TO: UW-L Faculty Senate Executive Committee
FROM: Nicole Gullekson, Chair, International Education Committee
SUBJECT: Year-End Report, 2014-2015
DATE: June 30, 2015
This memo provides a summary for the work done by the International Education Committee
(IEC) during the 2014-2015 academic year, including both specific charges for the committee as well as normal review of faculty-led programming, International Studies Minor and International
Development Fund (IDF) grants.
Faculty Senate Charges
1.
Improve the level of faculty oversight of international education through better communication with the Office of International Education. o The committee is working on improving the level of faculty oversight and communication with OIE (now IEE).

The committee reviewed the 2013-2014 Annual Report for OIE and found it did not adequately reflect report guidelines. The committee requested such reports include additional information about outcomes, objectives and strategic plans.

The committee also reviewed the Audit Report and Faculty Customer
Satisfaction Survey of OIE, which indicated problematic areas that needed improvement, especially with regards to faculty-led programming. To the extent possible, this information has been used, in part, to update the faculty-led program guidelines and increase collaboration with OIE (now
IEE).

The committee requested that, per committee by-laws, the Director of OIE be present at the IEC meetings so that better communication and collaboration can take place between the committee and OIE.

The committee has updated the Faculty-Led Program Guidelines for developing study abroad programs. This is a work in progress for the upcoming year, but the updated guidelines aim to reflect clear criteria for program development and partnership with IEE.
2.
Maintain records of program proposals, budgets, and final reports and pass these to the
Faculty Senate Office for archival purposes, and to help guide other faculty who are considering international education curricular options. o The committee set up a shared Google Drive folder to store records of committee documents from year to year. Additionally, examples of faculty-led proposals have been identified to be shared and uploaded to the Faculty Senate website to help faculty in program development. o Additional documentations strategies should be developed in the following year.
3.
Consider how current guidelines for salary and compensation (summer salary and overload payment) would affect study abroad programs and faculty/staff who lead them.

IEC end-of-year report
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Work with the Promotion, Tenure, and Salary Committee in order to establish better policy where needed. o The committee chair met with the Faculty Senate Executive committee to explain some of the faculty-led stipend payment issues and discrepancies. PTS was going to put together a proposal and share it with IEC for review. This is not complete and should be included for the upcoming year.
4.
(Updated charge item). Empowerment of IEC to approve budgets for J-Term and
Summer 2015 faculty/staff-led study abroad programs without changes in proposed compensation. This would use the "1200" per credit plan, as noted by IEC. The faculty senate sees this as temporary measure, with the goal of replacing it for courses taught in
J-Term 2016 and beyond. (Note, policy implementation is under administrative control through Academic Affairs.) o The committee did use this budget plan for current proposals and will continue until a new plan is approved.
5.
(Updated charge item). Consider useful guidelines for study abroad program budget development, applicable for courses to be taught in 2016 and beyond. o The committee updated the faculty-led program criteria and guidelines which includes some budgetary items.
IEC Faculty-Led Program Reviews
1.
The committee reviewed six post-trip assessments and ten on-going or new faculty-led program proposals. The post-trip assessment feedback identified several issues with coordination or organization of programs with the Office of International Education. This information was used to update faculty-led program guidelines and in improving the oversight of, and communication with, OIE (see charge #1).
2.
The committee reviewed four IDF grant proposals in the fall and two in the spring. All proposals were subsequently funded, pending any required changes or additional information, either via IDF funds or program overage funds. Additionally, the committee updated the IDF grant submission and evaluation criteria.
3.
Changes to the International Studies Minor were discussed and IEC approved the revisions to the minor.
IEC Tasks for the Future
1.
Update the IEC information on the faculty senate website, including a method for sharing committee information like proposals and post trip assessments.
2.
Review the faculty/staff payment plan for study abroad stipends from PTS
3.
Update IEC materials as needed including the faculty-led program guidelines which were updated in 2014-2015 (if additional changes are needed) and work with IEE to develop necessary checklists and supporting materials