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Faculty-Led Programs

Annie Hesp teaching students on program to Spain.
Photo courtesy of Annie Hesp and VT Camino program

Faculty are key to the  success of study abroad at Virginia Tech. Faculty have tremendous influence on students' learning and development. In addition to their interaction with students in the classroom where we encourage them to promote study abroad, faculty also have the opportunity to work with the Global Education Office to plan, create, and teach on a study abroad program.

The GEO provides administrative and logistical support for faculty-led study abroad programs, which offer educational opportunities to nearly a thousand students each year. VT Faculty-Led programs are designed to encourage a diverse variety of students to study abroad, and these opportunities would not be possible without the dedication and effort of the faculty who lead these programs.

The information provided in this section of our website is intended for faculty who, with the support of their department and college/school, would seek the assistance of the GEO in the development and administration of a Faculty-Led study abroad program.

Faculty-led study abroad programs are initiated and directed by members of Virginia Tech's faculty with support from the Global Education Office. These programs offer VT credits and VT faculty serve as the instructor of record for the courses taught in addition to accompanying students abroad; therefore, students are enrolled at the institution and paying tuition and fees to Virginia Tech.  Programs may range in length from a week-long to a semester-long experience. 

 In line with VT guidelines, a faculty-led study abroad program is one that:

  • Is taught outside the United States;
  • Involves a VT faculty member (including adjunct) either as instructor or on-site coordinator;
  • Involves a group of students going to the same location for the same time period;
  • Involves students earning VT credit that is taken for a grade, listed on their transcript, and included in their GPA, similar to on-campus courses;
  • Is sponsored by an academic unit and supported by the GEO.

Policy requires that for-credit, faculty-led study abroad programs be administered through the GEO

If you are interested in leading non-credit or co-curricular programs, see the VT Engage website.

Study abroad benefits faculty and students in numerous ways.  Below are just a few benefits that faculty receive by leading a program and that students receive by participating:

For faculty:

  • Significantly enhances one’s teaching, research, and service
  • Provides global competence which can then be passed on to students
  • Affords an opportunity to connect with students in a more meaningful way as opposed to large lecture-style courses and classroom-only contact
  • Adds experiential and global learning objectives to your courses
  • Provides a fully-supported method for one to travel and conduct academic work abroad

For students:

  • Classes are taught by Virginia Tech faculty
  • Students earn credit towards their major, minor and/or degree program
  • Programs are pre-planned and structured
  • Students have the opportunity to build strong connections with VT faculty members, and in many cases, with students from outside their own disciplines
  • Unique academic, career, and personal development benefits

While it can be very rewarding leading your own study abroad program, faculty leaders do take on a host of responsibilities.  These include:

  • Completing and submitting a proposal to the Global Education Approval Committee that’s been approved by the department and college
  • Assisting with budget development in partnership with the Global Education Office
  • Coordinating program logistics (housing, meals, transportation) and contracts with program providers with the support of GEO
  • Arranging and managing program academics (syllabus, textbooks, international partners, guest lecturers, etc.)
  • Actively promoting program to obtain target enrollment
  • Reviewing applications and selecting participants via GEO’s enrollment management software (Terra Dotta)
  • Coordinating with department/college fiscal staff to bill student accounts and manage the program’s payments and finances
  • Attending GEO Program Leader Training every two years
  • Facilitating a site-specific pre-departure orientation
  • Completing mandatory pre-departure preparation for all program leaders and submitting the GEO Pre-Departure Checklist items at least 30 days in advance of departure
  • Submitting a travel authorization at least 30 days prior to departure
  • Providing an on-site orientation upon arrival in host country
  • Responding to student misconduct, behavioral/personal problems
  • Remaining on-call 24/7 for emergency response procedures and reporting any incidents
  • Facilitating completion of the GEO survey at the close of the program
  • Submitting travel reimbursement within 30 days of return
  • Submitting final program report

But never fear, the Global Education Office is here to help. Here are just a few of the ways in which we provide support to faculty leading programs:

  • Work with Program Leaders to create safe, geographically relevant, academically sound, and fiscally responsible programs
  • Provide guidance regarding best practices for study abroad programming
  • Support creation of a program proposal
  • Aid with logistical arrangements
  • Support program budget in conjunction with the Program Leader
  • Advise as to compliance with Virginia Tech policy and procedure
  • Support review of applications and selection of participants
  • Provide enrollment updates on program numbers and applications
  • Help with program promotion in coordination with Program Leader
  • Offer student advising and provide support for pre-departure orientations facilitated by Program Leader
  • Provide emergency and risk management support
  • Initiate and facilitate post-program evaluation

All programs must be led by at least one Virginia Tech faculty member. A volunteer can be designated at the secondary support individual. University policy requires that an additional support individual be designated for every 15 students in group size, and it is highly recommended that even for groups of less than 15 there be a second designated individual who can be called on in an emergency situation. 

Volunteer Appointment and Approval Form

 

Virginia Tech is deeply committed to positioning itself as a leading Global Land-Grant by seeking to build excellence, enhance access and have an impact on our community, state, nation and the world. To do that requires our faculty and staff to reflect the intellectual, gender, ethnic and cultural diversity of our nation and world so that our students learn from the broadest perspectives. When identifying faculty for study abroad programs, the colleges should consider diversity and inclusion, including gender diversity, in program leadership.

VT faculty may propose a summer, winter, semester or embedded faculty-led program.  While many of the processes are similar, here are a few distinctive elements:

  Faculty-Led Summer & Winter Session Programs Faculty-Led Semester Programs Faculty-Led Embedded Programs
Program Duration 2-9 weeks during the summer or 2-3 weeks during the winter
 Program that aligns with VT’s academic calendar and takes place for the full term
 7-10 day program which takes place during academic breaks or prior to the semester’s end
Course Format Coursework is taught during program and may include pre- or post-program work
 Coursework is taught during program and may include pre- or post-program work
 The program is attached to a semester course
Compensation Faculty may receive up to 3.75 of their annual salary per credit hour with a cap of 33 1/3% for winter session. Summer salary is negotiated with department chair and dependent upon College policy 
 Faculty teach this course(s) as part of their semester teaching load and therefore do not receive additional salary
 Faculty salary is negotiated with department chair and dependent upon College policy 
Budget Model Students pay per credit hour for tuition and a separate program fee
 Students pay their VT tuition as normal (with specific rates for Steger programs) and a separate program fee
 Full-time enrolled students do not pay additional semester tuition, but do pay a program fee
Current Program Offerings See here for examples.
 See here for examples.
 See here for examples.
Enrollment Typically, a minimum of 10 students (based on budget and compensation)
 Typically, a minimum of 10 students (based on budget and compensation)
 Typically, a minimum of 10 students (based on budget and compensation

The ideal planning time for a program is 12-18 months out from the term for which you are proposing.

Virginia Tech has a formalized proposal process for all faculty members wishing to propose a program. The review process promotes alignment of programs with curriculum and learning goals, and with SCHEV guidelines for study abroad learning and safety.

Proposals are first reviewed and supported by the home department or college and then submitted to the university-wide, Global Education Approval Committee (GEAC).

College Liaisons:

College Liaison Email
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Peter Ziegler, CALS Academic Programs 

pziegler@vt.edu
College of Architecture, Arts and Design  Susanna Rinehart, Associate Professor of Performing Arts susannar@vt.edu
Pamplin College of Business Michelle Seref, Interim Assistant Dean of Outreach and Student Engagement mmhseref@vt.edu
College of Engineering Nicole Sanderlin, Director of Global Engagement npsander@vt.edu
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Farida Jalalzai, Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Engagement fjalalzai@vt.edu
College of Natural Resources and Environment Emily Talley, Director of the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability emtalley@vt.edu
College of Science

Michel Pleimling, Director Academy of Integrated Science

 pleim@vt.edu
Honors College 

Paul Heilker, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

 pheilker@vt.edu
Graduate School Aimée Suprenant, Dean, Graduate School gsdean@vt.edu
Veterinary Medicine
 Valerie Ragan, Director of the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine

vragan@vt.edu

 
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine David Trinkle, Associate Dean, Community and Culture dbtrinkle@vt.edu

 

Steps to developing a proposal:

 

Ready to propose?

  • Click the "Apply Now" button on the Faculty-Led New Program Proposal and Registration page to open a program leader portal.
  • Complete the GEAC Faculty-Led Program Proposal Form and the GEAC Budget Template.
  • Submit to your department head and your college's Global Education Liaison for review and approval at least two weeks prior to the GEAC deadline. If your program is hosted at the Steger Center, also obtain approval from the Executive Director (stegercenter@vt.edu).
  • Make any necessary revisions.
  • Upload and submit final documents to the GEAC through your registration portal, ensuring that your College-approved proposal has reached the committee by the university's deadline.

 

Ready to renew?

If your program has been previously approved by the Global Education Approval Committee, follow these steps to renew your program.

  • Click the "Apply Now" button on the Faculty-Led Program Renewal and Registration page to open a program leader portal.
  • Complete the GEAC Faculty-Led Program Renewal Form, GEAC Budget Template, and Post-Program Report. If your courses have changed, update course syllabus or syllabi.
  • Submit to your department head and your college's Global Education Liaison for review and approval at least two weeks prior to the GEAC deadline. If your program is hosted at the Steger Center, also obtain approval from the Executive Director (stegercenter@vt.edu).
  • Make any necessary revisions.
  • Upload and submit final documents to the GEAC through your registration portal, ensuring that your College-approved proposal has reached the committee by the university's deadline.
PROPOSE NEW PROGRAM
RENEW EXISTING PROGRAM

Proposals should be submitted by the program leader after obtaining department/college feedback and approval. Submission will notify the appropriate college liaisons for verification of approval.

The ideal planning time for a program is 12-18 months out from the term for which you are proposing. Virginia Tech has a formalized proposal process for all faculty members wishing to propose a faculty-led study abroad program. All new and continuing proposals are first reviewed and supported by the home department/college and then submitted to the university-wide, Global Education Approval Committee.

Please see the following table for the deadlines per program term. The Global Education Office staff are ready to begin supporting your proposal as early as possible!

Program Proposal Deadlines:

Please be aware that your college’s approval deadline is two weeks prior to the GEAC’s university-wide proposal deadline. 

No late proposals will be considered following the final university-wide proposal deadline.

SUMMER SESSION
FALL SEMESTER & EMBEDDED
WINTER SESSION
SPRING SEMESTER
SPRING EMBEDDED

Aug. 15 (priority)

Aug. 15 (priority)

Feb. 15 (priority)

Feb. 15 (priority)

Feb. 15 (priority)

Sept. 15 (final)

Sept. 15 (final)

March 15 (final)

March 15 (final)

July 15 (Final)

See here for an overview of key information related to budgeting, fund management, billing, advanced payment, contracting with vendors, and travel authorization/reimbursement.

Study Abroad Program Financial Management

Recruitment Events

Program leaders with approved programs for the current academic year will be invited to promote their program at one or more events organized by the GEO. Please subscribe to the GEO Newsletter to be informed of this year’s scheduled promotional events.

For support with program recruitment, contact Outreach and Events Manager, Ginny Ford (ginnyf@vt.edu). 

At least 30 days following your program's end date, submit your Travel Reimbursement request to the Controller's Office. 

Post-Program Reports are due to vtgeac@vt.edu within 60 days of your program’s return unless you intend to renew your program in the next cycle, in which case you may upload your report during the renewal process.

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