Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Development Guide

WCU Center For International Programs



Welcome

Dear Faculty, Eleuthera


West Chester University typically offers between fifteen and twenty short-term international faculty-led study abroad programs each year, including both for-credit and non-credit options.  In 2013, over 20 WCU faculty members will be offering international programs in various disciplines and diverse locations: China, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, and South Africa, etc.
In order to continue the tradition of faculty-led study abroad offerings at WCU, the CIP is requesting proposals for 2014 programs
CIP is now home to a centralized process for all faculty-led study abroad programs.  Centralization was a necessary step for WCU and provides the following benefits:

  • Risk management alleviation for both faculty leaders and students.
  • Assistance with promotion of all programs through the CIP website and on-campus events to both WCU and non-WCU students.
  • Collection of necessary data for reporting to PASSHE, IIE (Institute of International Education) and the Jeanne Cleary Act. 
  • Assistance with the development of sustainable, successful programming.

WCU’s Center for International Programs (CIP) can work with faculty to identify and contract with universities abroad or third-party service providers who can build onsite structures to meet the program’s academic goals and needs.
Faculty members should use the chart below to determine which timeline for development to follow:


Category of Program

Type

Due date for submission of Program Proposal

 

A

Student Directed, Art, Music, or Other Performance where a cost center is not required, not for direct credit

3-4 Weeks Prior to departure, inform CIP and have students complete risk and release forms in CIP risk management module

 

B

Programs that  require only direct payment to program providers or vendor, including credit and non-credit bearing programs

6-12 Months prior to departure

 

C

Programs that require WCU Costs centers, including credit and non-credit

8-15 months prior to departure

Programs in categories B and C require a full program proposal.  A condensed proposal is used  for programs in category A. Faculty members can download the appropriate proposal and timeline on the second link in the left hand menu and carefully follow the instructions in each section.

All students are required to pay a $100 study abroad fee. In rare cases, and only applicable to programs in category A, the fee may be waived because the student has been invited to give a performance, display their artwork, or present their research. Faculty should contact CIP if they think that their program is eligible for waiver consideration.

**When planning a program to country with a travel warning or embargo, for example Cuba or Mexico, please contact CIP more than 12 months before the start date.

Thank you for your interest in leading a study abroad program and for your efforts towards greater internationalization of West Chester University!

 

Jeff Conradi, Project Director