FALL 2008 General Information

KASTEEL WELL
Kasteel Well is a restored medieval structure surrounded by beautiful gardens and two moats.  The original foundations date from the 12th Century, and the castle was renovated in the early 19th century to its present state.  Recent renovations have added all modern conveniences while maintaining the original architecture and ambience.  The bedrooms are furnished simply, for students, but the castle’s public rooms are large and lovely.  There is a small resource center and computer lab within the castle.

THE VILLAGE OF WELL
Well is located midway between the Dutch cities of Nijmegen and Venlo, close to the border of Germany.  Well is a small, quaint village of about 2,800 people, dotted with brick homes, lace curtains, flowers, cafés and shops and friendly people, most of whom speak English.  There is bus service from Well to Venlo, Venray and Nijmegen; trains depart from Venlo, Venray and Nijmegen with connections to all over the Netherlands and Europe.

LEARN SOME DUTCH
Most Dutch citizens speak some English.   However, it will be greatly appreciated and show respect for your hosts if you take the time to learn a few words and phrases in Dutch:

If you are interested in learning more Dutch [or just want assistance with pronunciation] you can download a free language software program at Before You Know It Lite [http://www.byki.com/download_viewer.shtml]. There is also a deluxe version for purchase, so make certain you download the “lite” version.  Other languages are available as well including French, Italian, German, etc.  For those interested in an audio course, you can download language recordings from iTunes.  The cost is usually less than $10.

REGISTRATION
Kasteel Well students will register for Fall 2008 via the standard web registration procedures. Log into the Registration website as you normally would with your ECNET username and password [http://registration.emerson.edu/].  Your academic advisor will provide you with your registration time slot and access code.  Then follow the registration procedures provided online by the Registrar’s Office.  For courses that list “permission” as a prerequisite, you must come in person to the International Study and External Programs Office at your registration time.  Remember, you are ultimately responsible for fulfilling your degree requirements.  You must register for 16 credits, unless you are a graduating senior, in which case you may register for a minimum of 12 credits.

Due to the special nature of the program, online drop/adds will not be allowed as of Monday, September 1, 2008.  After September 1st, drop/adds will be allowed by permission only, and only if you have a course time conflict.  Therefore, it is important that you make certain before September 1st that you are satisfied with your schedule.  After you’ve arrived at the castle drop/adds will not be allowed.

Kasteel Well Program participants are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher [2.5 preferred] to remain eligible for the program, and may not be on academic probation. We will be reviewing transcripts after Spring 2008 grades are posted. If there is an academic problem we will attempt to contact you over holiday break at whichever address, phone or e-mail address we have on file for you.  Serious academic problems may result in dismissal from the program.

As the spring term is drawing to a close, if you believe you may have an academic issue which might impact your program eligibility, please set up an appointment with me as soon as possible so we may discuss it.

SECURITY DEPOSIT
All students’ $50.00 security deposit checks [made payable to Emerson College] must be turned in before registration.  Security deposits cover room damages, lost keys, etc.  [Please note that you will be billed, and a hold placed on your account, for any major damage to your room.]  The $50.00 will be returned to you after the end of the fall term pending a room review by the Kasteel Well staff.  You will not be able to register without first submitting a security deposit.  Payment may be made by check or money order, or in person with a credit card [MasterCard or American Express] or debit card.  We cannot accept cash!!

BILLING / PAYMENT
You will be billed in June for your Tuition, Room, Board and Fees, and the European Travel Package.  Payment is due in full no later than Friday, August 1, 2008.  You must be financially cleared on all your accounts with the Student Financial Services Office to attend the program.  [If you are currently paying under a deferred payment plan such as TuitionPay [http://www.tuitionpay.com/], please keep in mind that the costs may be different than you had originally planned.  You must make arrangements to deal with this discrepancy before departure for Europe.  Contact TuitionPay directly or the Student Financial Services Office for further information.]  The Student Financial Services office phone number is 617.824.8655, and the web address is: http://www.emerson.edu/financial_services/.  Make sure that all financial issues are dealt with promptly.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Make certain that all Financial Assistance paperwork is completed correctly and on time.  If you have questions about your financial assistance status you should call 617.824.8655 and speak with your Student Financial Services representative.  The web address is http://www.emerson.edu/financial_services/.

COLLEGE WORK STUDY
There are a limited number of college work study positions available at the castle.  We cannot guarantee each eligible student a position, but we hire as many as we can.  There is also no guarantee you will be able to work as many hours at the castle as you are accustomed to in Boston.

Keep in mind that one of the hardest challenges you will face is the balancing of academic responsibilities and travel.  A work study position compounds this challenge.  Before you commit yourself to a work study position, you should put some thought into how you are going to handle this added responsibility without becoming overwhelmed

WITHDRAWAL FROM PROGRAM
If you decide, for any reason, that you must withdraw from the program you must submit formal notice in writing to the International Study and External Programs Office.  A phone call is not sufficient notification.  Notification may be sent via regular mail, or by e-mail to castle@emerson.edu.  It is important to note that participants who voluntarily withdraw from the program, or who are involuntarily withdrawn due to poor academic performance or any other college sanction, within 60 days of departure for Europe, will be held fully responsible for any costs incurred by the college, including [but not limited to] the cost of airline tickets, Eurail passes, etc.

PASSPORTS
Any U.S. citizen traveling to Europe must have a valid passport that does not expire within the time period of their travel.  It should also be valid for 6 months beyond your date of return to the U.S.  To obtain a passport more than 14 days prior to departure you must go to a passport acceptance facility, located at many courthouses, post offices, and city and town hall offices.  Bring with you the following materials:

• $100 fee (or $75 renewal fee)
• Two (2) official passport photos
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship (i.e. previous passport, certified birth certificate, etc.)
• Proof of Identity (i.e. driver’s license, previous passport, government I.D., etc.)

Once your application is complete, your passport should be mailed to you within 25 business days.  It will be valid for ten (10) years.  To obtain a passport within 14 days of departure, call 617-878-0900 to schedule an appointment at the Passport Agency office in the Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street (next to the TD Banknorth Garden), Room 247.  The office is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.  For an additional fee of $60 (plus overnight delivery costs), an expedited passport application will be processed in 3 business days from the date your completed application is received.

For comprehensive information on obtaining U.S. passports, and to download the application forms and instructions, visit the Passport Agency web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.  Please make arrangements to secure your passport as soon as possible.

Your passport is your only legal, official proof of citizenship and will be your most important possession.  In the event it is lost or stolen, contact the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country in which you are traveling and contact the local police.  You can’t go anywhere without it, so please keep track of it at all times.

VISAS
A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on a passport that allows the bearer to visit that foreign country for a specific time period.

U.S. Passport Holders
Due to recent and stricter application of Dutch Immigration rules, U.S. Passport holders may not stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days without an appropriate visa.  Since Kasteel Well students are not eligible to apply for student visas, participants are limited to a 90 day stay, not just within the Netherlands, but within the Schengen Region as well.  The Schengen Region includes Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain andSweden.  U.S. Passport holders may not arrive earlier, or stay longer, if their travels begin or end within this region. U.S. Passport holders are also advised not to plan travel within the Schengen Region for 3 months prior to the start of the program, and 3 months following the end of the program.  Otherwise, they will be in violation of immigration laws and subject to deportation.

E.U. Passport Holders
Kasteel Well participants who hold a valid E.U. Passport recognized by the European Union do NOT need to apply for a student visa prior to their arrival.  They are not restricted to 90 days within the Netherlands or the Schengen Region.

Non-U.S., Non-E.U. Passport Holders
Due to recent and stricter application of Dutch immigration rules, non-U.S. and non-E.U. passport holders will encounter difficulties obtaining the required Authorization for Temporary Stay {Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, or MVV} from the Netherlands. There is no guarantee during this transitional period that the MVV will be approved by the Dutch government, and a strong possibility it will be denied. MVV applications must be submitted approximately 9 months in advance. Please consult with David Griffin, Director of International Study and External Programs, or the Dutch Consulate in the U.S. or in your home country for further information, requirements and procedures.

Kasteel Well participants who are U.S. citizens or who hold a valid E.U. Passport recognized by the European Union should not require a visa to visit any other Western European countries [i.e. Germany, Italy, France, etc.].  Visa requirements are outlined at the following government web site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/americans1.html.