Program Overview
July 3-30, 2010
The globalization of law practice and business is among the most significant developments of the last decade. Already a major economic force, China's participation in leading financial organizations such as the World Trade Organization has its beginnings in the Chinese legal system and will ultimately affect that system. In this four-week, four-credit hour program, students will learn about the current legal system in China and the changes that are likely to occur because of the international business sector.
About Tianjin, China
Tianjin is an important commercial center and is located approximately 125 miles from Beijing, China's capital.
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Academic Program
All students will be enrolled in four separate one credit hour courses focusing upon Comparative and International Law issues. Classes will generally meet during the mornings, Monday-Thursday, with the exception of the first week when classes will meet Tuesday-Friday.
Classes will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12:20 p.m. with two short breaks. Afternoons and three-day weekends will be free for study, social events and travel. All course instructions will be in English. The academic program will include the following courses:
- International Tax (Eric T. Laity, Oklahoma City University School of Law)
- White Collar, Business and Corporate Crime: An International Perspective (Miller W. Shealy, Jr., Charleston School of Law)
- Comparative Labor Law (Anthony R. Baldwin, Mercer University School of Law)
- Global Climate Change and the Law (Paul Boudreaux, Stetson University College of Law)
See Courses for a more complete description of the classes offered.
Classrooms
The Summer Abroad Program will take place at Nankai University School of Law, a respected law school in China. Nankai University is located in Tianjin, China's third largest city. An administrative office for the resident director will be located nearby.
Field Trips
As part of the educational program and included in the program tuition cost will be visits to local courts and meetings with Chinese lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. Trips will also be scheduled to the Great Wall, Beijing, and the Forbidden City. Opportunities will be offered to interact with Chinese law students studying at Nankai University School of Law.
Program Fees and Expenses
Please see China Student Budget 2010 (PDF).
Financial Assistance
Stetson will process forms for loans or other benefits to which a Stetson participant may be entitled. Non-Stetson participants must contact their home institution regarding loans and financial assistance programs.
Stetson provides limited scholarships to Stetson students, but no other direct financial assistance for program participants is available. Scholarships may be applied for by filling out the application and returning it to the Stetson International Programs Office.
Deposit and Tuition Refund Policy
A participant's application requires an accompanying deposit of $200 for tuition and $100 for housing; these amounts are applied to a participant's tuition and housing costs, respectively. Once an applicant has been accepted, all deposits are nonrefundable.
Students are obligated to pay tuition and housing by May 26, 2010. Any attempt to withdraw from the program after that date will not discharge the student's obligation for payment of the tuition.
Cancellation Policy
Stetson reserves the right to cancel the program before May 1, 2010, for lack of adequate enrollment, or any other reason, with full refund given to the students within twenty (20 days). Stetson will also offer to place students in a similar program in the event of cancellation of the program. Stetson also reserves the right to cancel or shorten the program at any time should extraordinary circumstances arise such as a natural disaster, political emergency or force majeure. In such event, participants will receive a refund for the proportion of credit tuition and accommodations not yet utilized.
Academic Policies
The usual academic requirements for Stetson University College of Law will apply to the program. A final examination will be administered at the conclusion of the course. Stetson uses a 4.0 grading system. Grades transferred to any co-sponsoring institution will be entered according to its own grading system. Course instructions will be in English.
The acceptance of any grade or credits earned in this program is subject to determination by the participant's home school. Each participant carries individual responsibility for determining the transferability of grades and credits earned in this program.
It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs may be used to accelerate graduation. Inquiries should be made by the applicant to his/her home institution in advance of application.
Eligibility
The program is open to law students, lawyers, and business professionals interested in studying in China. Law students and lawyers should have an active interest in international business law and/or public international law to make the most of this exciting academic experience. Enrollment will be limited to forty (40) students, and it is estimated that forty (40) students will enroll.
Foreign Law Students are Also Welcome to Participate in the Program
Law students from foreign law schools are also eligible and invited to enroll in the program. We anticipate that around ten (10) foreign law students may participate in the program. It is anticipated that these students will be from China.
Applicants with Special Needs
Applicants with disabilities or other special needs should contact the OCU LAW's Office of Student Services in advance to discuss arrangements. OCU LAW will make every effort to reasonably accommodate special needs of applicants.
If you have received approval for accommodations at OCU LAW, then you will continue to receive accommodations overseas. However, students with physical disabilities should consider that international universities and non-U.S. cities may not be equipped to accommodate all individuals.
Students Participating in 2009
Fourteen (14) students participated in the program in Tianjin during the summer of 2009.
Passports and Visa
Passports are required for travel to countries outside the United States and are the responsibility of each participant. U.S. passport information and forms are available at your local U.S. courthouse or at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport.
Passports should be valid for six months beyond the end of the program date.
Visas: Everyone is responsible for obtaining their own visa for China. Students should apply for a visa as soon as they are accepted in the program to allow sufficient processing time. If you do not obtain a visa in a timely manner you will not be able to participate in the program. In previous years students have used Capitol Visa Services Company to obtain their visas. As of November, 2009 Capitol required the following to obtain a visa to China:
- A passport valid for at least six months. (Passport must be signed.)
- Two completed Chinese Visa Application Forms (second form can be a copy). In box 2.1 of the Application you must mark "Tourism" and not "Study."
- One passport-size photo taken within the past six months
- Contact Capitol Visa Services to determine the fees. As of February, 2000 the fees totaled between $213-243 ($130-$160 Chinese Embassy Fee, $60 Capitol Visa Services fee, $23 shipping).
- A completed Capitol Visa Services Service Request Form.
Please remember that you are not applying for a “student visa”. This is only required if you are being awarded academic credit by a Chinese University. Please make sure you apply for a tourist visa. Also, please make sure that you request a 60 day visa, or longer if you intend to stay longer. Please note that Hong Kong is treated as part of China for some purposes but not others. If you enter China—then travel to Hong Kong, you will not be permitted to reenter China unless you have visa that permits a double entry.
Contact Capitol Visa Services before applying to verify the total fees and turn around time. 1-800-727-VISA or http://www.capitolvisa.com/visas/china-t-visa.php.
Students may obtain a visa on their own in any state where there is a Chinese Consulate. For a list of Chinese Consulates in the United States go to http://www.visarite.com/chnConsulate.htm#.
More information about obtaining your visa is available on the Web site for the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.
Travel
Please arrange your travel so that you ARRIVE ON SATURDAY, JULY 3, IN THE MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON. The Resident Director of the program will reserve a group bus to meet all students at the BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and travel to the program's hotel accommodations at the TIANLUN REGA JINBIN HOTEL-TIANJIN).
Participants must make their own travel arrangements. Many airlines offer discounted airfares if bookings are made well in advance of departure.
Important exam information: The exam will be available on FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010, via e-mail access. The last day of classes is Thursday, July 29, 2010. Please make sure that your travel schedule does not conflict with the final examination. No arrangements will be made for exams to be taken prior to the scheduled exam date and time because of travel conflicts.
Different Cultures and Habits
The cultures and habits of the host countries may differ significantly from those in the United States. A good example of these differences is evidenced by differing attitudes towards smoking. While many restrictions on smoking in hotels, restaurants and public places exist in the United States, few such restrictions exist in many of our host countries. The sponsors are not able to require American style restrictions on smoking in the facilities it uses in its summer abroad programs.
Liability and Insurance
Neither Stetson nor its co-sponsors will be responsible for personal injury, illness, or loss or damage to personal property, in the program. Participants must obtain health insurance to provide medical coverage for travel outside the U.S. For more information, please see Health Insurance page. As always, participants should be cautious and assume responsibility for their personal safety while traveling outside the United States.
Sponsors
The program is sponsored by Stetson University College of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law, Tulsa University College of Law, Mercer University Law School, and Charleston School of Law. The program is hosted by Nankai University College of Law, which will provide classrooms, administrative offices and academic support.
Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy
Oklahoma City University School of Law and Stetson University College of Law provides equality of opportunity in legal education for all persons, including faculty and employees with respect to hiring, continuation, promotion and tenure, applicants for admission, enrolled students, and graduates, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Oklahoma City University School of Law's Vice President for Administration and Finance, located in Room 402 of the Administration Building, telephone (405) 521-5029, coordinates the University's compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.