Center for International Education
Northern Arizona University
PO Box 5598
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5598
Phone: (928) 523-2409
Fax: (928) 523-9489
studyabroad@nau.edu
FACULTY-LED EDUCATION ABROAD PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
Thank you for your interest in developing a new faculty-led program! We look forward to
working with you. In accordance with policies established by the Office of the Provost and the
Center for International Education (CIE), all new faculty-led programs must be approved by a
department head, dean, and the Education Abroad office.
Please address each of the following sections. Once completed, return all required documentation
to Eric Deschamps, Director of Education Abroad, at CIE (Box 5598) or by email. Eric can
answer your questions at Eric.Deschamps@nau.edu or (928) 523-8334.
Proposal Deadline: For all programs, we highly encourage faculty directors to submit proposals
as far in advance as possible to allow sufficient time to market and recruit students, and for
students to complete the application process. This is very important because timing may affect
the number of enrolled students and the ability for the program to run.
Section I: Overview
Please provide the following:
• Program Name – how you want the program marketed to students
• Program Location(s)
• Program Dates
• Sponsoring Department(s)
• Program Director (leading faculty or staff member)
• Additional NAU Staff or Faculty Members
• NAU EMPL number
• Duration of NAU contract – 9 or 12 months?
• Email and Phone Contact Information
Section II: Program Information
Describe the program in general terms in one or two paragraphs. The text submitted here will be
used as a starting-point for text on the CIE webpage for students, so please present the
information in a way that is conducive to students getting a general understand of the program.
See edabroad.nau.edu and search for a faculty-led program for examples of program information
text.
Section III: Course Information
List all NAU courses participants may earn credit for, indicate the number of credits each course
is worth, and attach a copy of the syllabus in the NAU-approved format (even if tentative) to be
used for each course offered. Please also discuss how the course may be applied to prospective
students’ degree plans.
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You have three options regarding your course(s) abroad:
1. If you’re proposing a new course, then your course must be approved by the UCC.
2. If you’re proposing a new course, you can opt to give your course a study abroad
designation, or “SA”. This doesn’t require UCC approval. However, this option is only
available twice for any program. In other words, if you want your program occur on a
yearly basis, you must get your course approved by the UCC because after two times
utilizing the “SA” designation, you will not be allowed to continue.
3. If you want to offer an established NAU course then you don’t have to get the course
approved by the UCC because it already has been approved. You may modify the course
slightly to take advantage of and reflect the realities of the program location. Special
Topics course lines also offer some flexibility.
If there are two instructors teaching two different classes on the same program, indicate whether
or not you prefer two separate Bblearn shells or to combine both classes into one Bblearn shell
(co-convened). If the course will be taught on-line and in-person (hybrid), please let us know.
You will have access to the Bblearn shell to load course content prior to the start of your
program. You can contact elc-help@nau.edu for special requests regarding the Bblearn shell
for your class.
This will be a hybrid class (online and in-person): _________________ (yes/no)
This program will need:_________(one or two) BBlearn shell(s).
The shell will be opened to students enrolled in your program on the start date of the
program. If you require students to have access to content in the Bblearn shell prior to the
start date of your program, please indicate so.
Bblearn shell preferred open date: ____________________
Students will need access to shell for this course by this date: _________________
Section IV: Instruction
Please list all individuals who will provide instruction and briefly comment on their expertise to
provide such instruction.
Section V: Program Itinerary
Provide a comprehensive list of all cities/countries to be visited with dates, even if they are
tentative. Please include every day of the program, including departure and return dates.
Also discuss plans for meeting with students before the trip (pre-departure orientation) and if
relevant, after the trip (re-entry orientation). Dates do not need to be identified for these
meetings.
Section VI: Activities Designed for Cross-Cultural Experiences
Describe how you will give participants the opportunity to interact with people from the host
country and learn about the history/culture of the host location. For example, activities could
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include home stays, students from the host country taking part in the program, and other events
planned for local and NAU students. These experiences may not necessarily be connected to the
academic component of the program but can be experiences designed to help students take
advantage of their new cultural environment.
If the program will take place in a non-English-speaking country, indicate how students will be
prepared with basic language skills prior to their departure and onsite. Students should receive
some sort of an orientation to basic vocabulary in the language of the host country in order to
meet and greet people, purchase food and other essentials, use transportation and handle
emergencies.
Section VII: Students and Staff
Specify the desired minimum and maximum number of participants. Please list any non-NAU
employees that will play a role in the program (individuals contracted for a specific service, such
as bus drivers or tour conductors do not need to be included).
Indicate eligibility requirements for students that want to participate in this program such as
GPA, course pre-requisites, etc.
Also explain what you would like CIE to collect as part of the application process. CIE will
collect course approval forms, health questionnaire, risk & release, passport photos, and a
financial aid understanding form for all students. Additional options to choose from are a
reference form, a statement of purpose, and an official transcript. The official transcript is not
required to check student GPAs because we can do so through Peoplesoft. CIE can collect
whatever documents you want to see to evaluate students’ preparedness to participate in your
program.
Section VIII: Program Affiliations
Provide a brief description of any institutions/agencies/organizations with which the program
may be affiliated (i.e.: third-party program providers, research centers, schools or NGOs) and
which institution will issue a transcript if students will receive transfer units from abroad.
If you plan to use private third parties such as tour providers, housing providers, etc. describe
why you have chosen this particular provider and how you became aware of these companies.
Section IX: Risk Management
A. Travel & Living Arrangements
Outline the arrangements to be used for travel and who will provide it. Discuss where the group
will be lodging. Finally, if host families will be used, please discuss screening / selection
procedures. If travelling to a developing country, address provisions for adequate sanitation,
food, and water safety.
B. Health & Safety
Identify risks to students and faculty such as communicable diseases present in the area (malaria,
hepatitis, avian flu, etc.), high crime rates, unsafe local transportation, etc. Discuss the safety
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measures that will be in place to mitigate these risks. Do check with the Center for Disease
Control and the Department of State Travel Notices for relevant information.
All students will be automatically enrolled in NAU’s international health insurance plan
provided by HTH Worldwide. The price of the insurance will be included in the total program
price.
Please note that travel is not permitted to countries for which the U.S. State Department has
issued a Travel Warning.
C. Communication
Please address how we can reach you while you are abroad. For example, will you cell phone
work and be on abroad? You can also provide phone numbers for hotels where you will be
staying.
Section X: Program Budget
If you have not provided CIE with your program costs, please do so here. List all anticipated
expenses for the program. CIE will use this information to calculate a program fee for students
and an overall program budget. Items that may need to be included are:
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NAU faculty/staff expenses – lodging, airfare, local transportation
Program fee – any fee charged by a third party such a local education provider
Compensation for non-NAU staff - guest lecturers, etc.
Local transportation (include fares, gas, and tolls)
Student lodging
Excursions - cost of entry to museums and other excursion sites, travel to and from
excursions, tour companies, etc.
Program supplies including shipping costs
Promotional expenses – you may want to include $50 for printing posters
Visas or entry/departure taxes
The program fee is calculated to cover all program expenses. Thus, faculty will only have money
available to cover the expenses that they identify. It is thus critical to identify all program
expenses. CIE recommends adding a buffer to meal and transportation expenses in case of
unexpected costs.
Section XI: Optional – Student Application Deadline
CIE’s student application deadline for summer programs is March 15th. This allows faculty the
time needed to recruit, but gives us enough time to organize program logistics. If you would like
a different deadline for your program you can indicate the date and reason here.
Section XII: Optional - Programming Upon Return to NAU
Faculty leaders may also want to consider creating opportunities to share the faculty-led program
experience with the NAU community. Examples may include a photo gallery and display, an art
exhibit, a colloquium or other student presentations, or a short film. Projects should highlight the
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program as well as provide students with an opportunity to share their experiences with faculty,
staff, and students.
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Faculty Name: ______________________
Department:________________________
Program Name: ______________________
Before submitting your proposal, please obtain the following supporting signatures and include
this page with your proposal materials.
Department Head and Dean Approval
I authorize this study abroad program and certify that it meets the academic standards of my
department or college.
Department Head
Dean
Department Chair Signature: ___________________
Dean Signature: ________________
Department Chair Name: ______________________
Dean Name: ___________________
Date: ______________________________________
Date: _________________________
Please send this signed proposal to Eric Deschamps, Director of Education Abroad, by
email (Eric.Deschamps@nau.edu) or on-campus mail (Box 5598).
Once this proposal is submitted, Education Abroad will consider your program and may ask for
additional information.
Education Abroad Approval
Signature:___________________________________ Date: ___________________________
Eric Deschamps, Director, Education Abroad
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