Q. Where is the program going this year?

A. The Academy will run from May 14 until June 13 in 2010. The program is based in Linz, a baroque Austrian town located about halfway between Vienna and Salzburg. It will visit both of those cities in the course of its activities and will also travel to Krumlov in the Czech Republic, Passau in Germany, Budapest, Venice and Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast as well as arbitration courts located in many of those venues.

Q. How do I find out about registration for the program, deposits, and payment?

A. The Summer Academy in International Commercial Arbitration's website can be found at www.saiica.com. All of the necessary forms for the program; the basic administrative information for the program; and other helpful information can be located there. If you have any questions beyond the material which is covered at the website, please feel free to call Professor Lanier at (404) 413-9185 or contact him at erlaniersaiica.com. Cindy Perry is in charge of all administrative aspects of the program and she can be reached at (404) 413-9080 or at cperrysaiica.com.

Q. How much does the program cost?

A. The basic costs of the Summer Academy are in two parts: the tuition (which is paid to the university) and the administrative cost of the program itself. The administrative cost of the program this year is $2,990. This amount is used to cover your hotels in Linz and Dubrovnik, breakfast each day while in those two cities, ground transportation, supplemental health insurance, and other associated common costs incurred in the conduct of the program, speaker expenses and the like.

Tuition is additional, and this is estimated this year to be $3345, the in-state rate which is available to all students, regardless of residence. All students pay an extra $57 Technology Fee to the University, and students not resident in Georgia will pay a $250 administrative fee assessed by the Georgia Board of Regents. 

Q. What about non-residents of Georgia?

A. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia agreed to permit the Summer Academy in International Commercial Arbitration to assess an in-state tuition rate with respect to all students who participate in the program, whether residents of Georgia or not. Non-residents of the State of Georgia pay a modest administrative fee but they do not pay the normal out of state tuition rates assessed in other classes of the university system or programs. We are quite happy about this development since it puts our non-resident students on a par with those who are resident in Georgia.

Q. Are there any other “hidden” costs of the program?

A. There are, of course, personal expenses but the extent of these is largely up to the individual student. Meals and food service not covered by the general program costs are the responsibility of the student but here, as always, you can spend a lot or you can spend a little. It really is up to you.

In addition, the program has venues and locations outside of Linz, Austria, and Dubrovnik on the Croatian coast. When we travel to other locations, we arrange our schedule so that you have an opportunity to remain in the destination city (for instance, Vienna, Venice or Budapest) but if you do so, the hotel cost is at your own expense. Transportation costs to and from each of the destinations out of Linz is provided by charter bus and is included in the program cost.

We have found in the past that most students will double or triple or quadruple up in hotel rooms in the offsite venues so that the costs are kept at a minimum. One of the reasons that the program fee is so low is because we do not assume the cost of hotel arrangements outside of Linz and Dubrovnik, although we cover you for the entire month of the program in those cities.

Q. When and where should we arrive in Europe?

A. Each individual should make his or her air arrangements to arrive in Linz, Austria, no later than the evening of Friday, May 14, 2009: formal sessions of the program including orientation and basic information will begin the next morning on Saturday, May 15. The program will conclude in Dubrovnik in Croatia on Sunday, June 13: each individual should make his or her travel arrangements from Dubrovnik.

The usual pattern is to fly into Europe via Frankfurt with a change to Linz. There are, of course, other points of entry but you should check with your travel agent about this. In the past, many students have flown into Munich, Germany, since there is a direct flight from Atlanta to Munich and pretty good rail connections between Munich and Linz: this route seems to be on the average a little bit less expensive because there is no connecting flight between a port of entry city like Frankfurt and your destination city of Linz.

Q. What about clothing?

A. In terms of formal vs. informal the standard is simple: informal dress is good for all sessions and activities of the program with the single exception of our visits to the Arbitration Courts at venues outside of Linz. Here, coat and tie for men and the equivalent for women, would be standard. We tend to put on the dog just a little bit at our Farewell Dinner at the end of the program.

As far as weather, climate and temperature are concerned, you will find Linz quite pleasant. It tends in May and June to be somewhat cooler than Atlanta with much less humidity, so that light clothing is generally in order. The evenings can be cooler, however, so a sweater or light jacket is a good thing to have. The usual travel accoutrements like raincoats, umbrellas and the like are always a good idea. Other than the notations here, there are no peculiar or unusual dress requirements for the program.

Q. I want to have family or friends visit with me for a portion (or all) of the program. Can this be done?

A. Yes. With sufficient notice, we can make suitable hotel accommodations in Linz and in Dubrovnik at the same facility where you will be residing as a student. The practice in Linz and Dubrovnik—and indeed, throughout Europe—is to assess accommodation costs on a per person, per night basis. In other words, splitting a room will not mean splitting the cost, but rather doubling it (or tripling it, as the case may be.) Your family and friends are welcome: in the past we have had whole families with us at the Summer Academy and this has always worked out rather well. These individuals are also welcome to travel with us to the destination cities depending upon the availability of space in our charter transportation.

Individuals accompanying participants in the program will assume responsibility for all costs which they generate, but there is no separate or special fee assessed for their presence with us. Early planning is always the best ticket in this connection, so let Prof. Lanier know if you intend to bring someone with you.

Q. When do we have to get to Linz and when can we leave?