Faculty-led Programs Administered by the Study Abroad Office

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Maymester and Summer Session Abroad Programs

The Study Abroad Office is pleased to provide administrative and logistical support for Maymester and Summer Session Abroad programs which offer educational opportunities to hundreds of students each year. These programs are intended to encourage a diverse range of students to study abroad and to target first-time international travelers. Students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study abroad are able to experience learning and living in an international setting through faculty-led programming. These opportunities would not be possible without the dedication and effort of the faculty who direct these programs.

The information provided in this website is intended for faculty who, with the support of their department and college/school, would like the assistance of the Study Abroad Office in the development and administration of a program abroad.

Changes Affecting 2011 Proposals

A number of changes have occurred over the past year which impact programs proposed for 2011. These changes are incorporated into the new Faculty Handbook for Developing and Directing Study Abroad Programs (see the forms section, below). Below are several changes for faculty to note when considering a proposal for 2011:

1. In past years, Provost’s Initiative funds have been available to support part of the faculty director’s salary associated with new programs. Please note that 2010 programs are the last to receive this funding.
2. Beginning with programs approved for 2011, the approval process will now cover a three year period (2011, 2012, and 2013). Proposals for programs to be offered in alternating years (2011 and 2013) will also be accepted.
3. 3. A new workshop for faculty considering directing a program abroad in partnership with the Study Abroad Office will be offered in October 2009 (see “Proposing a Program” below).
4. The financial agreement between the Study Abroad Office and the applicable department/college has been revised. See the program logistics section of the handbook and the “Endorsement of Dean and Department Chair” section of the proposal form, below.

Program Structure

Maymester Abroad courses are four-week, three- or four-credit hour study courses taught by UT faculty members at international locations. They begin prior to the start of first summer session and conclude before second summer session begins. Students enroll for Maymester Abroad courses during pre-registration for the spring semester, and then take the course during the Maymester time period. Some programs include a one-credit UGS course during spring semester in conjunction with a three-credit Maymester course.

Summer Session Abroad courses may be offered in first, second or for a whole summer session. Each session must be a minimum of six weeks and offer students six hours of credit. For programs of any length, a student may earn up to one semester credit per week of instruction. The number of courses per program may vary. For example, a six-week program may offer a single six-hour course, or it may offer multiple three-hour courses.

Proposing a Program

The application form for Maymester and Summer Session Abroad proposals is linked below. A successful proposal starts long before the submission deadline for these programs; the information provided here is intended to clarify as much as possible the elements of a strong proposal, but it cannot replace the valuable guidance provided by staff in the Study Abroad Office. For new proposals, faculty are encouraged to attend a workshop for prospective faculty directors and may also contact SAO staff in the fall prior to the application deadline with a draft proposal for review and feedback.

• Designing and Proposing a Faculty-Led Program, October 7, 2009, 12-1:30 p.m. (WOH 1.102) This workshop is intended for faculty who may be interested in directing a program abroad. Topics will include tips on developing programs and proposals, the role of the faculty director, and an overview of the programming cycle. If you would like to attend this workshop, please RSVP by Monday, September 28th to kgonzales@austin.utexas.edu. We can accommodate up to 50 participants at this workshop. Lunch will be provided.

To ensure that these programs further the international education goals of the colleges, course proposals must be endorsed by the department chair prior to submission. Following proposal review by the Study Abroad Office, complete proposals with SAO feedback will be submitted to the appropriate dean or designee, who will endorse viable proposals and rank them in order of importance to the college in furthering its international education agenda before returning the endorsement page of the proposal to the Study Abroad Office.

Preparing the proposal (new and repeat programs):

1. New programs: attend the workshop, Designing and Proposing a Faculty-Led Program and review the SAO faculty-led programs handbook.
2. Contact the appropriate program coordinator (please see Program Coordinator Contacts below) to schedule an individual appointment to discuss your proposal. Faculty directors of programs that have been offered before are welcome to contact the Program Coordinator already assigned to their program.
3. Consult with academic advisors and course schedulers for compatibility of proposed course with departmental and college curriculum, as well as for any cross-listing possibilities; ideally, proposed courses will satisfy major or degree requirements.
4. Consult with department chair to seek support and secure his/her signature. Informing the dean and ensuring college-level support is recommended.
5. Proposal deadline: Monday, January 25, 2009 Submit the proposal packet, with the endorsement of the department chair, to the Study Abroad Office (Wooldridge Hall 2nd floor, A7000) by the deadline. E-mail an electronic copy of your proposal at the same time to: studyabroadoffice@austin.utexas.edu.

Selection of Programs

A cross-college committee will review proposals endorsed by the appropriate dean and make recommendations to the Vice Provost, who will make the final selections. Selection results will be communicated to the faculty, department chairs, and deans by April 15, 2010.

Questions central to the review process include the following:

• Program design:

1. Can the program be implemented safely and successfully?
2. Can the program attain an enrollment of 15-20 students? (minimum of 10 students for new programs)
3. Can the program be implemented for a reasonable cost that is not prohibitive for students?
4. Does the program target first-time travelers?
5. Are the content and delivery of the course(s) enhanced by the international location?
6. Do proposed excursions or field trips have academic relevance to the course?
7. For repeat programs, have past programs resulted in favorable evaluations by the students, faculty, and staff involved, and have any adjustments been made as a result of prior feedback?
8. Is the program as proposed viable, or would it require significant revision to implement effectively? 

• Faculty expertise:

1. How familiar is the faculty member with the proposed international location? (e.g. professional connections, experience visiting/living/working there, etc)
2. Has the faculty member successfully taught the proposed course or a similar one at either UT Austin or an international course location?
3. Is the faculty director available to recruit and orient students during key periods?

• Contribution to international education at UT:

1. How does the program further college and/or cross-college goals for internationalization? (e.g. College/School ranking of program in relation to others submitted for SAO support, College/School’s ability to fund salary)
2. Will the course contribute to a balanced set of offerings, including opportunities for students in different fields of study and different undergraduate classifications?
3. Will the course contribute to a study abroad population that reflects the diversity of the student body on campus, including ethnic groups and academic departments or colleges?
4. Does the program fill a need that is not filled by other study abroad programs? (e.g. affiliates, exchanges, existing faculty-led programs)

Faculty Support

UT’s Study Abroad Office staff, in collaboration with international partners, will manage all logistics, including student services, for these programs.

Salaries for faculty directors of SAO-administered programs are paid through their department and college. The costs of travel (both international and program-related local), accommodations, international medical insurance, stipend for meals and incidental expenses, use of a cell phone, and other program activities will be included in the fee paid by student participants. We regret that we cannot provide support for family members.

Timeline of Faculty and Study Abroad Office Collaboration

Faculty and Study Abroad Office staff work together closely throughout the proposal, program development, onsite, and program evaluation stages. The entire cycle for a program is 20 to 22 months from proposal development to post-program wrap up. The handbook appendices contain timelines which outline the basic responsibilities at each stage in the process for both Maymester and Summer Session Abroad programs.

Program Coordinator Contacts

Listed below are the names and contact details of the UT Study Abroad Office Program Coordinators. Each serves as primary contact for specific colleges/school as listed below. Program Coordinators are available by appointment 9 am-5 pm M-F. Please e-mail to arrange an individual meeting.

Erica Finazzo Katz
College/School: Engineering, Fine Arts, Architecture
471-6490 | ericafk@austin.utexas.edu

Melissa Sassi
College/School: Natural Sciences, Education, Nursing
471.6377 | msassi@austin.utexas.edu

Tommy Ward
College/School: Communication, Liberal Arts
471.2446 | tward23@austin.utexas.edu

Helena Wilkins
College/School: Liberal Arts, Social Work
471.6415 | helena@austin.utexas.edu

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Application form and additional information:

Faculty-Led Program Application Form

Faculty Handbook for Developing and Directing Study Abroad Programs

More information about Study Abroad can be found on our website at: www.utexas.edu/student/abroad