Faculty-Led Study Abroad
Faculty-led study abroad trips add an exciting real-world component to a course. These trips are usually short term, typically less than one semester in duration, and may be credit-bearing. OIE encourages interested faculty to work with a department head (or the department administrator most familiar with study abroad) from the early planning phases to ensure that the program adheres to department and university expectations and procedures for academic programming. Interested faculty should also notify OIE staff of their intentions. OIE can provide a framework for most aspects of planning a short-term faculty-led program abroad, including budgetary planning, logistical factors, curricular issues, and emergency preparedness.
What are the Benefits?
Faculty-led study abroad trips provide an important piece of the overall study abroad picture at Carnegie Mellon. Each year, around 30 Carnegie Mellon students venture abroad on trips led and designed by faculty. Architectural studies and language and culture explorations form the backbone of these experiences at Carnegie Mellon, and several well-respected programs are long-standing and highly successful.
What are the Challenges?
What Role does OIE Play?
Planning & Preparation
Create Program
After connecting with OIE to discuss interests, faculty should plan, write and submit a program proposal. If this will be a credit bearing opportunity, faculty must follow the New Academic Program Process (NAPP).
Organize Logistics
Determine costs, establish a budget, set per-student cost, and plan travel arrangements, lodging, transport, etc.
Publicize & Inform
Publicize program, recruit students, establish deadlines for deposits, and finalize participants. Prepare comprehensive student and parent information packets and distribute in a timely manner. Be sure to carefully articulate risk issues and prepare student forms, including liability waivers.
Conduct Pre-Departure Orientation
Conduct group orientation with a study abroad advisor, or send students to OIE’s pre-departure orientation. Pre-departure orientations are mandatory for all students wishing to travel abroad.