Faculty-led Short-term Program Proposal (.pdf)
Compensation Contract for Faculty-led Courses Abroad (.pdf)
Taking students abroad
Getting started
Timeline
Recruiting students
Information Meetings
Responsibilities
Health Information and Health Insurance
Budget and Money Matters
Preparing to Manage Students Abroad
“What nations don’t know can hurt them.
The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that straightforward,
and that important. For their own future and that of the nation, college
graduates today must be internationally competent.”
Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program,
Global Competence and National Needs, November 2005
A good understanding of the world is a critical component of a quality education. As a Land-Grant Institution, K-State’s mission includes preparing its students for personal and professional life, and neglecting the international component is not thinkable in today’s global society. Many students can benefit from studying part of their degree program away from campus and a feasible way to do this is to go abroad with faculty that they know and trust.
The Office of International Programs (OIP) has a Group Study Abroad (GSA) Coordinator who reports to the Director of Study Abroad. The coordinator’s job is to facilitate faculty-led study abroad programs from their conception to their evaluation after return. Faculty who are interested in setting up a program should contact the GSA coordinator immediately.
Deciding to take a group of students abroad may be an easy decision for you. You might have experience in another part of the world that would make you a natural group leader. On the other hand, if you haven’t traveled abroad much, this might be a harder decision. Either way, keep in mind that the purpose of faculty-led study abroad is to enhance K-State students’ educational experience.
Some things to consider when beginning to plan a program:
1. What is the purpose of teaching the course abroad?
2. Where would you like to lead a group?*
*Travel to countries/regions with U.S. Department of State travel warnings is discouraged. DOS travel warnings are available online at http://travel.state.gov/.
3. What are the needs of your students?
4. What factors should you consider to make your program feasible and attractive?
5. What are strategies you can use to get information about program feasibility?
6. What basic decisions have to be made to start?
This is an "ideal" timeline. The process can be completed in a shorter timeframe as long as adequate recruitment time is available.
Submit course proposal to OIP using the Faculty-led Study Abroad Proposal Form (see appendix)
Review all course information
Begin course promotion
Recruiting students must be a joint effort among the faculty leader, the OIP, and the departments and colleges. As a professor, you have a wide sphere of influence and can generate lots of interest in your classes. Student enthusiasm will spread among students and will work to your advantage. The Study Abroad Office also talks with hundreds of students, so be sure they have all the information they need to promote your program.
This gives students time to save money and to encourage their friends and classmates to participate.
The OIP will help professors develop brochures and posters that can be distributed throughout the campus and in other locations. The faculty work with the GSA to provide the pertinent information and the OIP provides the design, prints materials, and web page.
Provide a link to the course description on the OIP/Study Abroad Web site from your department Web site.
Invite interested students
Invite any interested students not present at first info session
Review travel arrangements
Go over accommodations and local information
Review program expectations for participants
Verify that students have necessary travel documents and a credit card
Discuss health and safety issues
Contingency information
The group leader will work with the department, the college, and the Office of International Programs to obtain approval for the faculty-led study abroad program and to determine course numbers and course content.
The group leader will submit course proposals and budgets to the OIP by October 15 for courses to be held during that school year. Spring break proposals should be submitted by August 15.
The group leader will determine the location, itinerary, and content of the program.
The group leader is responsible for student evaluation and awarding grades. The leader will also review learning outcomes after the conclusion of the course.
The group leader will work with the OIP and host university or third-party program provider to:
The group leader will hold information meetings and orientation sessions for the students. During orientation sessions, the group leader will discuss attendance and professionalism. Students are required to participate in all class activities organized as part of the program. Students are expected to behave in a professional manner during visits, being attentive and participating in activities.
The group leader will make the final selection of participants.
The group leader will request checks for payment advances to OIP at least two weeks before the payment is due.
The group leader will make on-site payments and account for all program expenditures. The program leader will submit all receipts to OIP within six weeks of the return date.
The group leader will be responsible for student attendance and conduct during the course period abroad and will be available to students in emergency situations. The leader will have emergency contact information for all students on the program and will make his/her emergency information known to the OIP at all times.
The group leader will provide the OIP with a written program evaluation including both academic and logistical critiques and recommendations for future programs.
The Office of International Programs will facilitate faculty-led study abroad programs by providing a full-time Group Study Abroad coordinator.
The GSA coordinator will assist faculty with
The Group Study Abroad coordinator and OIP will assist the professor in
At the conclusion of the program, the GSA coordinator will
Lafene Health Center offers all K-State students, faculty and staff free access to the Foreign Travel Clinic. They can address all questions about health issues for the specific region(s) you will visit. They will discuss recommendations of the World Health Organization and other sources in relation to your individual health needs. Since some vaccination requirements can take several months to be completed, you should contact Lafene well ahead of time, so that you can pass on information to your students. Please encourage all students to make an appointment at the Travel Clinic before they leave the country. Their hours are Monday–Friday from 8-11:30 and 1–4:30, tel. 785/532-6544.
All study abroad students are required to be covered by study abroad health insurance. Students going on K-State programs will be enrolled in the KSU Study Abroad Insurance Plan and billed for the number of days overseas. Those who want additional insurance can extend their coverage. Group leaders who would like to be enrolled in the insurance plan should build the expense into the program budget or decide to pay it out-of-pocket, and should contact the GSA coordinator.
In foreign countries, doctors and hospitals do not recognize U.S. insurance for automatic billing. In most cases study abroad students will need to pay at the time of medical treatment and submit a claim for reimbursement. The OIP has claim forms for the Study Abroad Health Insurance plan.
Budget and Money Matters (.pdf) - Please read this document, explaining important information on budget and money matters, including the following topics:
Preparing to Manage Students Abroad (.pdf) - Please read this document, explaining important information on preparing to manage students abroad, including the following topics: