Cardinal Destination Courses Abroad (CDCA) May Term

A Cardinal Destination Course Abroad (CDCA) is a short-term faculty-led course that takes place shortly after the spring semester ends during the month of May (May Term). Students travel internationally as a group with a North Central College faculty and staff member. Each CDCA opportunity includes a linked prerequisite course completed in the spring semester before departure. 

Interested? Here are your next steps...

Step 1: Speak with the course-specific faculty leader(s) to learn more about the course, logistics, and itinerary, and to request instructor consent (via email) to enroll for the appropriate courses on Merlin. Please note: instructor consent is required for enrollment on Merlin

Step 2: Enroll on Merlin for the respective 2-credit CARD*260 May Term travel component (under spring semester). This is a manual process via the Registrar's Office once instructor consent has been provided. The enrollment deadline is November 1, 2026.

Step 3: Register with the Center for Global Education (CGE).  After the November 1st deadline, the CGE team will send you a link with instructions to register and next steps to complete by December 11, 2026.

Step 4: Pay your first $500 program fee deposit by December 11, 2026.

Step 5: Pay your second $500 deposit (airfare deposit) by January 29, 2027.

*Please note: In order to add the CARD*260 course to your spring semester schedule, students will need instructor consent. This can be done via email by contacting the respective faculty leader(s) asking for permission to enroll. Students should then forward the confirmation from faculty leader(s) to the Registrar's Office at registrar@noctrl.edu, and the course will appear on your schedule.

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXPECTATIONS

• All CDCA enrolled students will be required to attend a pre-departure information session on in April 2027 (date TBA). Failure to attend may jeopardize ability to participate.
• North Central College provides all students enrolled in a CDCA a primary emergency medical insurance policy for the course dates abroad.
• Every student participant is required to abide by the College policies as outlined in the North Central College Student Handbook and by the expectations outlined in the course syllabus. If, in the judgement of a faculty/staff leader, a student has violated the course expectations or College policy as stated in the Student Handbook, the student may be sent home at his/her own expense. In such circumstances, a student's parents/guardians may also be notified and additional disciplinary action may be taken by the College upon the student's return to the United States.
• All participating students will receive a PR grade for the CARD*260 course in the spring semester. Per College policy, all students who receive a PR grade for the semester are ineligible to be named on the Dean’s List until that grade is finalized upon return home from international travel. Once the final grade is received, if a student is eligible for the Dean’s List, this will be awarded at that time.

NCC POLICIES

• Students should maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in order to be eligible to participate in a CDCA. If a students' cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 after your enrollment, or you are put on academic probation, North Central College has the right to withdraw you from the program at your own expense. You will be responsible for any fees incurred by the College as a result of this cancellation.
• North Central College expects students to abide by the Student Handbook, both on campus and abroad. Failure to comply with College policy(ies) and/or partner institution policy(ies) may affect your ability to participate in a College-sponsored study abroad program—including being on academic and/or disciplinary probation in the semester(s) leading up to your study abroad experience and/or during your course abroad. 
• The Center for Global Education collaborates with the Center for Student Success and the Office of Student Affairs to ensure that participants do not have any academic concerns and/or are not currently on probation and/or involved in any investigations. North Central College reserves the right to suspend your participation in your program for any reason at any time, and you will be responsible for costs incurred by the College.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY

• Refund schedules for airfare depend on individual airlines; faculty leaders will inform all participants of the relevant deadlines and policies.
• All enrolled students will be charged a $40 non-refundable registration fee on their NC Student Account.
• If an enrolled student withdraws from the CDCA before March 1, 2027, then 50% of the remaining balance of the program fee will be billed to the student account if costs have been incurred by the College.
• If an enrolled student withdraws from the CDCA after March 1, 2027, then 100% of the program fee is forfeited. Withdrawing from a CDCA does not withdraw you from the linked spring semester course.
• If a student withdraws from the respective CARD*260 spring semester course, the student will not be eligible to travel abroad and will be responsible for any associated fees (airline or program fees) as outlined in the Cancellation and Refund Policy above.
• Successful completion of the spring semester preparatory coursework is REQUIRED for participation in the May Term international travel component.