Higher Education and Student Affairs International Experience
Application Instructions
The University of Connecticut HESA IE will provide students with the opportunity to spend a three week period
immersed in the administrative culture of an overseas university. Students in the 2015 cohort may apply to one of
two sites. The two overseas universities are the University of Glasgow and the University of New South Wales.
Both institutions share membership with UConn in Universitas 21. The HESA IE and the accompanying pre- and
post-departure educational activities will emphasize the application of higher education and student affairs concepts
to an international university context. In order to deepen students’ learning, students will address a problem of
practice posed by the partner university. The foundational pedagogy of this experience is congruent with the
philosophy of the HESA program – to connect theories with practice in the context of challenging real-world
situations.
As a result of participating in the HESA IE, students will be able to
1. Apply theories and concepts from the literature on students and higher education to an international university;
2. Analyze the culture and context of an international university paying particular attention to its organizational
structure and the student experience;
3. Use the knowledge gained from the experience in conjunction with their knowledge and experiences in the
HESA program to address an issue of practice for the international university;
4. Demonstrate writing and presentation skills through the delivery of a report to the UConn community and the
international university community.
The HESA IE program is composed of three separate phases:
1.
2.
3.
Pre-departure orientation sessions that will prepare students to work abroad and help orient them to working
and living in Glasgow or in Sydney.
Three weeks on site at either the University of Glasgow or at the University of New South Wales, working as a
team to address a specific problem of practice. Program dates on campus overseas are Monday, May 19
through Friday, June 6, 2014.
An academic course (EDLR 5094) taken during the Fall 2014 semester that will foster structured reflection on
the international experience, examination of selected issues related to international higher education, and
development of a comprehensive Application Report (AR) that addresses the identified problem of practice,
which will be presented to the HESA community and representatives of the partner institution. This course will
fulfill the HESA third semester elective requirement.
IMPORTANT
Students must indicate which IE site they are applying for (Glasgow
or New South Wales) and whether they would like to be considered
for the other site as a second choice.
The program dates for the IE program will require absence from the
UConn campus for part of your assistantship tenure. Your
assistantship may not be able to accommodate this. You MUST
check with your site supervisor before applying for this experience.
Application Materials
The following materials must be submitted together to 240 Gentry by Monday, January 6, 2014:
Completed application, including essay
Unofficial University of Connecticut Transcript
Current résumé
At least one letter of reference from a supervisor, faculty member, or other University of Connecticut
professional
Statement of support from your assistantship site supervisor
Send any questions to hesa@uconn.edu
HESA IE Application
Applicant Information
Full Name:
DOB:
Last
First
M.I.
Address:
Street Address
Apartment/Unit #
City
Phone:
(
State
)
ZIP Code
E-mail Address:
Peoplesoft Number:
Are you a citizen of the United States?
Do you have a current passport that will be
valid for at least 60 days after the end of the
program?
Graduate Assistantship:
What is your first IE site choice?
Do you wish to be considered for the
other site as your second choice?
YES
NO
YES
NO
If no, be advised that visa requirements for entering the United
Kingdom and/or Australia vary depending on country of
citizenship. This may affect the cost or feasibility of
participating in the program.
If no, what plans have you
made to obtain/renew your
passport?
Supervisor:
University of Glasgow
University of New South Wales
Yes, please consider me for the other site
No, I only wish to be considered for my first choice
Unofficial Transcript
Include with your application an unofficial transcript from the University of Connecticut that includes final grades from
the Fall 2013 semester.
Résumé
Please attach a current résumé that lists educational, employment, and leadership experience
Letter of Reference
Please include at least one letter of reference from a supervisor, faculty member, or other University of Connecticut
student affairs professional that attests to your work ethic, ability to respond effectively to new situations, and
professional demeanor.
Statement of Support
Attach a statement of support from your assistantship site supervisor. Through this statement, your supervisor should
acknowledge that your participation in the HESA IE program will require departure from the university during your
assistantship contract dates. It is your obligation to ensure you have fulfilled all of your responsibilities before your
departure.
Essay
In 250 words or less, outline your personal learning objectives for this experience and your professional reasons for
wanting to take part in the HESA IE.
Disclaimer and Signature
By signing and submitting this application, I agree that the information I have presented is true and correct. I
understand that incomplete or false information may make me ineligible for participation. I authorize the University of
Connecticut to conduct routine inquiry, which may include contacting present or previous employers, during the process
of my application to secure necessary information and to determine eligibility.
It is the policy of the University of Connecticut not to discriminate on the basis of gender/gender identity and
expression, national origin, color, religion, ability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Signature:
Date: