbers and address, are in a safe place to be carried on your person or in your carry-on

baggage. Do not put important documents in bags you have checked onto the plane. We

recommend you make copies of these important documents and keep them separate from the

original ones, in case that any of these are lost or stolen.

Also bring copies of important medical records, eyeglass prescription, allergies, etc.

Luggage

Please check with your airline to confirm the luggage weight and measurement restrictions for your

flight. You will be responsible for any excess baggage fees charged. For travel to the United

States, you will be usually allowed two suitcases. However, we kindly request that you only

bring one suitcase. We do not have the capacity to accommodate more than one suitcase

per participant in our vehicles. You may bring one piece of carry-on baggage on the plane, as

well as a handbag, briefcase or small backpack.

You Do Not Need to Bring

Sheets, blankets, pillows, cookware, dishes, bath towels, or school supplies. These items will be

provided by the program. You will also be taken to one of the major retail stores in town the day of

your arrival. This will allow you to purchase any other items, which you may deem necessary.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The purpose of the Global Academy program is to provide students with an opportunity to perfect

their English through classroom instruction and community interaction, to introduce them to the

higher education system of the United States, and to change students’ lives as they interact with

other cultures and learn self-reliance.

Because this is such a unique and special experience, it is expected that participants will behave

with the utmost responsibility and respect. The following policies have been put in place to help

each student have a safe and enjoyable experience in the Global Academy.

• Class Attendance

o A great deal of work goes into preparing each day of class. Attendance and participation

show respect for the teachers who work hard for their students.

o Two unexcused absences are grounds for dismissal from the program.

• Excursion Attendance

o Like classes, excursions have been carefully planned to help students apply their learning

while having an enjoyable time.

o Attendance for excursions is mandatory.

• Cell Phone Use

o Students should be respectful to their teachers and other program personnel by turning

off cell phones during classes and only using them when appropriate on excursions.

o Teachers and program personnel reserve the right to temporarily confiscate electronics if

they feel the devices are creating a distraction for their classes.

• No Alcohol

o Alcohol is not allowed in any of the apartments used during the Global Academy program,

no exceptions.

o Utah State University is a dry campus, which means that no alcohol is allowed on

campus, whether it is being consumed or not.

• Smoking

o Smoking is not allowed in any form in the apartments used during the Global Academy

program. There are designated areas both on and off campus where smoking is allowed.

• No Travel Policy

o The Global Academy maintains a strict No Travel policy. Students may not leave Cache

Valley unless it is on a programmed excursion with the Office of Global Engagement.

o Students may travel around Cache Valley using the free bus system provided by the

Cache Valley Transit District.

Program is All-Inclusive:

• English language classes

• Cultural activities

• Housing

• Food allowance

• Special education seminars

• Excursions

You Benefit:

• Build English language abilities

• Make friends from all over the

world

• Interact with local students and

the community

• Visit local sites of cultural and

recreational interest

Facebook: Global Academy of Utah State University

Find us on the web: https://globalengagement.usu.edu /htm/programs/global-academy

For more information, please contact Eric Sims at usu.global.academy@gmail.com