Laying the Groundwork
Conduct an initial site visit
With the basics of your program in mind, you might want to consider conducting a site visit ahead of time. A site visit provides you with the opportunity to confirm any arrangements you may have made with colleagues or other contacts abroad; a chance to see what will be available to you and your students as far as lodging, meals, and transportation are concerned; and a view of the relative safety of the location you have selected. If you are going to a less-developed part of the world, take photos of terrain, housing options, vehicles, etc., so that you can show prospective students what to expect.
To help with the costs of a site visit, apply for a Faculty International Development Grant through the IAC. A copy of the grant guidelines can be found in Appendix 3 or can be downloaded from the Office of International Programs Web site at http://www.ndsu.edu/International/faculty_scholars.shtml; go to the Faculty International Development Grants link. These applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Contacts abroad may include colleagues at other institutions, local service providers such as tour companies, or members of professional organizations related to your field of expertise. These persons may be able to provide valuable guidance relative to facilities available to you and your group during your program. If you have no contacts at present, consider asking your NDSU colleagues to recommend colleagues in the target country, or check with the Office of International Programs regarding Memorandums of Understanding for the country in which you will be going to see if NDSU has a linkage with a school there.
Use a reliable travel agent to help you plan your site visit, requesting recommendations for in-country transportation and lodging as well as for the trip to and from your destination. Travel guides, available in the Office of International Programs Study Abroad Resource Room, can also be of assistance to you as you seek accommodations and dining facilities for your group. Negotiate group rates with the managers of the companies, as the published price typically does not apply to groups.
Determine course number and credits
In determining the course number and number of credits to assign to your course, bear in mind that study abroad programs must have the same academic rigor as on-campus classes. Fifteen contact hours and one to two hours of independent work are required for each hour of credit; despite the fact that you will be with your students throughout the day, travel time does not count toward contact time. Contact hours may include any time the students are engaged in achieving course objectives: tours, classroom time, museum visits. Readings and other work assigned should be comparable to that assigned for an on-campus course of similar credit value. Consider assigning pre-departure readings, presentations, and/or projects, as these will enhance both the students' progress toward course objectives and their experience abroad.
When considering a course number, please remember that 379 has been assigned for Study Tour Abroad.
As study tour courses are bearing academic credit, the course proposal must include a syllabus that includes the requirements for the course as well as the means to evaluate the students. Requirements such as required reading prior to departure, written assignments during the stay abroad, the submission of a required journal, or any other means of evaluation should be clearly stated.
It is the responsibility of a faculty member's department colleagues, chair (if appropriate) and dean to monitor the academic legitimacy of the proposed study tour. If, in the opinion of the International Advisory Council, the academic content of the proposed study does not meet acceptable criteria, the proposal will be returned to the tour director for revision.
Apply for program approval
All NDSU group study tour programs, whether new or already established, are required to apply for annual approval by the International Advisory Council. In addition, if the course is offered through Distance & Continuing Education, additional approval is required. Students must be on approved programs in order to earn academic credit and to receive financial aid.
The Study Tour Program Approval application can be downloaded from the OIP Web site from the “Faculty & Scholar” link; a copy is in Appendix 3. Applications must be submitted by the following deadlines:
- Spring programs September 1
- Summer programs January 1
- Fall programs May 1
If your program is denied approval, you will receive a letter from the International Advisory Council with recommendations and comments from the council. If the council feels your proposal has merit, you will also be invited to resubmit your proposal. Once your program is approved, you're ready to move on.
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