Mo’orea Spring Program Policies

Program Calendar

Please find below a preliminary list of important dates for the program. Please be aware that certain dates are subject to change. Should any updates to this calendar be made, you will be informed.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the program you must:     
    ● Be a current matriculated UCB student     
    ● Have at least Junior Standing by Spring 2024     
    ● Have a 2.5 GPA or higher     
    ● Be at least 18 years old by January 14, 2024     
    ● Have a passport valid with an expiration date beyond June 30, 2024     
    ● Have proof of complete Covid-19 vaccination (French Polynesia requirement)

Exclusivity

Non-enrolled family members and others accompanying participants, faculty or staff of the Mo’orea Spring 2024 program cannot be accommodated in program lodging, courses or activities held in conjunction with the program. Program classes, excursions, guest lectures, meals, program-provided transportation, and all other program-related activities and events are open only to those officially enrolled in the program. Summer Sessions & Study Abroad will not provide support services or assume any responsibility for those not enrolled in the program

Application & Admission

To be considered for participation on the Mo’orea Spring 2024 program, eligible students must complete and submit the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program online application, which includes submitting your electronic signature and uploading all the required documents for review.

All complete applications will be reviewed after the submission deadline of Monday, September 25th, 2023. Please note there is limited space available within the program. Candidates typically receive an admission decision within four weeks of submitting an application, and no later than October 16, 2023

If a student is offered admission to the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program and decides not to participate in the program they must log into the BSA Portal and complete the Request to Cancel form. Nonrefundable program expenses will be incurred if cancellation is submitted after the November 30, 2023 deadline.

Waitlist

The Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program will accept a limited number of students on a waitlist. Students will be notified no later than Nov 30 2023 if space becomes available. Admitted waitlist students are subject to the same cancellation fee deadlines.

Courses

Course Enrollment

Mo’orea Spring 2024 - Island Sustainability Program staff will be enrolling you in your five required program courses before the end of Fall semester. All Mo’orea Spring 2024 - Island Sustainability Program students will be enrolled in the 5 required, inter-related program courses. Fieldwork is a major emphasis of your coursework, and students will experience fieldwork in marine and terrestrial habitats on and around Tetiaroa, Tahiti and Mo’orea. The courses are related and build on one another, so aspects of all courses will surface throughout your time abroad. Students must remain enrolled in all five on-site courses, AND complete their remote capstone project after the on-site program is complete. Dual enrollment in UC Berkeley courses outside of the Mo’orea Spring program curriculum is not possible.

Grades & Grading Options

All courses are offered for UC Berkeley credit and will appear on your transcript as Berkeley courses with letter grades. You are expected to remain on-site at the Gump Station and attend classes regularly during all academic sessions.

Note that Mo’orea Spring 2024 - Island Sustainability Program students will be enrolled in their courses on a Letter grade basis by default. If students wish to select the Pass/Not Pass option, they can change their grading option via Cal Central by the set spring semester deadlines. If a deadline has passed, students should contact their college advisor regarding the process to submit a late petition for enrollment changes. Consult with your academic advisors if unsure how the Pass/Not Pass option will impact major/minor or graduation requirements.

Students must enroll in all five on-site courses, AND complete the 3-week remote Capstone Project after the on-site program is complete. Due to the academic design of the program, students must remain enrolled in all five courses. Dropping from any course would not be possible and considered as a withdrawal from the program. Dual enrollment in UC Berkeley courses outside of the Mo’orea Spring program curriculum is not possible.

You are expected to remain at the host institution location and attend classes regularly during all academic sessions. You are expected to be on time and participate in all class components including excursions, guest lectures, and other class related activities. Failure to abide to the attendance policy and/or participate in all class components may impact your academic grade.

Expect classes to be held Monday-Friday.

Dual enrollment in on-campus UC Berkeley courses is not possible.

Program courses are subject to change.

Academic & Other Accommodations

Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program participants are encouraged to disclose any accommodations (physical, academic, etc.) they may need as early as possible. Program staff will work with you through the interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations to the extent possible given the realities of the country to which you will be traveling and the time at which the accommodation request is made. It is recommended that you reach out to the program staff and to the Disabled Students Program as accommodations are determined by an individual assessment of each student.

Please note, due to the interrelated nature of the program coursework, this program will not be suitable for students in need of the DSP accommodation of a reduced course load.

Program Preparation

All participants are required to attend the virtual pre-departure orientation, Building a Better Fieldwork Future workshop, and any additional pre-arrival sessions conducted by program faculty, staff, and student services. If the student is unable to attend for any reason, it is the student's responsibility to notify program staff.

Students will receive an in-depth orientation when they arrive abroad. During this mandatory orientation, you will meet the on-site staff and receive extensive information about health, safety, and emergency procedures; program academics and housing, the local area, and transportation.

Housing & Meals

During the Mo’orea Spring 2024 program, you are required to live in program housing arranged by the program staff. Participants will live in shared accommodations throughout the program. Private rooms are not possible. If enrollment in the program exceeds the total dormitory capacity, some participants may be housed in a waterfront bungalow, and housing will be assigned via lottery.

Gump Station Housing

Students will be housed in double or triple occupancy rooms in the Gump Station student dormitory accommodation. In their rooms, each student will have a bed covered by a mosquito net and equipped with sheets, blankets, and pillows. Students will be provided with one bath towel. The student dormitory contains shared bathrooms and showers on every floor, a large communal kitchen, dining area, laundry facilities and a small classroom. See additional details and photos of the dormitory..

Tetiaroa Housing

During your field trip on Tetiaroa, students will be housed in the small Ecostation dormitory. At the Tetiaroa EcoStation   dormitory, students will be housed in rooms shared with up to 5 students. Students may want to bring their own light bedding (such a sleeping sac/liner or sheet set) and pillowcase (pillows will be provided).

Temae Beach Housing

During your field trip on Temae Beach on Mo’orea, students will be housed at the Hirinaki Temae Beach House. At the Beach House, students will be housed in large, dormitory-style rooms shared with up to 12 students.

Meals

Full board (3 meals per day) is provided during the entire program via local caterers (no meals are offered during Spring Break). Most food restrictions can be accommodated, although vegan options are limited.

Passport

You must hold a valid passport in order to submit your application for the Mo’orea Spring 2024 program. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the end date of the program. Students that submit an invalid passport will be deemed incomplete for review and be ineligible for the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program program.

Visa

Depending on your citizenship status you may need to obtain a visa. There may be different requirements for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. It is your responsibility to prepare any visa documents that are necessary to enter the country based on your citizenship status. You will receive visa instructions upon confirmation to the program and during your pre-departure orientation. The Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program staff will provide you with key documentation necessary for entry into French Polynesia. Staff will also instruct you about additional documentation that you will need in advance of departure. It is ultimately the student's responsibility to ensure they have all necessary visa documentation before departure.

Flights

Students will be responsible for booking their own travel into Tahiti, and arriving on the set program start date.

Insurance

UC Berkeley requires all students to have major medical insurance, and provides the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to meet this requirement. Students are automatically enrolled in SHIP at the beginning of each academic year, but have the option to waive SHIP coverage with proof of equivalent private insurance.

During your Mo’orea program, you are also enrolled in UC Berkeley Student Travel Insurance, which does not qualify as major medical coverage according to guidelines set by the Affordable Care Act (and does not satisfy SHIP waiver criteria).

Mo’orea spring students must either stay enrolled in SHIP insurance for Spring 2024 and pay the SHIP fee on CalCentral (due in mid-January 2024), OR waive SHIP insurance for Spring 2024 using private insurance that meets SHIP waiver criteria. If you waived SHIP insurance using private insurance at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, your SHIP waiver will continue for Spring 2024, and no further action is required.

If you are enrolled in SHIP for Fall 2023 but you wish to waive out of SHIP insurance for the spring semester, you must complete an online opt- out waiver. For more information, please visit the UHS Website, contact the UHS office via phone at (510) 642-5700, or email ship@berkeley.edu. If an emergency situation should arise abroad, you should contact local authorities and medical staff. Whenever possible, local program staff should be kept informed regarding safety concerns or issues. Information about what to do in an emergency while abroad, including emergency contact details, will be available in your Student Handbook and will also be discussed during the program pre-departure and on-site orientations.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for eligible students who have completed a 2023-2024 FAFSA.

You are encouraged to request an estimated financial aid package based on the program budget via the form provided on the BSA Financial Aid Advising page. All financial aid counseling for study abroad will be offered remotely during Fall 2023. Check the advising schedule for additional information, or write to travelaid@berkeley.edu with your questions.

When the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office calculates the amount of aid offered for participation in the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program, they consider not only the tuition and program fee charges but also any out-of-pocket expenses students may incur during the program. The charges posted directly to your CalCentral My Finances tab for the tuition and the program fee are part of the total expenses that will be incurred while abroad.

If a student requires financial aid to cover program costs, it is their responsibility to obtain confirmation in advance of any program deadlines. The inability to pay the program fee or tuition is not a valid reason to receive a refund of the fees associated with the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program.

Billing & Payment

You do not pay at the time that you apply for the program. You will receive a bill for your fees that will appear on your CalCentral My Finances tab under Billing Summary. For specific due dates, please check your CalCentral My Finances tab. Fees not paid within 30 days after the due date will begin to accrue late fees.

Financial aid is available for eligible students (see financial aid section above).

Program fees include tuition, pre-departure preparation, onsite orientation program, excursions, program activities, and 24/7 emergency support, as well as administrative, academic and programmatic support abroad. Students are responsible for their airfare, and other out-of-pocket personal costs not covered by the program. Personal expenses (souvenirs, daily individual transportation, medical expenses, toiletries, etc.) are universally excluded from the program fee.

Student Conduct

Any violation of the Berkeley Code of Conduct or of the stipulations within a student’s signed Student Agreement occurring while participating in the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program program may result in dismissal from the program, and will also be reported to the UC Berkeley Center for Student Conduct, which may lead to further sanctions as deemed appropriate by the University.

If you are dismissed, you will be deemed no longer a participant in the program and must vacate program housing. You will be required to make your flight arrangements to depart Mo’orea and return home.

Withdrawal & Cancellation

Protocol: To cancel your participation in the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program before departure please log into your BSA Portal and complete the Request to Cancel Form. Talking to program staff about your intention to cancel, or sending a request via email is not considered an official request. Please be sure to review the cancellation policy carefully for details on deadlines and fees.

If you are denied admission by Berkeley Summer Sessions and Study Abroad because you do not meet the eligibility criteria or the program is full, you will not be obligated to pay any program-related fees.

If you cancel your participation, or are administratively dropped from the Mo’orea Spring 2024 program for failure to meet program requirements, Berkeley Study Abroad staff will drop you from your Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program required course(s).

Policy: If you receive financial aid you cancel your participation prior to departure for the program, your financial aid will be repackaged based on the campus budget. Depending on the timing of your cancellation you may receive a bill for financial aid previously disbursed to you based on the Mo'orea Spring program budget. Students may cancel without penalty through November 29, 2023. Students that cancel on or after November 30, 2023 will be liable for a $500 non-refundable fee Campus rules and policies apply to tuition. To read more about cancellation and withdrawal, please visit The Berkeley registrar for more information.

Refund

We understand situations occur that may prevent you from attending or completing the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program program. If you need to withdraw from the program and your courses after the cancellation deadline, you may request an appeal to the refund policy. To appeal the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program cancellation fees, an appeal letter must be sent directly to the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program staff via email to for review. Submit your appeal letter to Program Staff at jdoliver@berkeley.edu.

All refund appeals require a signed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. You should state, as concisely and clearly as possible, the reason for this appeal. The appeal letter is limited to one page, not to exceed 500 words, and it must be written and signed by the student. The letter should also include the following:

Student Name   
Student ID   
Student's Current Postal Address   
Student's Current Email Address

It is essential to disclose all information, reasons for the appeal, and all supporting documentation regarding your case in the initial appeal letter. Subsequent appeal letters providing new information, different reasons for the appeal, or new supporting documentation are not eligible for review.

Program Cancellation

Summer Sessions & Study Abroad reserves the right to cancel the Mo’orea Spring 2024 Program . In the event that your program is canceled, you will be notified by a program advisor who will discuss your options with you. Summer Sessions & Study Abroad is not responsible for any costs incurred regarding air travel or personal expenses. We highly recommend that you do not proceed with making travel plans until you are confirmed as a participant.

Additional Information

In preparation for the Mo'orea Spring 2024 Program, it is important that you actively research and ask appropriate questions to get the answers that you need. Additional program and general travel information can be obtained from some of the following resources:

• Mo’orea Spring 2023 Student Handbook
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S Passports & International Travel
• French Polynesia Border Agency
• Gump Station User Guide

The Mo’orea Spring 2024 program is part of the Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, and Lifelong Learning division, which is under the leadership of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.