Program Assistants
Financial Ramifications of Program Assistants
Compensation and Benefits for Program Assistants
What is a Program Assistant?
A Program Assistant is any individual who volunteers their time to assist Faculty Directors with the administrative, financial, or academic tasks of running a Learning Abroad program. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Paid staff members
- Unpaid staff members
- Teaching assistants
- Graduate assistants
- Student leaders
A Program Assistant is engaged in the pre-departure stage of the Program and travels with the group to the host country. Program Assistants typically contribute 50 hours of service before departure. In the host country, Program Assistants often contribute more than 40 hours per week.
Duties of a Program Assistant
The duties of a Program Assistant (PA) will vary by Program. Never assign a task to a Program Assistant unless you are confident that they have been trained to complete the task. They must also complete all relevant University training, including FERPA, before they begin working on the program. Sample Program Assistant duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Pre-departure Responsibilities
- Assist Faculty Directors in coordinating pre-departure or on-site orientation
- Create and monitor a social media pages for the group
- Develop a general information presentation about the history, economics, and traditions of the host country
- Represent the Program at the Learning Abroad Fair/Global U Expo
- Monitor applications (PAs cannot have access to student information in Terra Dotta until they complete the FERPA training).
- Help with recruiting
- Coordinate classroom visits to promote the Program
- Develop a virtual info session to post to the website
- Collect forms for the Faculty Director
- Coordinate roommates for the Program
- Advise interested students
On-site Responsibilities
- Group wakeup calls
- Pick up tickets for events and excursions
- Meet with the group before traveling to a new site to issue reminders and prepare them for the activity
- Assist students having trouble with homesickness and culture shock
- Confirm reservations
- Identify how to get to classrooms, housing, and activities
- Contact guest speakers with details about the group, directions, and confirm dates/times of class
- Go to classrooms early to make sure that tech equipment is set up
- Write “update emails” that students can send to family and friends or post to social media
- Assist the students in finding/using cell phones
- Provide support in student housing
Health and Safety Responsibilities
Program Assistants leading and accompanying University of Utah students in international locations are recognized as University representatives in this role, and as such are responsible for working to create safe and healthy environments for students abroad. Program Assistants are also responsible for ensuring that all University of Utah students have adequate understanding of - and access to - local health and safety support and resources in their foreign location(s). Program Assistants work to communicate student issues and incidents abroad to the Learning Abroad Department and Global Risk Manager via phone and email, and are a critical link to connecting students in international locations to support services available on the Salt Lake City University campus.
Program Assistants are required to attend a pre-departure travel health and safety workshop - provided by the Global Risk Manager – in order to understand University resources and requirements respective to the following topics:
- Student international insurance coverage, benefits, and assistance
- Student incident and issue reporting/communication
- Student Code of Conduct / Behavioral Issues while abroad
- Misconduct Resolution process abroad
- Signs of mental distress in students
- University Title IX requirements for responding to student sexual assault incidents and allegations
- University support and accommodation mechanisms in place for students with disabilities (ADA)
- University Clery Act crime reporting requirements
- Student personal information sharing (FERPA)
- Emergency preparation and protocols for international student programs
Academic Responsibilities (if serving as a Teaching Assistant)
- Grade papers
- Give lectures
- Create, distribute, and collect assignments
- Develop learning activities
- Facilitate discussions
- Organize or facilitate activities in Canvas
- Provide tutoring or support study groups
Post-program Responsibilities
- Coordinate a welcome home event for the group
- Collect outstanding assignments from students
- Submit a travel reconciliation and receipts to Learning Abroad (if applicable)
Financial Responsibilities
Faculty Directors should carefully consider whether or not a Program Assistant will be responsible for program funds. For many Program Assistants, this is their first experience with business transactions. Despite the training provided, many Program Assistants fail to submit the required receipts. In these cases, the Program Assistant is required to reimburse the University for those expenses even if they are part of the Program budget. If you choose to make your Program Assistant responsible for University funds, be sure to mentor them through the process of documenting expenses onsite.
Eligibility
Learning Abroad looks at each program individually and works with the Faculty Director to determine if a Program Assistant is required. Because the PA’s costs are built into the budget and passed on to students, we strongly suggest that the program have at least 14 committed students.. The Faculty Director’s home department or Learning Abroad can select Program Assistants. Learning Abroad staff can also step in to the role of Program Assistant, as needed. All Program Assistants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be an active University of Utah graduate student or employee for 6 months before the program start date, during the program, and for 3 months after program end date.
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University (if applicable).
- Complete training requirements by the established deadlines.
- Does not create a conflict of interest or violate nepotism policies.
- Complete the Learning Abroad Facilitator Registration by the established deadlines.
Conflicts of Interest
Program Assistants play an authoritative role in the Program. They have access to FERPA- and HIPAA-protected information of program participants and have the same legal responsibilities as Faculty Directors. By law, they are Campus Security Authorities and have Title IX, health and safety responsibilities to the Program. This creates a power dynamic between the Program Assistant and student participants on the Program. As a result, the following requirements mitigate common conflicts of interest that impact Program Assistants:
- Program Assistants cannot also be enrolled in the Program as a student participant.
- Program Assistants may not be in violation of University policies on nepotism (see Policy 5-105).
- If Program Assistants are employed by an organization or business that may profit from the Program, contact Learning Abroad immediately. The Program Assistant will need to go through the Conflict of Interest process in Academic Affairs.
- Learning Abroad strongly recommends that the Program Assistant is a University faculty or staff. Graduate students can be considered case-by-case. Faculty Directors should discuss with Learning Abroad for undergraduate students.
Liability Coverage
Program Assistants face the same liability risks as Faculty Directors. In order to be covered by the University’s liability and indemnity insurance, a Program Assistant must be recognized as a Program authority. For the purposes of Learning Abroad Programs, Program Assistants are officially recognized when they register with the U’s Global Risk Manager.
Financial Ramifications of Program Assistants
Many of the costs associated with a Program Assistant are paid from fees charged to students enrolled in the Program. Faculty Directors should work with Learning Abroad to include all Program Assistant costs in the Program Budget before we publish the final Billable Program Cost. Costs include items such as airfare, accommodation, per diem, in-country transportation, International Medical and Security Evacuation Insurance (CISI), etc. Program Assistants serve in a supervisory capacity. As such, it is inappropriate for them to share housing facilities with students on the Program. Contact our office with any questions about Program Assistant expenses.
To ensure that all parties understand the financial arrangements of the Program, all Program Assistants will be required to complete the following document.
- Travel Expenses Agreement: Learning Abroad will provide a Travel Expenses Agreement for each Program Assistant. This outlines which travel expenses will be covered by the Program. Any expenses not outlined in the agreement are the responsibility of the Program Assistant.
Compensation & Benefits for Program Assistants
Program Assistants are able to participate in learning abroad experiences virtually without cost as set forth in the Travel Expenses Agreement. In addition, Program Assistants gain valuable supervisory experience in an international context. Beyond the University’s payment of these expenses, Program Assistants volunteer their time and are not otherwise compensated for that time.
Selecting a Program Assistant
Program Assistants need to be selected before the final Billable Program cost is published. Faculty Directors can select Program Assistants provided that they meet the eligibility requirements. Selecting a Program Assistant is an important task! Learning Abroad may be able to provide suggestions for Program Assistants; please reach out to us before you make your final Program Assistant selectionIn general, a Program Assistant has the following qualities:
- Is a full-time University staff or faculty
- Is mature, responsible, and a strong leader
- Has experience in the host culture
- Follows directions well and reliably
- Has basic language skills in the host country language
- Demonstrates good professional etiquette and good judgment
- Understands that this is NOT a vacation
- Is prepared to assist students with a variety of issues and potential emergencies
- Understands that if the Faculty Director is incapacitated, he or she may have to serve as primary leader of the program
- Is committed to any necessary or required training
- Recognizes that Program Assistants serve in a volunteer capacity, that travel expenses are covered, but that no compensation is paid to the Program Assistant for their service
If possible, use a formal, competitive process to select a Program Assistant. Have candidates complete an application and participate in an interview. A sample application and interview questions are available. You can also choose to have Program Assistants submit references or letters of recommendation. This does not have to be a lengthy or difficult process, but giving the impression that this is a serious commitment will likely weed out any candidates who are not really interested in the work.
At a minimum, get to know the candidate before offering them the position. Make sure that this is someone with whom you feel comfortable and would be willing to spend a great deal of time. Remember, however, that your Program Assistant may not be a member of your family (see Policy 5-105). If you have any doubts about your Program Assistant, contact Learning Abroad for suggestions.
Training Program Assistants
Training is a two-part effort. Learning Abroad provides mandatory training for Program Assistants. This includes financial expectations, student advising training, emergency preparedness and response, FERPA, etc. Training is provided online for all new program facilitators, including Program Assistants. Additional training is offered in person each semester.
Faculty Directors are responsible for training Program Assistants on program-specific duties and tasks. All Faculty Directors should expect to dedicate time to training the Program Assistant. Just like a new employee, a Program Assistant is only as good as the mentoring and training that you provide to them!
Program Assistants who do not complete their training commitments will be prohibited from participating on the Program and will be obligated to return any travel advances that they receive. They are also responsible for reimbursing the University for any expenses incurred on their behalf.
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