1.
What
are the living accommodations during the tour?
2.
How should we dress for the tour?
3.
How
much money should we bring?
4.
Are
students chaperoned at all times?
5.
Will coed visitation be allowed at the hotel?
6.
What is the cost of the tour and what is covered in the cost?
7.
Will students be allowed to
use the telephones?
8.
When will we be notified if our child is accepted to attend the tour?
9.
Are refunds given on any payments if students are rejected or cancels?
10.
Are the chaperones and HBCA members employed by HBCA?
11.
Is the tour open to all students?
12.
Do students who attend an HBCU learn how to adapt in a diverse
environment?
13.
How are students selected?
What are the living
accommodations during the tour?
All overnight stays will be at a reputable
hotel. Past hotels we stayed at include Holiday Inn, Doubletree, Marriott
Courtyard, Comfort Suites, and Crown Plaza. Actual hotel names and numbers will
be provided prior to departure.
How
should we dress for the tour?
During
the tours, students will be doing a considerable amount of walking
therefore it is recommended that they wear sneakers and other comfortable
clothing. There is no need to bring any dress clothing, high heels, etc. The
wearing of mini-skirts, mid-drifts, shorts, wife-beaters or similar clothing
will not be permitted during the campus tours.
How much money should we
bring?
Students
are financially responsible for meals, snacks, souvenirs, and any items
acquired during shopping trips. We will visit at least one mall during the
tour. School tours usually include a visit to the school's bookstore. Students
can survive with a minimum of $200. HBCA chaperones will not let any students
starve due to lack of funds. Estimated cost of some schools
popular souvenir items are:
Meals $35
per day
(If 2 meals are covered by HBCA then $10.00 per
day)
Tee
shirts $15.00
Sweat
shirts $25.00
Hooded
sweat shirts $40.00
Are students chaperoned
at all times?
Chaperones
will accompany students during tours, restaurants and hotel. During visits
to large enclosed areas such as a mall or amusement park were it is impossible for
chaperones to stay with all students, students are required to stay within
the grounds of the property and encouraged to stay in groups.
Will coed visitation be
allowed at the hotel?
Yes.
With chaperone approval, male\female students are allowed to co-visit. During
these visits the room door must remain open. These rooms are closely
monitored by the chaperones. At no time will private coed visits (1 male and 1
female student alone) be allowed. All students must be in their assigned
rooms after curfew.
What is the cost of the
tour and what is covered in the cost?
The
cost of the trip will vary from year to year. It is HBCA's goal keep the cost
under $350 or enough to cover approximately 50% of the total expenses of the
trip. The other %50 of the cost is subsidized by funds received through private
foundations. The fee covers the hotel accommodations and transportation. If
fund raising objectives are met, we will also include two meals per day and the
cost of activities.
Will
students be allowed to use the hotel phones?
The
phone in the rooms shall not be used for long distance calling. We don’t expect
this to be an issue since most students have their own cell phone.
When
will we be notified if our child is accepted to attend the tour?
We plan
to finalize the rider list on or about the end of March. You should receive notice
within 4 weeks following your interview providing all materials are received.
Are
refunds given on any payments if students are rejected or cancels?
Deposits
are non-refundable, but a full refund may be granted if we reject a student for
reasons that we feel are in the best interest of the trip and that student has
satisfied the application process. Due to our commitment to the bus company and
hotels, refunds cannot be given for cancellations made after the cancellation
deadline indicated on the application. Typically, the 2nd week in March.
Refunds may be given if cancellation is due to an extenuating circumstance.
Are the chaperones and HBCA members employed by HBCA?
HBCA does not have any employed members or staff. All members
and chaperones are volunteers. The chaperones use their own vacation time to
attend this tour. Chaperones are not required to pay a fee and their meals are
paid for. Chaperones may receive a stipend.
Is this
tour open to all students?
Yes,
this tour is offered to students of all nationalities.
Do
students who attend an HBCU learn how to adapt in a diverse environment?
This is
a myth. The truth is that students are better equipped due to the pride and
knowledge they gain in themselves. The HBCU environment is diverse with
students and staff from around the world.
How are
students selected?
Students
must complete the application process, which is paying the fee on time,
submitting an application, letters of recommendation, grade transcript and attending
the mandatory workshops. Some forgiveness is granted for the financial aid and
college seminar if students have a valid excuse. Forgiveness is less likely for
missing the student orientation. Student may be disqualified if they have a history
of misconduct at school or during our workshops.
Copyright © 1999 [Historically Black College Alumni, Inc.]. All
rights reserved.
Revised: November 28, 2018.