Getting Started

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Faculty are key to providing U students with diverse, high quality Learning Abroad Programs. As a Faculty Director, you have the opportunity to influence students’ intercultural competence and worldview, and Learning Abroad is excited to partner with you in your efforts.  To support your goals, Learning Abroad offers a number of services that support the administrative, academic, and financial success of your Program.

The information below will help you get started. There is information about:

• The U’s priorities for new Programs
• Key considerations for designing a Program
• The proposal process and requirements
• Proposal deadlines

Please contact our office at learningabroad@utah.edu or 801-581-5849 if you have questions or concerns.  We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your ideas!

Priorities for New Programs

The University has identified several strategic priorities for new Programs.  All proposals are evaluated based on their alignment with these priorities.  Programs that meet the following criteria will be given special consideration:

• Proposals that collaborate with or enhance existing Programs
• Proposals that formally include intercultural learning or Global U Program Badges in Program courses content, pedagogy, and assessment
• Programs offering coursework that satisfies core graduation requirements instead of electives
• Programs that satisfy general education courses (aside from the International Requirement)
• Programs in new locations
• Programs that will attract underrepresented students
• Programs that align with University and/or college strategic priorities
• Programs that appeal to a wide variety of students, are not restricted to specific majors or colleges, and offer at least some coursework in English (excludes intensive language Programs)

Considerations for New Faculty-led Programs

Designing a new Program can be overwhelming. To help focus your efforts, consider the following factors.

• Enrollment: The University has established minimum Program enrollments for Learning Abroad Programs. There is some leniency for new Programs, but new Programs should be designed to meet the minimum required enrollment
• Facilitator to Student Ratios: To control costs for students, all Programs are subject to the U’s facilitator to student ratio.
• Competition & Recruitment: The concept of supply and demand applies to Learning Abroad Programs, and competition directly impacts recruitment. New Programs should not compete with existing Programs. For that reason, we encourage you to look at our annual statistical report and review the Programs in our Program search before submitting a proposal. Learning Abroad can also provide insights into student demand for certain fields of study or destinations.
• Number of Credits: Be sure to design the Program so that students can meet the minimum credit requirement for financial aid and scholarships. In general, the following guidelines will support this:

• Fall/Spring Semester Programs: 12 credits
• Spring Break, Fall Break, Winter Break Programs: 3 credits
• Summer Programs: 6 credits
• Academic Year or Calendar Year Programs: 24 credits (12 credits per term)

• Eligibility Requirements: Think about the eligibility requirements for the Program. Make sure that they do not reduce access to the Program. Examples include GPA, course pre-requisites, year in school, major or minor enrollment, physical requirements etc. 
• Intercultural Learning & Competence: A common myth about Learning Abroad is that students will informally gain intercultural competence. Research shows that intercultural learning is most effective when it is formally integrated into program courses (Almeida, Fantini, Simões, & Costa, 2016; Anderson, 2016; Berg, 2009; Lou & Bosley, 2012; Spenader & Retka, 2015; Stoner et al., 2014; Vande Berg, Connor-Linton, & Paige, Fall 2009; Vande Berg, Paige, & Lou, 2012)*. This is best achieved when active, experiential, authentic, or targeted intervention pedagogies and assessment are integrated into Program courses. Reflection activities throughout the program are also linked to successful intercultural learning (Bai et al., June 2016; Doerr, 2015; Engberg & Jourian, Spr 2015; Glass, 2014; Hallows & Marks, 2011; Holmes et al., 2015; Jackson, 2015; Lou & Bosley, 2012; Mitchell, 2015a; Perry et al., 2015; Schaefer & Lynch, 2017; Smith-Augustine et al., 2014; Spenader & Retka, 2015; Stoner et al., 2014; Tuleja, 2014; Vande Berg et al., Fall 2009; Wynveen et al., 2012)*. All Learning Abroad courses are required to include intercultural learning. Contact the Director of Learning Abroad for assistance developing intercultural learning curricula or visit the AAC&U website for more information. 
• Transferable Skills: U of U students are very focused on the return on investment for Learning Abroad Programs. To help students integrate their experiences abroad into their academic, professional, and personal goals here on campus, Learning Abroad developed the Global U Program. All Programs are encouraged to participate in the Global U Program. The Global U Program is based on badges.  Four badges are available:

*Full citations are available upon request

Proposal Deadlines

Successful Faculty Directors begin Program development 12-18 months before taking the first group of students abroad. The development stage of a new Program involves several offices on campus and in the host country.  Learning Abroad facilitates cooperation among these stakeholders to ensure that our Programs adhere to national best practices. Additionally, we will work to ensure that there is adequate infrastructure to support program, academic quality, and the health and safety of our students and faculty. 

To support these goals, the University has established the following proposal deadlines. The first round of proposal reviews will occur shortly after the priority proposal deadline. The second round of reviews occurs after the final proposal deadline. Proposals that are completed by the Priority Proposal Deadline will have the following advantages:

• The opportunity to resubmit a revised proposal for the Final Proposal Deadline (if necessary)
• Special consideration if the approval process is competitive for the term
• Early review so that Faculty can begin planning and recruitment

**Please note that the online proposal system only publishes the Final Proposal Deadline.

The Proposal Process

1. Pre-proposal: As you develop your ideas, meet with the Director for Learning Abroad. The Director will help you assess the sustainability of the program, assist in developing intercultural learning materials for your course, and walk you through the proposal process.
2. Full proposal:  Proposals are submitted using our online application system. After meeting with the Director, an application will be started on your behalf. The proposal will remain active until the Final Proposal Deadline for the term. One proposal is submitted for each Program regardless of the number of faculty involved in the Program. At a minimum, a full proposal will include:

• Completion of the proposal form
• Copies of all Program syllabi
• A tentative itinerary
• A risk and safety assessment
• Tentative Program budget
• Approval from the Department Chairs and Deans (facilitated through the online proposal form)

        Several of these requirements are completed in conjunction with other OGE or Learning Abroad staff                members. Additional instructions are found in the online application.

3. Proposal Review: Once the deadline has passed, your proposal is reviewed by the Director for Learning Abroad and the Associate Chief Global Officer. The proposal will be evaluated based on its alignment with the established priorities and the intercultural learning infrastructure that is incorporated into the coursework. It will also be weighed against the other proposals received. Not all proposals will receive approval. The review process takes 2-3 weeks after the proposal deadline. 
4. Probationary Approval and Review: If the Program is approved, it will receive Probationary Approval.  Probationary approval is typically granted for 3 years. During this time, the Program must demonstrate that it is sustainable, complies with University guidelines, and adheres to international best practices. 
5. Official Program Approval: If the Program receives a satisfactory review after the probationary period, it automatically receives official approval status. Official approval is granted with the assumption that the Program will continue to be sustainable, adhere to national best practices, and meet University standards for Learning Abroad. A periodic review of all Programs is conducted to verify that the Programs continue to meet these requirements.

Have additional questions? We’re happy to help!  Contact Learning Abroad for further assistance.

Faculty Handbook Contents

• Learning Abroad Advantage
• Getting Started
• Academic Coordination
• Addressing Behavioral Problems
• Emergency Preparedness
• Faculty Training and Expectations
• Finances
• Marketing
• Program Assistants
• Personal Travel Arrangements
• Program Logistics
• Reviewing Applications and Monitoring Enrollment
• Student Preparation and Orientation