天美传媒

It starts with your course: imagine the course you've always wanted to teach 鈥� now imagine how you would teach the course if it were set in a foreign location. Dream, research, and find connections between your course content and locations that interest you. Let your academic knowledge guide your program development.

• Join an established 天美传媒 program - London Spring Break, Semester in Regensburg, and the International Teaching Experience in Belize are just a few of 天美传媒's signature program offerings. These programs are led by a Program Director who works with the Education Abroad Office to make logistical arrangements while you get to focus on your course.

• Create your own 天美传媒 program - you choose the course(s) and the program location while the Education Abroad Office and a trusted third-party study abroad provider arrange all of the program logistics (flights, accommodations, excursion planning, etc.). Multiple faculty with similar educational and cultural goals can propose to teach on the same program.

• Teach with CCSA/KIIS or another provider - propose a course for a pre-existing program with or . They'll choose the dates and handle all of the logistics while you get to focus on your course and your students. Other providers like are always looking for faculty to come onboard and teach!

Still trying to figure out what all of this means? Keep reading or contact the Director of Education Abroad to talk through all of your options.

Your course: ultimately, the overarching question to consider is why you want to offer this course in this location. Students need to be able to make a connection between the particular academic field of study and the international experience they will receive on your program. Your proposal should illustrate how you plan to marry the educational content with the cultural experiences presented while being abroad.

Avoid simply proposing a course offered at 天美传媒 and transporting it to a new location with the intention of teaching it in exactly the same way: allow the foreign location to transform your course content and structure. Look for ways that museums, cultural experiences, field work, lectures, and other experiential activities can fill out or enhance your course objectives and content.

• Infuse international content into a current course - this might mean proposing an International Mass Communications course (with a focus on Britain) for a summer London program. This course could be a requirement for many of the majors in your departmental area, thus giving you a larger recruitment pool to work with.

• Create a new course - use a Special Topics designation and offer the course as an Upper Level elective.

• University Studies curriculum - courses that count towards University Studies requirements are great to have on a study abroad program. Consider developing a course in either the Foundations Category (Oral Communication, Written Communication, Scientific Inquiry & Methodologies, or Quantitative Reasoning) or the Human Experience Category (Literary & Philosophical Perspectives, Historical Perspectives, Creative Perspectives, Social & Behavioral Perspectives, or Culture, Diverse Perspectives, & Responsible Citizenship).

• Courses required in the major, minor, or by the Honors College - the most successful programs are those offering content directly related to a student's major/minor or that offer content that fulfills the study abroad requirement for the Honors College.

Please note: your course content should fall within your academic area and focus. 

Current 天美传媒 Program Timelines: 

• Fall - 9 weeks (2nd-half semester - Fall)

• Winter Break - 10 days to 2 weeks

• Spring Break - 9 days to 2 weeks (course runs the entirety of the Spring semester)

• Summer - 10 days to 2 weeks (2nd-half semester - Spring)

• Summer - 1 week to 6 weeks

Program Dates:

• • Fall - the Semester in Regensburg (Germany) program is offered every Fall semester. Faculty teach two courses on-location as 2nd-half Fall semester courses. The 天美传媒 faculty portion of the program runs October through December.

  • Winter Break - programs start as 2nd-half Fall semester courses followed by an international program component, which departs in December or January.

  • Spring Break - Spring Break programs include a full Spring semester course. The international program component occurs during the 天美传媒 Spring Break holiday. Many faculty enjoy teaching on Spring Break programs as it allows for both pre- and post-departure classroom activities.

  • Summer - most 天美传媒 Summer programs start as 2nd-half Spring semester courses, giving students the ability to include these hours in their Spring semester course load. The international program component can occur anytime between Spring finals through the end of the Summer term.

  • Summer - programs occurring during the Summer term are attached to a Summer course only, giving students the ability to include these hours in their Summer semester course load. If the international program component is shorter than 3 weeks, it must be attached to a pre-departure teaching component for students (whether online or in-person).

How to Choose:

• You may want to consider teaching a study abroad program during a semester where your teaching responsibilities are manageable. Scheduling a study abroad program during a semester where you also teach one or two new courses could impact your ability to meet all educational requirements and goals.

• Talk to your department Chair about any departmental requirements that you may have that would factor into your decision to teach a study abroad program. This includes any timeline considerations for tenure and position promotion or any committee obligations.

• If you plan on taking a sabbatical, consider waiting to schedule a study abroad program until you are back on campus and can engage in all manner of recruitment activities. Programs that don't recruit well are less likely to make the final cut.

• Make sure to factor in any personal commitments or responsibilities when putting together your program plan. For example, faculty members with children or aging parents should make sure that none of those caretaking responsibilities are left out of consideration when making program decisions, such a program dates, lengths, and locations.

• Be open and honest with yourself about your ability to juggle many competing work/life responsibilities. Many faculty choose to participate in study abroad programs on a rotating or alternating basis in order to balance the demands of both study abroad and work/home commitments.

• 天美传媒 Programs - submit online using the for the year you wish to teach. Deadline is January 15th annually.

• - submit online. October and February deadlines for summer and winter programs.

• - submit online. November and March deadlines for summer and winter programs.

Application Requirements: each application will generally need to include an updated CV, course syllabus and/or course description, recruitment ideas or complete plan, details on how the course will count toward degree requirements for students, and a proposed budget (if you are responsible for the budget). Affiliate programs require more than one course description and may require up to 5. Do not be scared off by the application requirements. Contact the Director of Education Abroad and/or the affiliate program reps for guidance as needed.

For 天美传媒 Signature Programs: you'll be notified via email from the 天美传媒 Education Abroad Office by February 13th. See the Review Guidelines for details on how applications are reviewed by the Program Review Committee.

For CCSA or KIIS Programs: you'll be notified by these affiliates regarding their application timelines.

After your application is approved (or conditionally approved), you will be asked to attend mandatory group meetings with other faculty and Program Directors. These meetings are set throughout the year prior to departure and are designed to:

• Explain how students will apply and enroll in your program

• Provide details on student scholarships, financial aid, and billing

• Help support recruitment efforts

• Develop a cohesive leadership team for the program

• Provide information about the student experience on study abroad programs

• Design programs that are academically and experientially-centered as learning and educational opportunities

• Ensure that each course is designed to meet credit hours and curriculum requirements

• Assist with preparing the budget for the program (for Program Directors)

• Provide 天美传媒 crisis management preparedness and response protocols and training

• Assist with planning the student orientation for the program abroad

Dates and Deadlines: You will be provided with a Dates and Deadlines sheet after acceptance. This will provide details on meetings for the entire year, including student orientations and form deadlines.

Cultural Content: don't be afraid to admit that you have some learning to do about the location and take this opportunity to do so in conjunction with your students. Utilize Google! Consider requiring your students to obtain a language phrasebook and learn basic history and foreign relations between the U.S. and the location. 

Course Texts: no matter the academic content of your course, you might consider opportunities for students to learn more about the location as part of your course. Incorporating the location is the only way your study abroad program will be successful. Consider adding one or more of these as requirements for your students:

• Location-specific - above all, you must include texts, readings, or fine arts that are about, by, or originate in the location of your program. Do not solely utilize U.S.-centered sources. 

• Autobiographies - Americans with experiences living or traveling in the location can help inform students of challenges on-site and get students interested in the location in order to experience the program in a deeper, more meaningful way.

• Travel guides/apps - this helps with location knowledge for free time and course activities. Requiring a travel guide or a travel guide smart phone app and creating an assignment around designing their free time can assist with their maximizing the program while abroad. 

• Language phrasebook/app - Duo Lingo is a great option for students who are unfamiliar with a language

• Atlast or mapping activities/apps - will help students visualize where they are going. Make sure they know the bordering nations and where the location fits geographically before you stick them on a plane and take them there.

• Current Events - find location-specific news sources online and read/listen to them prior to program departure.

• Basic History - find a basic history text that your students (and you!) can use for research

• Foreign Relations - what is the history between the foreign location and the US? Providing context for your students about the relationship between their nation and the foreign nation will further their understanding. Keep any international student in mind and allow them to share details about their home country.

Activities and Itinerary Development: you likely already have ideas about things that would be relevant and beneficial for your course.

• Make a long list of sites, activities and excursions along with relevant contacts. You may also find relevant walking/boating/guided tours and companies that would work for your class.

• Consider company visits or experts in your field that may not be on a usual tour list and think about making personal contact to ask for a visit for your class

• Consider the proximity of activities to one another and sketch out a lumping of activities that could work.

• Don't forget to include time for introducing activities and debriefing activities.

• Don't pack your days so much that you don't get to eat! 

• Submitting these ideas to a provider or your program director with your top priorities indicated will help determine what ultimately ends up in your itinerary.

• If you are designing the program on your own, then you can do the planning with the vendors abroad to determine what will work for your program. 

Logistical Arrangements. Program Directors are the ones who take on the logistics and budgeting roles for the program. If you're responsible for locating housing and transport and booking activities abroad, see our for tips. (You'll need to be logged in with your 天美传媒 Google account to access.)

Budget Development. Program Directors are responsible for setting and keeping the budget. In collaboration with the Education Abroad Office and using our (you must be logged in with your 天美传媒 Google account to access), PDs will be guided through how to track and maintain the budget for any size program.

Recruiting. Above all, go into your Teach Abroad experience with the knowledge that study abroad is unfortunately not a "build it and they will come" adventure, but instead takes planning and work to get those great students out there to actually submit applications. (make sure you're logged in with your 天美传媒 Google account to access). Applications flow into the Education Abroad Office . You'll review your student applications and issue decisions together with other members of leadership on your program and an Advisor from the EAO. 

Application Review Considerations

• Student fit with the program: You don't have to accept every student. Read each application for review.

• Essay: Does it address program fit? Academic match?  Is it offensive in any way? Poor essays can result in rejection.

• Transcript or GPA: There is a minimum for every program of 2.0. Your program may have a higher requirement.

• Space: If you have limited space on your program and you have an applicant who has studied abroad before, you may consider rejecting that applicant for a student who hasn't had the opportunity to do so yet.

• Practice selective recruitment: Applicants who present themselves as disruptions to courses on campus now won't get better once you're abroad. Don't be afraid to reject applicants.

• Don't feel obligated. Students who have already had the course you are offering may be tempting to accommodate, but can also create much more work for you as faculty. Don't feel obligated to create cross-listings to fit students into your program OR if you do so, be sure to consider the amount of work required to accommodate the student(s).

At the close of your program, you will have collected student evaluations. The Education Abroad Office will provide you with a copy for reflection and program improvement.

You'll also complete the Post Program Report in your online application to debrief the program, including how we can better serve you in the future, but also reporting course contact hours and multiple aspects of the program.

Then, start planning your next Teach Abroad!

Leadership: all of the following individuals are considered to be part of the Program Leadership team.

• Faculty - a member of the study abroad program who is eligible by 天美传媒 standards and is approved to serve as a course instructor for the program.

• Program Director (PD) - a member of the study abroad program who serves as the logistical, fiscal, disciplinary, and emergency manager for the program.

• Academic Director (AD) - a member of the study abroad program who serves as lead faculty member, managing the academic design of the program not only for his/her course but for the courses across the program.

• Faculty Director (FD) - a member of the study abroad program who can serve as a course instructor on the program, in addition to serving as the Program Director.

Education Abroad Office (EAO): office that oversees the creation, development, and management of Education Abroad programs.

Signature Program (SP) or Faculty-Led Program (FLP): programs created and led by 天美传媒 faculty and staff, primarily with Murray State curriculum and 天美传媒 students in mind.

Proposal applications are due January 15th

• Faculty and Program Director positions are available for programs starting with the Winter term of the current year through Fall of the following year.

Applicants are notified by (or around) February 13th

• Approved applicants are expected to work with the EAO throughout the Spring and Summer semesters to secure a third-party program provider (if applicable), to submit budget numbers for program fees, to secure the necessary approvals from Chairs, Deans, the Provost, and the University President, and attend mandatory workshops for program development and management.

All program leadership will be added to a Google Share Drive associated with their program so that they may access all relevant program materials and documents.

天美传媒 adheres to the Forum on Education Abroad's and expects all programs to meet this standard.

• Responsibility to Learners

  We deliver impactful, accessible, and intellectually and personally meaningful programs that strive to meet the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad. 

  We endeavor to share with learners the value and significance of international education and experience, and the impact that it can have on them and those with whom they interact. We encourage learners to maximize international learning and engagement through meaningful and respectful communication with other people and other cultures, and to reflect on and articulate the value and meaning of their experiences. 

  We recognize the importance of establishing clear expectations and communicating them to learners based on these shared values. We know that empowered and informed learners make responsible decisions, take accountability for their actions, and understand the limits of responsibility

• Truthfulness and Transparency

  We communicate openly and honestly with all stakeholders, and our interactions with learners and stakeholders are founded in trust. We uphold accuracy and transparency of decision-making, policies, procedures, program promotion, and partnerships. Service to our learners is central to our decision-making and we avoid conflicts of interest that are counter to this goal.

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

  We seek out opportunities to engage with diverse populations and perspectives, and do so with patience, understanding, humility, and respect, modeling the behavior we aim to cultivate in our learners. We endeavor to expand access to education abroad, and to create an environment of inclusivity that is open, respectful, and safe for all. We strive for equity in our treatment of all. We do not accept intolerance, and we work to eliminate inequities within our organizations and communities. 

• Reciprocity and Respect for Others

  Reciprocity must be valued as we consider the consequences of our activity on a global scale with respect to the environment, economies, communities, and cultures. We are sensitive to dynamics of power and privilege and the impact of our actions in the communities in which we operate and with whom we engage.
  鈥�We work to ensure that our interactions and interrelationships with the communities in which we operate, whether in-country or virtually, are mutually beneficial. Our work with learners, host communities, and internal stakeholders at our institutions and external partners is grounded in reciprocity. 

Review Process: all proposals for Program Director or Faculty positions are reviewed by the Program Review Committee (PRC), a subcommittee of the Study Programs Operating Committee, a branch of the International Studies Advisory Committee (ISAC). The PRC is made up of:

• • Director of Education Abroad

  • Honors College representative (appointed by the Honors College Executive Director for a three-year term)

  • Faculty representatives from each college (6) who have developed a 天美传媒 Signature Program and/or have taught on study abroad provider programs (appointed with the agreement of the Dean of the respective college for a three-year term)

  • One Education Abroad Advisor or Coordinator who will serve as an advisory member to the committee to assist with the student population and program sustainability input

Eligibility: all faculty and staff are eligible to teach on and/or lead programs abroad unless such eligibility has been revoked or otherwise suspended by the University.

• • Adjunct faculty and lecturers are encouraged to work within their academic department to determine departmental eligibility.

  • Staff must seek approval from department leadership to ensure that the time frame of the program abroad fits within the needs of the department.

  • Minimum credential requirements, as approved by the Provost's Office, must be met to be eligible to teach abroad.

Selection Criteria: proposals should be well-developed and well-researched. Within a given year, limited resources may prevent the EAO from approving all proposed programs and instead require that programs be resubmitted or rescheduled for a future term. The following selection criteria may be utilized during the application review process:

• • Academic Rigor: the academic rigor for a study abroad program should be comparable to that of a course taken at 天美传媒. The course should be outlined with specific educational objectives that are clearly stated and the program should attempt to combine academic learning with cross-cultural experiences, making extensive use of the resources of the host environment.

  • Course-Location Connection: the application should clearly identify the connection between the course, the content, and the location through use of the host environment resources. Content and cultural objectives are clearly married to the location.

  • Need: the program should not directly compete with existing study abroad programs; special consideration should be paid to the program's proposed:

    • Academic Field - the number of students served by the major/minor (recruitment pool), the course requirements of the major/minor, any University Studies requirements, the level of the course (lower level, upper level, graduate), the number of similar programs within the academic field that have been recently offered, and the student demand for programs in the field should all be considered during the proposal process.

    • Term of Study - consider the number of programs that could be proposed for that term, the viability of term and student audience (Summer study abroad programs for students with lucrative field internship opportunities in Summer term), and the number of programs managed by the EAO. When multiple program applications are submitted within the same academic department, particular scrutiny should be paid to the number of students who are served by the department and the cross-curricular nature of the program.

  • Feasibility: the course objectives should be feasible, the budget should be transparent, realistic, and cost-effective, the location should be a safe and viable option for 天美传媒 students, and the program logistics should reflect the level of location knowledge of the applicant or should detail the use of a provider for more in-depth location assistance. Program proposals utilizing providers and/or personal knowledge of the location should note this benefit during the application process.

  • Previous Leadership Experience: an applicant's previous experience teaching on or leading programs abroad or their prior attempts to teach or lead programs abroad will be taken into consideration. Post-program documentation and reports from providers and consortia from previous programs abroad may also be considered. 

  • Application Status: incomplete applications will not be considered. A complete application should include the full application form, syllabus, curriculum vitae, and program budget. If your program is similar to another proposal, only the completed proposal will be approved. It is understood that program budgets are often in a state of negotiation as programs are being reviewed. Applicants will be given further time and guidance following the application process to finalize the budget.

  • Permissions: prior to approval from the PRC, applicants will be asked to confirm that they have discussed the program and course with their Chair/Director and Dean/VP. If it is discovered that an applicant has not sought out endorsement from these parties prior to applying, the application may be rejected. 

    • University Administration Approval - Department Chair/Director, Dean/VP, Provost, and University President approvals sought by the PRC are conditional until final approval is granted by the Chair/Director and Dean/VP for all proposals. Following this approval, the Provost鈥檚 Office, President鈥檚 Office, and Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX must also issue approval. Please note: if your College or School has a separate approving body for faculty-led programs, that committee鈥檚 endorsement must also be issued prior to final PRC approval.

      • In the event that the Chair of a department applies to teach abroad in the same year as a faculty member from the same department, faculty should seek endorsement from their Dean directly. Department Chairs applying to teach abroad must seek permission from their Dean and may expect the length of the program to be restricted by their Chair duties. Department Chairs/Program Directors will not prioritize their own program over that of the faculty within their department.  

      • In the event the Dean has applied to teach abroad, the Provost's Office, in coordination with the PRC, will make the final decision regarding permission to teach abroad. Deans will not prioritize their own program over that of any faculty within their college or school.

Notification of Status: applicants will be notified of their application status via email. All applicants will be classified into one of the following areas:

• • Approved - applications do not require further revisions.

• • Conditionally Approved - applications will generally fall into this category. Most new FLP proposals will be conditionally approved. You are requested to continue program planning and preparation as a conditionally approved applicant.

    • Workshops Required - all new applicants are required to attend a Program Design and Course Development workshop provided by ISAC and the EAO.

    • Chair/Director and Dean/VP Approval - simultaneously with the PRC application review, academic supervisors are contacted to confirm their approval of your program and course. Until this approval is received, your application status will remain conditional.

    • Provost and University President Approval - the EAO will contact both the Provost and the University President for approvals. Until approval is granted by both offices, your application status will remain conditional.

  • Revisions Requested - the PRC may ask an applicant to revise their proposal for several reasons. Revisions may include but are not limited to:

    • Course fit with the program location needs to be clarified.

    • Syllabus development needs to continue, with assignments matching the location and experiential learning activities planned for the program.

    • If multiple applications are received for the same country, the PRC may request that your program be combined with another proposal for the same location.

    • Proposed budget may be unrealistic or incomplete.

      • Note: in any given year where the number of completed applications meets the academic needs of the study abroad program portfolio, revisions are not likely to be requested; instead, proposal applications that require revision may be asked to revise and resubmit for consideration in a future year. 

  • Not Approved - applications should be revised and resubmitted in the future. Applications may not be approved for various reasons, including:

    • application was not submitted by the required deadline.

• • • location saturation.

    • volume of completed applications meets the academic needs of EAO's program portfolio for the given year.

    • course, faculty, or program was not approved by the Chair/Director and/or Dean/VP and/or the Provost/University President.

    • application shows a lack of connection between the course and the location.

    • application does not provide a clear and concise budget.

    • applicant has a lack of experience in leading programs in the proposed location and is not utilizing a program provider for assistance on-site.

      • applicants may choose to indicate within their application that they have a lack of experience or knowledge and would like assistance from the EAO in locating a suitable program provider to manage the program on-site.

(Adopted 9/2013 by the PRC)

Compensation for teaching abroad is not guaranteed. Any compensation received for teaching or directing a program abroad must either be provided by the employee's home department or should be included in the calculation of the associated student program fee. Faculty and staff should not expect compensation without either securing it from their department in advance or by including it in the program budget prior to final approval. 

• Teaching faculty may either receive overload pay or may have their course counted as "in-load" within the department, but not both (Faculty Handbook policy - 2.16.3.1 - Eligibility for Extra Compensation).

• Faculty who teach multiple sections of a course or teach multiple courses for the same program abroad in order to reach the total minimum enrollment amount cannot receive both extra compensation and have one of the courses considered to be "in-load".

• Both exempt and non-exempt staff are considered to be working for the University while serving in a leadership role for programs abroad and will not be asked to use vacation time for days away from the office.

• Faculty and exempt staff serving as Program Directors or Assistant Directors may receive extra compensation from their department at a mutually agreed upon amount or from the program budget at a rate of up to $50 per program participant (up to a maximum of $3,000). 

• Faculty and staff serving as teaching faculty for programs abroad may receive extra compensation from their department at a mutually agreed upon amount or from the program budget at a rate up to $200 per student in their course (up to a maximum of $3,000).

• Faculty serving in both a teaching and directing role are eligible for both forms of pay for the program abroad.

• Non-exempt staff may receive extra compensation according to the 天美传媒 Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual (policy number III D - Overtime and Exceptional Compensation). 

  • Some programs may fall under policy number IV D - Holidays for staff and 12-month faculty holiday compensation.

In the event that an approved or conditionally approved member of Leadership chooses to withdraw their application during the recruitment process or after the program "makes", the EAO reserves the right to assign another 天美传媒 faculty member to teach the course or another Program Director to run the program.

In that event, the outgoing faculty member should understand that they must provide their course syllabus to the incoming faculty replacement. Similarly, Program Directors should understand that they must provide the replacement Program Director(s) with all program contacts and details for all logistical arrangements.

天美传媒 reserves the right to cancel a course or program if Leadership fails to attend mandatory trainings and orientation.

• Program Development & Course Design Workshop: mandatory for ALL Signature Program faculty and Program Directors who have not previously attended the workshop (effective Spring 2013). This workshop provides guidance on the course/program syllabus and program itinerary design.

• Budget Workshop: mandatory for ALL new Faculty Directors and Program Directors who will be responsible for the program budget or for returning faculty/Program Directors who will be responsible for the budget for the first time. Participants are asked to bring their laptop, budget components as of the time of the meeting, and any and all budget questions. The workshop will cover how to finalize budgets, required information for budget completion, determining final program pricing, completing official 天美传媒 Accounting forms, cash advance policies, and more.

• Application & Recruitment Meeting: mandatory for ALL Leadership. Meeting to include information about student form deadlines, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and other recruitment details as needed.

• Leadership Orientation: mandatory for ALL Leadership. Leadership orientation will provide details about program management procedures, program expectations, current 天美传媒 policy guidelines, and annual crisis policy updates. Orientation dates are set up months in advance and cannot be changed.

• Student Orientation: mandatory for ALL Leadership. Student orientation will be led by the entire Leadership team of a specific program. The Leadership orientation will discuss in more detail how the student orientation is designed. Faculty teaching with KIIS or CCSA will attend the student orientation led by that organization and not a 天美传媒 student orientation. Orientation dates are set up months in advance and cannot be changed.

• Debrief: every member of Leadership must meet with the Director of Education Abroad for a program debrief following the close of the program. Leadership should complete all post-program documentation prior to this meeting and should bring with them all student program evaluations, crisis management information, program logs, and original copies of police reports, GIRF, or other action forms.

Program design is the responsibility of the Leadership team for the program. Significant site and activity research is expected to ensure an academically sound and viable program. Experiential education design must be integrated into the program. A program that is designed to provide a tour instead of a content-based experience will be given the opportunity to improve the design or will be cancelled.

• Multi-Country Programs: multi-country programs should consider spending at least three days in each country during the program. Three days is defined as "three full days without travel" and the amount of in-country travel should be considered when planning the program. If three full days in the same country also equates to visiting three different cities, a program may not be approved.

• Course Enrollment: a pre-departure course is required when the FLP abroad is three weeks or less. See the section on Course Contact Hours & Meeting Requirements for more details on contact hour calculation.

  • Winter Programs - students will enroll in a second-half Fall semester class, with the international component occurring during the Winter break (anytime December through January).

  • Summer Programs - students will enroll in a second-half Spring semester class, with the international component occurring after Spring finals (anytime May through early June).

    • According to policy: Summer programs that end within two weeks of the close of the Spring semester will have students enrolled solely in a second-half Spring semester course. Summer programs that end after the two-week window will have students enrolled in both an INT 310/610, 0 credit course for the second-half of the Spring semester and a Summer content course in the Summer session that most closely matches the dates of the program.

  • Spring Break Programs - students will enroll in a full Spring semester class. Spring Break programs must be a minimum of eight days but no longer than 14 days. Proposals for Spring Break programs longer than 10 days may be approved for upper division courses that recruit students in the major who are taking a majority of coursework within the major for the Spring semester. Students are enrolled according to their reported course selection in their study abroad application. It is both the student's and faculty member's responsibility to ensure that a student is enrolled correctly and to make any corrections prior to departure.

• Mixed-Course Enrollment: for short-term FLPs, faculty may choose to enroll in the pre-departure course students who are participating in the program abroad and students who are not participating in the program abroad. This provides both benefits and challenges to the faculty and students:

  • Faculty may be able to include the study abroad course in their teaching load. Faculty should discuss this with the Department Chair for confirmation.

  • Faculty will have to design two syllabi that answer to the two audiences and will have to make assignments specific and relevant to each.

  • Non-program students may become frustrated by the focus of the course. It is necessary for the faculty to make non-program students aware of the focus of the course prior to enrollment.

• Using Providers for Program Design: when utilizing providers, faculty must design the itinerary around the course and not the course around a pre-set itinerary.

  • Provider bid requests must be submitted through Procurement for selection when utilizing a vendor not currently under contract with 天美传媒.

  • Negotiation can take place with providers for specific course needs.

  • Provider contracts must be signed by the 天美传媒 President and may not be signed by individual program leadership or the EAO. All contracts must be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel before forwarding to the University President or VPFAS for approval. 

Themed Programs: courses proposed for themed programs must reflect the program theme. The PRC and EAO will request course alterations for course proposals that do not match a set program theme and will reject courses that do not wish to be altered to connect to the stated theme.

 

天美传媒 reserves the right to alter any program's format or cost. EAO will endeavor to consult with the Leadership team in the event that such an alteration is necessary.

The syllabus submitted with the program proposal is always altered to reflect further research and program design changes. The final syllabus should reflect the guidelines indicated below. The final syllabus should be submitted by the following deadlines:

• Summer Programs: February 1

• Fall Programs: July 1

• Winter Programs: October 1

• Spring/Spring Break Programs: November 1

Course Objectives:

• • should include specific content related to the program site.

  • should incorporate cultural learning experiences.

  • should illustrate that the course could not be taught in an alternative location.

Course Texts:

• • should have a reading list, course packet, and/or texts assigned and listed on the syllabus.

    • if a course packet is required, a full reading list of what's included should be provided on the final syllabus.

Grading & Assignments:

• • should reflect both the content and program location and must be graded according to the appropriate 天美传媒 grading scale. Assignments should go beyond a simple travel journal and should require reflection and incorporation of both the pre-departure content and the experiences while abroad. Post-program projects must incorporate the international component of the program.

  • should reflect participation in program activities. The syllabus should indicate how the course grade will be affected by missed program activities.

  • should utilize the course packet and should comply with any and all applicable copyright laws.

All study abroad courses must meet the same contact hour requirements as an on-campus academic course. Following the , the 2024-2025 天美传媒 Academic Bulletin states that 鈥渙ne hour of credit [is] equal to a minimum of 15 one-hour sessions of lecture or 30 one-hour sessions of laboratory, studio, or practice and two hours of out-of-class work each week (or the equivalent) based on the length of the semester鈥�.

In recognition of the unique experiential nature of study abroad and the challenges that are presented to both teachers and learners, contact hour and meeting requirements are designed to enable the teacher and learner to engage with one another, with the academic content, and with the culture and country prior to program departure. Pre-departure preparation of this kind ensures greater knowledge of the country and program site visits, deeper understanding of and engagement with the culture, and mindful connections between the content and program location.

Calculation of Contact Hours: recognizing that study abroad courses do not have a traditional method of delivery, total contact hours must be calculated by the instructor of the course and must meet the minimum for the credit assigned for the course. For study abroad, these contact hours may include:

• • pre-departure course meetings

  • post-program course meetings

  • pre- & post-program experiential learning activities related to the course

  • guest lectures

  • on-site course meetings

    • may take place in a traditional classroom space; on the way to a site with the instructor lecturing on the bus; in non-traditional spaces such as over a meal or outside a site immediately prior to or following a tour.

  • on-site experiential learning activities that are related to the course

    • may include direct interaction with the local culture, people, and location. These activities take place outside of a traditional classroom and include academic content-related activities or cultural activities if cultural objectives are delineated on the course syllabus. Experiential activities may include tours, excursions, performances, laboratory work, volunteerism, studio work, practice, or self-guided discoveries as they relate to the course objectives.

    • the 天美传媒 requirement is 2:1 experiential hours to the number of lecture hours. This means you may calculate a 3-hour instructor-led tour through a museum as 1.5 course hours.

Mandatory Course Meetings for Short Programs: all 天美传媒 Signature Programs that are less than a traditional semester in length of time abroad must meet for class prior to program departure.

• • One-Week Abroad Programs - may be offered for the Winter term, Spring Break term, or Summer term. These programs must include the pre-departure meeting and may also include post-program meetings to conclude the course and/or a final assignment required after the end of the program.

    • One-Week Winter or Summer Abroad Programs: must meet for the second half of the semester prior to the program abroad component for a minimum of 2 hours per week covering academic course content.

    • Spring Break Study Abroad Programs: must meet for the first half of the Spring semester for a minimum of 2 hours per week covering academic course content OR may meet for the entire Spring semester for one hour per week covering academic course content.

  • Two- to Three-Week Abroad Programs - may be offered for the Winter term or Summer term and must meet for the second half of the semester prior to the program abroad component for a minimum of 1 陆 hours per week covering academic course content.

  • Four-Week+ Programs - may be offered for the Summer term or, in special cases, during the regular semester. Four-Week+ Programs must provide students with a syllabus and course readings at least four weeks prior to departure, with at least one academic or cultural reading or assignment due before departure or immediately upon arrival.

Total Contact Hours: it is possible that contact hours during a program abroad course may exceed the traditional calculated classroom contact hours. With the experiential learning activities counting as half the equivalent of a lecture hour, a course abroad will be calculated to combine the lecture hours with experiential hours. As such, the examples below show a course that meets the minimum hours and a course that exceeds minimum hours. Both are valid examples of study abroad courses.

• Course A: a Two-Week Program that meets the minimum number of hours for a 3-credit course:

  • 22 classroom hours + 46 experiential hours (equal to 23 lecture hours) = 45 contact hours

    • On-campus meetings prior to departure: 12 hours (8 weeks x 1.5 hours/week)

      • 2 weeks abroad:

        • Class Meetings: 10 hours (10 days x 1 hour/day)

        • Experiential Activities: 46 hours (varying times each day across 13 total days on the ground)

• Course B: a Two-Week Program that exceeds the minimum number of hours for a 3-credit course:

  • 26 classroom hours + 65 experiential hours (equal to 32.5 lecture hours) = 58.5 contact hours

    • On-campus meetings prior to departure: 16 hours (8 weeks x 2 hours/week)

      • 2 weeks abroad:

        • Class Meetings: 10 hours (10 days x 1 hour/day)

        • Experiential Activities: 65 hours (varying times each day across 13 total days on the ground)

Semester Programs: classes are not required to meet prior to program departure but must provide students with a syllabus and at least one mandatory course reading at least four weeks prior to departure, with at least one academic or cultural reading or assignment due before departure or immediately upon arrival.

Recruitment is the responsibility of the members of the Leadership team:

• All program flyers must be approved by the EAO prior to distribution.

• Itinerary items should never be promised in recruitment materials or presentations.

• Requests for printed materials should be made at least one week prior to recruitment events.

• Failure to recruit the minimum number of students may result in:

  • the need to seek additional funding from your department or college to make up the financial difference.

  • program alteration to remove some services or activities to reduce the cost.

  • usage of a previous year鈥檚 roll-over revenue to support the program.

  • program or course cancellation.

The Leadership team is expected to maintain contact with students and with EAO throughout the recruitment process. Applications must be reviewed in ViaTRM and notations made by each member of Leadership for full acceptance; notations may include requests for application revisions, requests for interview, or even the need to reject a candidate. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and be in good academic standing to be eligible to study abroad. Additional requirements may be set by an individual program and must be advertised within the ViaTRM program description in order to be applied to applicants for a specific program.

In addition to the GPA requirement, a short response to an essay question is required of each applicant. Leadership should take every opportunity to encourage students to submit quality applications and should accept only those applications that exhibit program and location connection and understanding. Leadership should seek out students who have an interest in studying abroad. High GPA is not the sole indicator of success abroad and should not weigh more heavily than other application components.

• After the program application deadline, all submitted applications must be reviewed by program Leadership within one week.

• Final applicant decisions will be made by program Leadership and the EAO. Both groups read each application during the review process. The EAO compiles all comments made by the Leadership team to make final decisions on each applicant.

• All applications will be marked as conditionally approved, approved, waitlisted, or not approved by the EAO. Applications will not be marked without the confirmation of program Leadership.

Program Leadership is required to cooperate with the Education Abroad Coordinator in managing the budget and finances of the program. It is incumbent upon Leadership to ensure that all program inclusions are budgeted properly and that all program finances are transparent and follow 天美传媒 regulations.

Budget Inclusions

• Fees that must be included in the advertised program price:

  • all entrance tickets or fees to required program sites and activities

  • speaker fees or honoraria for guest lectures

  • guide fees and tips

  • driver fees and tips

  • local transportation to all required activities

  • wire transfer fees (budget $40 per transfer)

  • phone usage for all program Leadership for the duration of the program (cell phone stipend)

  • all housing/accommodation expenses

  • all Leadership costs (airfare, housing, activity fees, meals, etc.)

  • Leadership insurance (CISI)

  • additional funds to support any contingency or unexpected fees (minimum of 1% of the program fee or $25, whichever is higher)

• Fees that are optional for inclusion in the advertised fee:

  • airfare costs

  • US-based airport transfers

  • airport transfers while abroad

    • if arriving as a group at an airport, group transportation is highly encouraged and may be required by the program

  • participant meals (breakfast at the foreign hotel/accommodation is highly encouraged to be included in the cost of the program)

  • Leadership study abroad per diem (see the section about Leadership Compensation above to ensure regulation adherence)

All budget figures should be based on confirmed prices from vendors/providers abroad.

天美传媒 Requirements

• Fiscal Policies: EAO study abroad programs and all program Leadership must follow 天美传媒 fiscal policies and Travel Procedures at all times. This includes policies regarding purchasing card (P-card) usage, how funds can be spent while traveling, and what documentation is required for proof of expenses.

• Program Org: a specific EAO org is used for each study abroad program. Repeating programs will utilize the same org whenever the program occurs. For an org to be created, a budget must be finalized and submitted to the Accounting and Financials Services office through the EAO.

• Group Travel Request (TR): a group Travel Request will be prepared by the Education Abroad Coordinator and will document how the program budget is calculated. The group Travel Request also acts as the formal 天美传媒 financial document for how program revenue is to be spent. A group Travel Request is required for all FLPs.

  • a tentative group Travel Request will be prepared by mid-October for programs set to depart during the following year.

  • the final group Travel Request will include the program鈥檚 requested cash advance and a detailed listing of how that cash will be utilized while abroad (local transportation, meals, excursions, tips, contingencies, etc.).

  • P-card statements must be completed each month as necessary and all appropriate receipts and details regarding each purchase must be provided to the EAO.

  • P-cards are to be returned to the EAO at the close of each program.

• Purchasing Cards (P-card): members of Leadership will be assigned a 天美传媒 P-card associated with the corresponding program org prior to departure. In order to be eligible to use this P-card, members of Leadership must complete mandatory P-card training provided by the Accounting & Financial Services department. All P-card policies must be followed for program expenses and payments.

• Vendors: should a program abroad vendor need to be paid by wire transfer, that vendor must complete the required PaymentWorks registration and must submit all required vendor and banking to the 天美传媒 Procurement department.

• Cell Phone Stipends: Leadership who wish to use their cell phone and cell plans while abroad should complete a 天美传媒 Cell Phone Stipend form and return it to the EAO. Cell Phone Stipends will be processed by the Payroll department and expensed to your home department. The cell phone stipend expense will then be transferred from your home department to the program abroad program org through an IAB created by the EAO. Any Leadership failing to complete the required form prior to program departure may not be eligible for the cell phone stipend.

• Travel Voucher (TV): a Travel Voucher is required to reconcile all program expenses within 2 weeks of program completion. Travel Vouchers are prepared by the Education Abroad Coordinator and then submitted to Accounting.

  • all unused cash advance funds must be reconciled and returned using the Travel Voucher.

  • all cash expenses should be documented with a hard-copy receipt. Each receipt must be taped to an 8.5x11 sheet of paper with a note detailing the reason for the expense. Receipts must be date-stamped and taped in chronological order.

  • foreign exchange rates can be noted in two ways:

    • ATM receipts with bank statements indicating the rate that was received when cash was withdrawn from your bank.

    • exchange receipts from banks abroad indicating the rate received when cash was exchanged.

      • ATM charges may be included in your expenses but excessive charges will not be reimbursed.

Program Balance

• Over Budget: program expenses exceed available program revenue. Programs may be over budget for a variety of reasons:

  • Not enough students - if a program or a course on a program does not recruit the required minimum number of students to break even.

    • if enough funds are available in the org from a previous year (carryover balance), the program may be permitted to go.

    • funds may be sought from the academic department and/or college to support the program deficit.

    • expected expenses may be decreased on the program through the elimination of some line items: airport transfers (US-based), Leadership stipends, activities or excursions, or even number of program days. However, this option must be examined closely so as not to jeopardize the academic integrity of the program or safety of the students.

    • program or course cancellation if too few students have enrolled and/or funds are not available from departmental or college sources to cover the difference.

  • Increased expenses - if program costs increase unexpectedly, the program must seek a way to cut costs where appropriate as noted above.

  • Emergencies - programs may experience emergencies abroad that increase program costs. Any large emergency expense should be discussed with the Education Abroad Director immediately (when possible). Financial support for emergencies may come from any of these sources:

    • program contingency funds (part of the cash advance to Leadership)

    • emergency departmental and/or colleges assistance

    • previous year program balances (carryover balance)

    • EAO contingency account (program support)

  • Poor financial management - Leadership may have poor program and financial decision-making skills, resulting in under-budgeting or overspending. In most cases, this may result in the inability to manage a program in the future. Departments and/or colleges will be contacted to assist with over-budget programs due to poor Leadership management.

    • inaccurate costs secured or costs not accurately quoted from vendors when putting the program together

    • inappropriate exchange rate calculations

    • over-spending while abroad

• Under Budget: program expenses do not exceed available program revenue; funds remain in the program org at the close of the program. Remaining funds (carryover balance) will be available for future programs if the program is repeated within three years. Carryover balances from programs not repeating within three years will be moved to the EAO contingency fund (program support) to be utilized to support program emergencies, student scholarships, and faculty expenses during other programs.

Companion Rates: a companion rate is the cost a companion pays to participate in a study abroad program. Companion rates may or may not be the full program fee  advertised to students. Once a companion rate is calculated, the Education Abroad Coordinator will reach out to all members of Leadership who wish to bring a companion(s) so that the proper fees can be collected. The following are considered when calculating a companion rate: 

• • hotel expenses that are increased by adding a companion to a room

  • transportation expenses (air and rail)

  • coach expenses that are increased as a result of adding companions to the group coach

  • activity and excursion fees

  • meals that are paid for or included as part of group dining

  • program providers will most often have one set price with little or no discount for a companion

All program Leadership reports to the Director of Education Abroad as the managing supervisor for study abroad programs in addition to being responsible to their department and subject to its rules and regulations.

Each program will have no less than two 天美传媒 faculty or staff members on the Leadership team. In the case of an 天美传媒 faculty member working with a third-party provider in-country, only one 天美传媒 faculty member is required for the program. This approval is not guaranteed and is made by the PRC with a recommendation to the Chair, Dean, VP, and University President.

In the event that Leadership of a small study abroad program consists of no more than one faculty and one director (or two total), the Director of Education Abroad, or designee of the Director, shall be the contact person for students, faculty, and staff while abroad.

For proper program management, Leadership should:

• Conduct a student orientation prior to departure, utilizing the suggested agenda provided by the EAO and catered to your program through your research.

• Abide by all 天美传媒 personnel policies, ethical standards, travel procedures, P-card policies, Education Abroad policies, and all faculty/staff handbook policies and academic department or college policies.

• Become familiar with 天美传媒 Crisis Management Protocols prior to program departure and utilize these protocols while abroad.

• Read student medical information prior to departure.

• Create a Location Safety Assessment for your program and both file it with EAO and distribute it to students at orientation.

• Be on-call for the duration of the program and available to participants at any time for emergencies.

• Have a working cell phone while abroad.

• Provide students with accurate emergency contact numbers for usage while abroad.

• Review flight itinerary details, including verification of passengers and reservation codes prior to departure.

• Conduct an on-site orientation when abroad to remind students of any points necessary from the pre-departure orientation or provide new information regarding the site.

• Establish a meeting point for emergencies and day excursions.

• Conduct a familiarization tour or scavenger hunt early on in the program to introduce students to the area and local transportation as applicable.

• Document by hand all events involving disciplinary action of any kind, medical- or health-related issues, police-involved actions, and logistical and emergency issues. Documentation will be turned into the Director of Education Abroad at the close of the program.

• Notify the Director of Education Abroad as soon as possible, but in no event more than 24 hours in regard to:

  • medical situation requiring an ambulance or hospital stay

  • expulsion of student from the program

  • report of physical or sexual assault, even if the student refuses medical treatment or police action

  • missing participant

  • police-involved incident of any kind

  • incident in which a student puts him/herself or other participants at risk of harm

• Never dispense medications of any kind to participants.

• Keep medical and emergency information with you at all times and confidential from program participants.

• Obtain copies of police reports.

• Carry insurance forms and contact numbers with you abroad.

• Accompany students to the hospital or ER.

• Alert students who approach you in confidence to share personal information that you cannot guarantee confidence. Follow through with documenting the interaction.

• Never carry on romantic or consensual relationships with students on programs abroad.

• Refrain from intoxication or any non-prescribed drug usage while abroad (excluding over-the-counter medication). Leadership shall not act in such a manner in regard to alcohol or drug usage or partake of any substance which, if done or used on Murray State Universit's campus, would be illegal under the laws of the United States and/or Commonwealth of Kentucky. Any use of alcoholic beverages shall be done responsibly such as to be able to provide reasonable leadership during the program and proper supervision of the students involved.

Failure to abide by these guidelines and 天美传媒 policies by those in Leadership may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to program expulsion, being barred from future participation in Education Abroad programs, and/or termination.

In regard to the issue of employee liability, liability defense is not absolute and each individual may choose to obtain a personal liability insurance policy. Any defense extended by 天美传媒 to an employee will be according to terms and conditions determined by 天美传媒. Even if the University decides to provide a defense to an employee, considerations may subsequently arise which demonstrate that it is no longer in the University's best interests to extend a defense. Any decision to extend a defense is done so with the understanding that the University may take later action to discontinue such a defense. Similarly, any decision by the University to extend a defense to an employee cannot be construed as the University's agreeing to pay any adverse judgment. For additional information, please refer to 天美传媒 Board of Regents Policies Section 2.26.

Leadership must be aware of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). While certain academic and personal protections exist within the FERPA guidelines, Leadership may exercise discretion on reporting matters to a participant's emergency contact.

General Guidelines:

• if a student creates a situation that puts another individual student or the people around the student at risk, the Director of Education Abroad should be contacted to involve necessary 天美传媒 officials. The emergency contact may be notified with 天美传媒 approval.

• if a student is expelled, removed, or withdraws from a program, then the emergency contact must be contacted.

• if a student is in medical distress but is coherent and refuses authorization then the emergency contact should not be contacted.

• if the issue is an academic one, where there are no physical risks, the emergency contact should not be contacted.

• in the event that educational records or information from educational records is shared with the emergency contact person, or a third person based on a health or safety emergency, only the minimum information necessary should be shared and should be documented as to what documents/information was released, the circumstances justifying the release (i.e. the articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or other individuals that formed the basis for the disclosure), to whom it was released, and the date the release occurred.

• Alumni: alumni may apply for existing study abroad programs with courses related to their career or academic field. Alumni applicants will be considered after degree-seeking applicants are considered. Alumni applicants approved for the program must enroll in the study abroad course.

• Faculty & Staff (International Professional Development): faculty and staff (current or retired) may be considered for study abroad programs as professional development opportunities when the faculty of record and Program Director for the program open the program to IPD applicants. Faculty and staff applicants must indicate how the program relates to their academic or career field. All faculty and staff IPD applicants must be approved by the Program Director, their Chair, Dean, and VP and may be reviewed by the IPD Review Committee in addition to the committee of the program to which they have applied. Faculty and staff members who apply to participate in a student study abroad program as International Professional Development understand:

  • that their application will be considered only if space is available after student applications have been vetted; and

  • that companions and/or dependents are not permitted to accompany IPD applicants on student study abroad programs; and

  • that by joining a student study abroad program, an IPD participant will be expected to participate in all program activities and engage other participants in discussions relevant to the program focus; and

  • that they are expected to pay the equivalent student rate for the program.

A companion is any person who accompanies a member of Leadership. A companion may be a spouse, partner, child, extended family member, or friend. Please let the Program Director and the Education Abroad Office know immediately if you are considering bringing a companion. Companions are permitted to join the Leadership of a study abroad program at the discretion of the Program Director. Companions will only be considered if there is space available after student applications have been vetted.

Companions are limited in number, defined as follows:

• One adult companion (spouse, partner, extended family, caregiver, or friend)

• Children (legal dependents of leadership) with the stipulation that the adult companion serves as the primary caregiver

Any companions accompanying a Faculty or Program Director are responsible for the full cost of their participation. Companion rates will not be subsidized by student program fees, even if the companion is an 天美传媒 employee. A companion rate for Signature programs will be determined based on actual program expenses. Companions are not guaranteed group discounts. Companions are responsible for paying all fees online (via Marketplace) in full prior to departure according to the following schedule. Companions who do not meet these payment deadlines will be removed from the program and forfeit all monies unrecoverable to 天美传媒.

• $500 deposit by application deadline

• full airfare paid within one month of application deadline

• full program fee paid no later than 30 days prior to program departure

Minor children must be accompanied by a non-program adult on the program who can serve as their primary caretaker on a daily basis and in case of illness or emergency. Other faculty or staff members involved with Leadership of a program cannot be asked to serve as a caretaker. Student participants cannot be asked to serve as a caretaker.

Teaching/Directing abroad requires a great deal of attention while abroad, so the idea of a family vacation is not an accurate view of what your availability will be like with your companions, especially if an emergency occurs. Your primary duty while abroad will be to teach/direct regardless of the desires of your companions to participate in program activities. As such, your companions may opt-out of many of your class-related events in favor of items on their personal to-do list. Companions may not interfere with the academics or logistical arrangements of the program. The presence of companions must not compromise, disrupt, or alter the student program in any way.

Please note the following when bringing companions:

• all companions must complete the companion application forms that will be attached to the corresponding Leadership's application in ViaTRM. This includes acknowledgment that they have chosen to join a student program, where student success will be the primary goal, and an understanding that companions may also be asked to leave a program if they cause a disruption.

• all companions must purchase the mandatory travel/health insurance for the program. 天美传媒 currently utilizes CISI. Details on the coverage plan for 天美传媒 is linked within the application.

• companions cannot be both a companion and a student participant seeking credit. Companions who wish to seek credit for the program shall pay fees as a program participant and participate in all required course activities without exception.

天美传媒 is not responsible for minor children, family members, or other individuals who accompany education abroad program Leadership.

• These regulations may be reviewed annually by the International Studies Advisory Committee (ISAC) or by Study Programs Operating Committee. Revisions will be forwarded to the Provost and University President for formal approval prior to adoption.

• Revisions will be in effect for programs and Leadership in the academic year following the review. As such, regulation changes may not be made to affect faculty and directors after applications have been approved or conditionally approved. These regulations are subject to change at any time based upon a directive or other action by the Murray State University Board of Regents or the University President.