Resources for Faculty Leading Global Abroad Programs

We are pleased that you have chosen to take learning outside of the classroom and the country. Leading a program abroad is both a challenging and rewarding experience. Successful international programs are a result of collaborative efforts among the program leader, the Center for Global Programs and Studies (GPS), and your academic department. GPS looks forward to assisting you with the preparations for your program as well as providing support for you while abroad.

Summer and Short-term Programs

Semester Programs

REQUIREMENTS

All faculty who lead credit-bearing undergraduate study abroad programs, either semester, summer or short-term, are required to perform the following duties as part of their service teaching abroad:

• Establish and manage a budget

  Semester program budgets have already been established, and resident professors will obtain information about the budget system and financial expectations from the Program Director and Assistant Provost for Budget and Planning.

  Summer faculty directors must use the budget template and process set by the Center for Global Programs & Studies and other offices.

• Recruit students

  Resident professors and summer faculty directors must be actively involved in publicizing their program, meeting with students regarding the program, and selecting them for the program.
  Program Directors and staff in the Center for Global Programs & Studies are available to assist with publicity efforts.

• Hold orientation sessions

  Pre-departure orientations (PDO) are important for getting to know students and helping them meet each other. These in-person meetings are the best way to provide detailed information about the program, including expectations and schedules. GPS staff must lead at least one PDO in order to cover a range of topics, such as a health, safety, security, money and banking, and culture shock and cultural adjustment.

• Attend Risk Management orientation

  The Executive Director of Risk Management conducts required training orientation meetings on health, safety, security and crisis management for faculty who serve as resident professors or summer faculty directors. A session on mental health and study abroad is led by Counseling Center staff.

• Submit international travel forms

  University policy requires all faculty, staff and students traveling outside the U.S. to submit international travel forms including the “Guidelines for Wake Forest University Faculty/Staff Directors.”

• Distribute and collect course evaluations

  Resident professors and summer faculty directors are expected to assist in distributing course evaluation forms to students and ensuring that a confidential process is followed for collecting and returning course evaluations to the Program Director and relevant department chair.

• Submit an end of program report

  Resident professors and summer faculty directors are required to submit a formal, written report within six weeks after the end of their study abroad program.