By partnering with individual participants, students, faculty members, group leaders, chaperones, institutions, and/or groups (any of which are hereinafter referred to as “Participant”) to provide Study Abroad, Immersion Program, and/or custom educational programming services (any of which are hereinafter referred to as “Program”), the Chinese Language Institute, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “CLI”) agrees to fulfill all obligations associated with the Program as outlined on CLI’s website (www.studycli.org), relevant Program itinerary, relevant program proposal, relevant pre-departure materials, and/or other written materials provided by CLI, subject to the terms and conditions below.

By enrolling, registering, participating in a CLI Program, submitting required forms, and/or making payment for a CLI Program, Participant agrees to the following Terms and Conditions:

  1. Enrollment and Period of Program Engagement
    1. Enrollment in CLI is competitive. CLI reserves the right to reject an applicant for any reason. CLI accepts applicants based on careful evaluation of application and supporting documents. CLI does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, political views, age, marital status, national and ethnic origin, or disability.
    2. For purposes of these Terms and Conditions, “Participant” may include, as applicable, students, faculty members, group leaders, chaperones, and other travelers participating in the Program, as well as any parent, guardian, institution, or group organizer responsible for a Participant’s enrollment, payment, permissions, documentation, or Program administration.
    3. Where an institution, group organizer, parent, guardian, or other sponsor enrolls, coordinates, or pays on behalf of one or more Program Participants, that institution, organizer, parent, guardian, or sponsor is responsible for communicating applicable Program requirements, standards of conduct, deadlines, health and safety information, and participant responsibilities to those Program Participants, and for obtaining any participant acknowledgments, permissions, insurance confirmations, emergency contact information, or other documents determined necessary for the Program.
    4. The Study Abroad term (semester, winter, and/or summer), Immersion Program term, Global Seminar term, and/or custom Program starts and ends as indicated on the Dates and Program Fees section of the relevant Program page on CLI’s website, in the CLI-provided Program itinerary, in the relevant program proposal, and/or in pre-departure materials provided by CLI.
    5. Participant is responsible for submitting complete and accurate information requested by CLI, including, as applicable, personal information, passport or travel information, dietary restrictions, health or accommodation information, insurance information, emergency contacts, flight information, and other information reasonably necessary for Program planning, logistics, health, safety, emergency response, and administration.
  2. Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations, and Standards of Conduct
    1. Participant shall observe and obey the laws and regulations of each country visited while participating in a CLI Program. Respect should be given to all customs in host countries.
    2. Participant is expected to comply with CLI’s reasonable Program instructions, local laws and regulations, hotel and transportation rules, site-specific rules, and any applicable standards of conduct communicated by CLI, Guangxi Normal University (hereinafter referred to as “GXNU”), a host institution, a Program leader, a faculty leader, or a group organizer.
    3. CLI and/or the host institution shall have the right to enforce appropriate standards of conduct and may at any time terminate Participant’s participation in the Program for failure to maintain these standards or for any actions or conduct which CLI and/or the host institution considers to be incompatible with the safety, welfare, harmony, comfort, or educational purpose of the Program, other students, Program staff, local partners, or the laws and regulations of the country or countries in which the Program is being held.
    4. CLI maintains, among several explicit and implicit Standards of Conduct policies, a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding the use and/or possession of illegal substances. Use and/or possession of illegal substances may result in removal from the Program, without refund, as well as possible criminal prosecution in the host country.
    5. Harassment, sexual misconduct, violence, threats, theft, reckless conduct, severe intoxication, repeated disruption, or conduct that materially interferes with the safety, welfare, harmony, or educational purpose of the Program may result in removal from the Program. CLI may consult with a Participant’s institution, group organizer, faculty leader, parent, guardian, or emergency contact before a removal decision when reasonably practicable; however, CLI may act immediately when necessary to protect safety, comply with law, or respond to urgent circumstances.
    6. If Participant is removed from the Program, any additional costs, including lodging, transportation, supervision, medical care, or return travel, shall be the responsibility of Participant and/or any parent, guardian, institution, group organizer, or sponsor responsible for Participant, as applicable, and no refund is guaranteed.
  3. Academic University Credits and Transcripts
    1. CLI is an official affiliate of GXNU in Guilin, China, and shall, if applicable, process academic university credits through GXNU or the relevant academic partner, host institution, or transcript-granting institution associated with the Program.
    2. CLI shall, if applicable, provide supporting documentation for credit transfers to the best of its ability, but does not guarantee credit transfers. Transferring credits to Participant’s home institution is ultimately the responsibility of Participant, and credits shall be accepted by the home institution at the home institution’s sole discretion.
    3. Academic transcripts shall, if applicable, be issued upon satisfactory completion of the Program and fulfillment of applicable academic requirements. Additional transcripts may be issued upon written request to CLI by Participant. CLI reserves the right to deny transcript requests by Participants with outstanding financial obligations to CLI.
  4. Cancellation, Withdrawal, Refunds, Force Majeure, and Travel Advisories
    1. CLI and/or the host institution reserves the right to cancel the Program due to an insufficient number of registered participants and/or to reschedule the Program start date to another time.
    2. If Participant cancels participation before the start of the Program, the following baseline refund schedule shall apply unless otherwise agreed in writing by CLI and Participant, Participant’s parent or guardian, Participant’s sponsoring institution, and/or Participant’s group organizer, as applicable:
      1. More than 180 days before the Program start date: 100% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
      2. 120 to 179 days before the Program start date: 80% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
      3. 60 to 119 days before the Program start date: 60% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
      4. 30 to 59 days before the Program start date: 40% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
      5. 29 days or fewer before the Program start date: no refund is guaranteed.
    3. Cancellations must be submitted to CLI by email to the CLI Program Director or other designated CLI representative. Cancellations will be recorded based on the date CLI receives written notification.
    4. Program deposits are non-refundable unless otherwise agreed in writing by CLI.
    5. Notwithstanding the above schedule, CLI may, at its discretion, provide additional refunds or credits where costs are recoverable or avoidable. Any such refund or credit will be calculated after deducting non-refundable deposits, vendor payments, banking fees, transfer fees, payment processing fees, and other unrecoverable third-party costs already incurred or committed by CLI, as well as an administrative/program management fee equal to 20% of total Program fees, calculated as the Program fee per participant multiplied by the number of enrolled Program Participants or, for individual enrollments, the applicable Program fee for Participant.
    6. Any banking fees, transfer fees, payment processing fees, currency conversion fees, or other costs associated with payment or refund of Program fees shall not be the responsibility of CLI.
    7. If Participant is unable to participate due to illness before the start of the Program, the cancellation will generally be treated as a Participant cancellation under the schedule above. CLI will review such cases in good faith and may, at its discretion, provide an additional refund or credit to the extent costs associated with Participant are recoverable or avoidable, after deducting unrecoverable costs and the applicable administrative/program management fee.
    8. Refunds for unused portions of the Program after arrival are generally not feasible.
    9. If CLI cancels the Program before the start of the Program for reasons within CLI’s reasonable control, 100% of Program fees paid to CLI shall be refunded. This provision does not apply to cancellations, modifications, or disruptions caused by force majeure circumstances, government directives, travel advisories, severe weather, transportation shutdowns, public health emergencies, or other circumstances beyond CLI’s reasonable control.
    10. Force majeure circumstances may include events beyond the reasonable control of CLI, Participant, Participant’s institution, Participant’s group organizer, or any relevant host institution that materially prevent the Program from operating as planned, including but not limited to government directives, border closures, mandatory evacuations, natural disasters, severe weather events that make Program operation unsafe or impossible, transportation shutdowns, public health emergencies, terrorism, war, civil unrest, or other comparable circumstances.
    11. If a force majeure event materially prevents the Program from operating and rescheduling is not feasible, CLI will make commercially reasonable efforts to recover refundable amounts from hotels, transportation providers, activity providers, educational partners, and other vendors or suppliers. Any refund or credit will be limited to amounts actually recoverable or avoidable by CLI, after deducting unrecoverable third-party costs, bank, transfer, and payment processing fees, and an administrative/program management fee equal to 20% of total Program fees.
    12. Travel advisories, health notices, anticipated weather, or possible disruptions do not automatically constitute grounds for cancellation, postponement, rescheduling, or refund. If a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notice, host-country government directive, or other comparable official guidance materially prevents safe and reasonable Program operation, the matter will be addressed under the force majeure terms above. If Participant elects to cancel even though CLI can still reasonably operate a modified or substantially comparable Program, the cancellation will be addressed under the baseline refund schedule and discretionary recoverable-cost approach above.
    13. CLI may, but is not obligated to, offer rescheduling, substitute programming, alternative activities, modified itineraries, or other arrangements where operationally feasible. Additional costs, vendor change fees, fare differences, staffing costs, or other incremental expenses may apply.
    14. In the event of termination of participation in the Program due to any violation of Section 2 of these Terms and Conditions, Participant shall have no right to any refund of any part of the Program fee, and, upon notice by CLI, whether verbally or in writing, Participant shall forthwith depart from the Program and return home at Participant’s own expense.
  5. Changes to Program and Cancellation of Program Components
    1. CLI and/or the host institution reserves the right to make reasonable cancellations, changes, and/or substitutions to the itinerary, housing, transportation, activities, schedule, Program sequence, restaurants, local arrangements, and other Program components when necessary for safety, logistics, vendor availability, weather, government guidance, emergency circumstances, changed conditions, or other operational reasons.
    2. Specific site visits, speakers, restaurants, accommodations, transportation arrangements, and activities are subject to availability and may be replaced with comparable alternatives consistent with the academic, cultural, and logistical goals of the Program.
    3. Such modifications do not automatically entitle Participant to a refund, provided that CLI makes reasonable efforts to deliver a substantially comparable Program experience.
    4. During any activities, tours, or Programs arranged by CLI and/or the host institution, Participant shall accept the will of the majority whenever a matter of choice is presented to the group.
    5. Once the Program has started, Program services and components may not be canceled or downgraded by Participant, but they may be upgraded or changed to a higher service type as offered by CLI provided Participant pays any fee differential.
  6. Visa
    1. Upon request by Participant, CLI shall provide reasonable support to Participant in obtaining visas and required documents associated with travel to the country or countries in which the Program will be held. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of Participant to obtain such visas and required documents.
    2. In the event Participant cannot obtain the necessary visas and/or required documents for participation in the Program, Participant shall not hold CLI responsible.
    3. In the event Participant’s visa application is rejected prior to the start of the Program or Participant cannot obtain other required documents, any refund shall be handled under the cancellation and refund terms above unless otherwise agreed in writing.
    4. In the event Participant requires a visa renewal after the start of the Program and the visa renewal application is rejected, causing Participant to be unable to continue the Program, refunds for unused portions of the Program after arrival are generally not feasible, except to the extent CLI determines that specific costs are recoverable or avoidable.
  7. Medical and Health
    1. All Participants studying and/or traveling with CLI are required to have appropriate health insurance for the Program. Participant may be required to show proof of health insurance during registration or pre-departure procedures.
    2. Participant is strongly encouraged to maintain appropriate travel, medical, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and repatriation insurance.
    3. It is the responsibility of Participant to thoroughly review health and safety information from the CDC, the U.S. Department of State, host-country authorities, and any information indicated by CLI in pre-departure materials, and to take any safety or health precautions Participant deems necessary prior to or during the Program.
    4. CLI is not a medical provider and does not provide medical advice. If Participant becomes ill or incapacitated during the Program, CLI may provide reasonable assistance in coordination with Participant, Program leaders, local medical providers, and any applicable insurance provider, including helping to secure medical treatment and/or transportation. Any medical, transportation, evacuation, repatriation, or related costs shall be the responsibility of Participant and/or any parent, guardian, institution, group organizer, or sponsor responsible for Participant, as applicable.
    5. Participant hereby grants CLI and its agents full authority to take whatever actions they may consider to be warranted in the event of any personal emergency, international or political unrest, or other event regarding the health and safety of Participant, and Participant fully releases CLI and its agents from any liability for such decisions or actions as may be taken in connection therewith, except to the extent prohibited by law.
    6. In the event of medical emergency, or as deemed necessary by CLI, Participant authorizes CLI and its agents at their discretion to place Participant, at Participant’s own expense and without Participant’s further consent, in a hospital for medical services and treatment, or if no hospital is readily available, to place Participant in an alternative facility to be treated by a medical doctor.
    7. CLI will make reasonable efforts to notify Participant’s listed emergency contact, parent, guardian, institution, group organizer, or faculty leader, as applicable, of significant health, safety, conduct, or emergency incidents involving Participant. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Participant’s institution, group organizer, parent, or guardian is responsible for notifying Participant’s family members, guardians, emergency contacts, or institutional stakeholders, as applicable.
  8. Insurance, Liability, Third-Party Providers, Waiver, and Indemnification
    1. Participant is responsible for maintaining insurance appropriate to Participant’s role in the Program and for Participant’s own acts, omissions, decisions, and conduct. Upon reasonable request, Participant shall provide evidence of applicable insurance coverage.
    2. CLI may use hotels, transportation providers, restaurants, activity providers, educational partners, local guides, GXNU, host institutions, and other third-party vendors or suppliers in connection with the Program. Such third parties are independent providers. CLI shall use reasonable care in selecting and coordinating third-party providers but shall not be responsible for their acts or omissions except to the extent caused by CLI’s own negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of these Terms and Conditions.
    3. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Participant agrees to waive and release CLI, which term includes the Chinese Language Institute, LLC and its officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents, contractors, affiliated companies, GXNU, host institutions, and any person or entity employed or utilized by CLI, from claims which may arise from or in connection with physical injury, illness, death, or property damage which Participant may suffer from risks inherent in travel, Program activities, independent travel, third-party providers, natural disasters, strikes, government restrictions, war, terrorist activities, sickness, quarantine, transportation disruptions, or other events beyond CLI’s reasonable control.
    4. Participant shall be responsible for taking all measures and exercising caution and common sense at all times to avoid injuries, illness, property damage, and/or death.
    5. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Participant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CLI and its officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, affiliated companies, and representatives from and against claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of Participant’s negligence, willful misconduct, material breach of these Terms and Conditions, failure to follow applicable laws, Program rules, safety instructions, or standards of conduct, except to the extent caused by CLI’s negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of these Terms and Conditions.
    6. CLI shall not be liable to Participant for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the Program, except to the extent prohibited by law.
  9. Loan
    1. If deemed necessary or desirable by CLI and/or its agents to advance or loan any monies to Participant or incur special expense on Participant’s behalf while Participant is enrolled in the Program, Participant shall make immediate repayment prior to or upon Participant’s return home.
  10. Social, Cultural, and Travel Activities
    1. CLI shall organize the activities, events, travel, accommodations, restaurants, and other Program components listed in the Program itinerary, subject to the change, substitution, cancellation, and force majeure terms in these Terms and Conditions. CLI shall cover costs associated with these items for Participant as listed in the Program itinerary.
    2. CLI may organize additional social, cultural, and/or travel activities for Participant from time to time. Participant participation in these activities is optional unless otherwise stated in the Program itinerary. For all activities not included in the Program itinerary, Participant shall be eligible to participate at Participant’s own expense.
  11. Participant Information and Data Handling
    1. CLI shall treat non-public Participant information received in connection with the Program as confidential and shall use such information only as reasonably necessary to plan, administer, and operate the Program or as otherwise required by law.
    2. Participant may provide CLI with information necessary for Program administration, including names, contact information, passport or travel information, dietary restrictions, health or accommodation information, insurance information, emergency contacts, flight information, and related logistical information. CLI may use and share such information with its employees, agents, local partners, vendors, medical providers, insurers, authorities, GXNU, host institutions, or other relevant parties as reasonably necessary for Program planning, logistics, health, safety, emergency response, and administration.
    3. CLI shall use reasonable safeguards for sensitive Participant information and shall make reasonable efforts to address any unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive Participant information related to the Program in accordance with applicable law.
  12. Use of Student Photos, Videos, and Statements
    1. CLI reserves the right to use any photos or videos of Participant, or statements made by Participant, for print, verbal, internet, or other commercial use and shall not be held liable for such use.
    2. Requests to decline such use must be sent via email to a CLI director or other designated CLI representative.
  13. Email List
    1. By submitting CLI’s Application and/or Enrollment Form, Participant may be subscribed to CLI’s email list to receive news, updates, and other information about CLI.
    2. To unsubscribe from this list, Participant may click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of any CLI newsletter, or email a CLI director or other designated CLI representative with a written request to unsubscribe.
  14. Legal Governance
    1. This agreement shall become effective when Participant’s Application Form and/or Enrollment Form is accepted by CLI, when Participant makes payment for a Program, or when Participant begins participation in a Program, whichever occurs first, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the state of Colorado applicable thereto.
  15. Modifications
    1. These Terms and Conditions may be modified or interpreted only in writing executed or confirmed by CLI and, where applicable, Participant, Participant’s parent or guardian, Participant’s sponsoring institution, or Participant’s group organizer. No verbal modification or interpretation shall have any validity.
  16. CLI
    1. All references herein to “CLI” apply to the Chinese Language Institute, LLC and its officers, directors, staff members, campus directors, chaperones, group leaders, teachers, employees, agents, contractors, and affiliated companies, as applicable. Participant and CLI are independent entities, and nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended or shall be construed to create an agency relationship, employment relationship, partnership, or joint venture between the parties.