Procedures for Faculty-led programs

1. Submit to the Office of Diversity and International Education and Programs a proposal for the faculty-led program.
2. The proposal will need the approval of the Department Chair and College Dean. 
3. Follow the guidelines on how the students will need to proceed as they are selected to participate in the program.  There are certain procedures they will need to follow, and forms they will need to complete. The required forms are available here.
4. Have students attend a Study Abroad Information Session on the application process.  This can be scheduled for the particular group.  Attendance is a requirement for participation in study abroad.
5. Prepare students for their international experience.  Students  will receive mandatory pre-departure orientation which will include information on health and safety precautions and on access to medical and other emergency assistance during the trip as well as financial aid, if applicable, conducted by the International Student/Study Abroad Office. Faculty member will also have orientation sessions with the students, more specific to the program itself.
6. Prior to departure, the following information needs to be submitted to Office of Diversity and International Education and Programs:
   •  A detailed itinerary providing contact information at all destinations;
   • A list of all participants, including emergency contact information; and Documentation that all participants are covered by appropriate health insurance, which includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage;
   • A copy of the page from each participant's passport which includes individual’s picture and passport number in case of an emergency.

HOW TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL

Definitions of programs:

Faculty led programs are programs developed through the university. Students enroll in UWF classes which are taught at an international location. These programs are usually offered during the summer although programs offered in the winter or during spring break, are also an option. They can also be offered during the semester, either as embedded programs where the students spend part of their time studying on campus and part of the semester in the foreign location, or as a full semester abroad.

As you design and plan a new Study Abroad Program the following steps must be followed:

Your proposal needs to be supported and approved by your department and college. Any new curricular proposals (including those offered through extension) should be submitted for department and college review. Departmental and college discussion of curriculum and personnel issues is encouraged in the initial stages of planning.
 
      2. Proposal Review by the Study Abroad Office in the Office of Diversity and International Education and Programs (ODIEP)

ODIEP will review all study abroad programs prior to being offered to students to ensure that all health, safety, and risk management issues will be appropriately covered in accordance with UWF policies on student participation in study abroad programs.

The members of the ODIEP have a considerable amount of collective international experience and are very willing to provide assistance to program sponsors.

For questions regarding the proposal, please contact the Study Abroad Office at 474-2479 for advice and help understanding UWF Policies.

The program proposal should respond to the items below. The items are designed to assist you with realistic and successful planning as well as providing opportunities for you to reflect on possible situations that may not be apparent. A call for proposals goes out twice a year. Proposals are due April 15th for programs leaving in the fall, winter break and spring, and Nov. 15th for programs leaving in the summer.

Program Proposal Form

Please address the following items with your written proposal:

Part I. Program Description

Complete the Program Proposal Form answering all relevant questions. Provide a brief overview/summary of the proposed program including how this program enhances students’ academic experience. Include expected dates of travel, beginning and ending dates of program, program location, whether this program has been offered before, and whether it will be an ongoing program or a one-time offering.

Part II. Course Offerings
Describe the course offerings on the Program Proposal Form and address the following:

Describe the current status of any curriculum proposals and the progress of review, e.g. under review at the college level etc. Submit tentative course syllabi with proposal.

Part III. Personnel
Describe the leadership and other project personnel including the following:

Part IV. Travel Arrangements
Describe the travel plans and address the following:

Part V. Location, Housing and Food Services
Describe the accommodations and address the following:

As you develop your proposal, it is critical to consider the following:

Resources: To find out about possible health issues and country specific health requirements for the places you will be traveling to visit the following sites: http://www.cdc.gov/ www.state.gov and http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

Contact the Study Abroad Office, 474-6270 for information about the mandatory UWF approved travel health insurance policy that includes evacuation and the UWF Agreement and Release which must be signed prior to the student leaving the country.
 
Students must be registered with the State Department before they leave. http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_1186.html

The state department has a web site specifically designed for study abroad programs:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/studying/studying_1238.html

Resources: Financial Aid Office.

Please append to the proposal the following documents: