Welcome for Families & Friends
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is committed to supporting students as they actively assume responsibility for their education abroad experience, from the application process to while they are abroad to when they return.
The university communicates directly with students to ensure that they receive the specialized assistance they need to effectively navigate the steps of studying abroad. Staff are bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (commonly referred to as FERPA), "a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records" (U.S. Department of Education). The university has established guidelines for the implementation of this law, which are contained in Section X-6 of the Campus Administrative Manual and the Student Code. Due to these laws and guidelines, we cannot disclose your students’ records, even to a parent or guardian, without the student’s prior written consent. As such, the university encourages you to share your questions and concerns directly with your student.
If your student is an incoming exchange student, you are encouraged to review the incoming student pages of this website for more information and resources.
From the Education Abroad Community
Dear Families and Friends,
The higher education landscape in the 21st Century is dynamic and increasingly complex. At the same time, it provides unrivaled opportunities to explore, expand intellectual boundaries, and engage across disciplines. Each year, more than 2,000 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students study abroad on close to more than 300 programs in 50 countries around the globe.
We are pleased to facilitate exceptional education abroad experiences that allow our students to gain global competencies and distinguish themselves in our increasingly interconnected world.
Together, education abroad staff across campus and our partners abroad work closely to connect students with the support they need during each step of the process and ensure that their experience is academically, professionally, and personally successful.
We strive to make this integral part of our students’ education as accessible as possible for all parties involved. To uphold the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, we encourage you to explore these web pages exclusively for families and friends—in addition to the rest of our website—and communicate with your student about any questions or concerns. If—after reviewing the content of our website and speaking with your student—you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support in helping your student study abroad.
Sincerely,
Illinois Education Abroad Community
