Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Planning Proposal
New and existing faculty-led study abroad programs must be submitted using this format.
The Planning Proposal is not meant to be a comprehensive document but rather an outline of the program
that you will present in more detail (budget, detailed itinerary, etc.) in the Final Proposal – due September
1. This proposal is designed to help you think of all the items you will need to plan a safe and successful
program and to allow OIP to assist you as needed.
Instructions for proposing a faculty-led study abroad program:
1. The first step in developing a program is dialogue and appropriate planning.
a. Begin talking with your department chair and dean, as soon as you have an idea.
b. Check the U.S. State Department website, as SFA cannot allow travel to countries with State
Department warnings http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
c. Consider the intended student participants and how to structure the curriculum to be
attractive. Courses with a minimum of prerequisites and suitable to students from a variety of
majors can be helpful in recruiting.
2. Review the SFA Faculty Handbook and consult with Inés Maxit (maxitie@sfasu.edu) if you have any
questions.
3. Complete and submit the Planning Proposal to OIP by May 1. This proposal consists of:
I. General Information
II. Program Information
III. Academic Information
IV. Approval Signatures (secure from chair and dean)
4. OIP will help you gather the resources you need to submit with your Final Proposal.
The Planning Proposal is due by May 1
The Final Proposal is due by September 1
OIP will estimate the number and dollar amount of Study Abroad Scholarships based on
information from the planning proposals received by May 1st.
OIP may not have scholarship funds available for programs whose Planning Proposals are
submitted after the due date.
Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Planning Proposal
I.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Program Title:
Name:
Dept:
Program Leader:
Phone:
Email:
Name:
Dept:
Program Leader:
Phone:
Email:
Name:
Dept:
Program Leader:
Phone:
Email:
Student Enrollment:
Target student group size:
min:
Program Location(s):
Program Term(s):
Program Dates
(start and end of all on-campus and
off-campus commitments)
Overseas Course Component (span
from start to finish and total
number of days):
II.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
from: / /20
to: / /20
from: / /20
to: / /20
Number of Days:
max:
Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Planning Proposal
Purpose and Need (Briefly describe the program’s purpose and learning objectives.)
Utilizing the Location (Provide a general itinerary of the program and describe how course(s) will utilize
academic, cultural, or physical resources not reasonably available in Texas)
Published Advertisement (Provide a brief program summary that can be used for advertising/publicity on
the study abroad website and in program brochures. This summary should provide students with a clear and
concise understanding of your program.)
Eligibility Requirements/Prerequisites (Include any admissions/course prerequisites (min GPA, language
proficiency, etc.) as well as any physical demands that students must be able to accommodate.)
Target Population/Marketing Strategy (Identify the student population(s) you are trying to reach with your
program and your strategy for marketing this program specifically to them.)
Program Support (Will you need the assistance/support from a third party provider?
Travel Security (List any travel-related concerns specific to your site. Go to:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html)
III.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Planning Proposal
Course Information
1. List the anticipated courses that will be taught through your study abroad
program:
Prefix
Course #
Course Title (and equivalency if using existing course)
2. Are there a fixed number of credit hours that all students must take? Yes
Credit hrs
No
If yes, how many? _____
(Minimum of 3 credits within a term is necessary for students to be eligible for financial aid).
The ultimate goal of faculty-led programs is to promote student learning and development. When developing
your Study Abroad course and preparing your syllabus for the Final Proposal, please consider the following
objectives, derived from The Forum on Education Abroad
(www.forumea.org/documents/ForumEAStandardsShortTermProg.pdf).
The items below do not need to be completed for the proposal, but should be closely considered during the
planning process.
1. Student Development: How will the program provide opportunities that encourage student development (e.g.,
leadership skills, service orientation, maturity, tolerance for ambiguity, and growth in cultural awareness?
2. Learning Outcomes: How will the program foster discipline-specific and/or interdisciplinary learning outcomes
appropriate to the curriculum, site, and program goals?
3. Language and Intercultural Development: How will your program provide language and intercultural
development opportunities appropriate to its mission?
4. Intrapersonal Development: How will the program include opportunities for reflection during and after the
experience?
5. Assessment: How will student learning outcomes and overall student experience be assessed at the program’s
conclusion so that subsequent programs are improved based on this assessment?
IV.
LEADER AGREEMENT & SIGNATURES
As indicated by my signature below, I have read, understand, and agree to the expectations and
Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Planning Proposal
responsibilities outlined in the SFA Faculty Study Abroad Handbook; if my program is approved I
understand that I must submit a Final Proposal by September 1 in order to implement my program.
Program Leader
Date
Program Leader (if more than one)
Date
Program Leader (if more than two)
Date
This program has the support/approval of the sponsoring Department and College as indicated by the
signatures below:
Department Chair
Date
Academic Dean
Date
International Programs
Date
Submit to International Programs (LAN/Dugas 402 or PO Box 6152), by May 1.