Gannon University
Learning Abroad Program Proposal APPENDIX A
Thank you for your interest in leading a Gannon University Learning Abroad Program. To assist you in
gaining formal approval and in planning for your program, the University has developed an approval
process modeled on the recommendations the National Association of International Educators. These
procedures will not only enable your program to be approved, but will also serve as a planning tool in the
on-going management of your program.
Below is a summary of the process. Please begin this process at least 6 months prior to when you wish
to begin your program ( 9 months if it is TRAVEL Program) so that your program can be approved
well in advance of your intended departure date. Proposals will be reviewed within 30 days of being
received by the Policies and Procedures subcommittee of the Global Engagement Collaborative.
All international study, work, and travel arranged by Gannon faculty or staff that involves students must
receive approval from the Global Engagement Collaborative. Such activities can range from a faculty led
trip, an Alternative Spring Break Trip, a TRAVEL program, An SGA planned trip, or a credit bearing
course.
Very early in your planning process, please schedule an appointment with the Associate Director of
Learning Abroad to discuss your ideas.
Step 1 Assess Your Program for Viability and Strategic Fit
The first thing to consider when evaluating a learning abroad program idea is whether the program will be
viable and how it will fit among the overall learning abroad offerings of the University. The following
factors will help you in conducting your own assessment of your program's viability. The Associate
Director of Learning Abroad can provide current student participation data upon request.
Criteria for New Study Abroad Program Viability and Strategic Fit
 Demand for opportunities or new/additional opportunities in the particular countr (ies). As Gannon
has many Learning abroad programs but a limited number of students, please consider first the
number of existing programs in the country.
 Demand for additional learning abroad opportunities in the discipline(s) or program. Consider
whether there are existing programs serving a major or program and whether or not they fill to
capacity or any other potential conflicts with existing offerings.
 Safety and stability: Programs will not be approved to start or continue if there is a current State
Department Travel Warning or is otherwise known to be unstable or unsafe unless it receives
approval by the Global Engagement Collaborative. Consider first State Department information, but
also your personal experience, knowledge of current events, or any other relevant information.
 Broad-based support and administrative or resource assistance from your department, dean, etc., to
start and run the program.
 Mission connection and/or curriculum connection

Infrastructure requirements and potential for sustainability
If you feel that your program idea is viable and a good strategic fit, please complete the Initial Brief
Proposal , have it signed by your chair/ program director and dean or Vice President, and submit it to the
Associate Director of Learning Abroad. The proposal will be evaluated on the bases of viability and
strategic fit by the International Engagement Collaborative.
Step 2 Submit a Brief Initial Proposal
Initial proposal:
1). Complete the brief initial study abroad proposal included in this document. Secure the approval and
signatures of your chair/program director and dean or Vice President. Their signatures at this stage
indicate that your program and college supports the program, your qualifications to direct it, and its
general fit within the curriculum or program mission.
2). If approved by your program and college or by your Vice President, submit your proposal both
electronically and in signed hard copy to Meagan McHugh, Associate Director of Learning Abroad who
will ask the program screening subcommittee of the Global Engagement Collaborative to review the
proposal.
Deadlines for the brief initial proposal to be submitted to the Associate Director of Learning Abroad:
Summer programs:
Fall semester programs:
Spring semester programs:
October 15th
February 1st
Sept 15th
Step 3 If your initial proposal is approved you will be asked to submit a program itinerary and
updated actual budget.
LEARNING ABROAD REQUEST FOR APPROVAL:
INITIAL BRIEF PROPOSAL
1). Proposed Program Name:
2). Director Name & contact information:
3). Term and estimated dates for first offering of the program:
4). Country (is):
a). Please list the country (ies) you plan to visit; also list individual cities if these have been
identified; please note that it is generally not possible to approve travel to countries for which a
State Department travel warning exists:
b). Please list other Gannon study abroad offerings in this country and indicate in detail how
your program will differ from existing offerings. This information can be obtained through the
Associate Director of Learning Abroad.
c). Please describe how this program fits within the mission of Gannon University and the
goals and learning outcomes of the major/degree or co-curricular program and describe the
value to the students.
5.)
Estimated budget, expenses per participant, and funding sources. (Please use attached
template)
6). Credit Bearing Programs only
A). Anticipated courses you plan to offer (prefix and number, course name, a short description
of the course, and the number of hours credit). Please attach a schedule detailing how you will
meet the required contact hours for the number of credits you plan to offer.
Please note: if your program will require the academic approval of new courses, please begin that process
simultaneously with the program approval process.
b). Please list other Gannon study abroad offerings in these and closely related disciplines
or programs. (The Associate Director of Learning Abroad can assist you in identifying all such
programs) and indicate in detail how your program will differ from the existing offerings.
Please note: in the case of potential geographic and/or disciplinary overlap with existing offerings, the
Committee may require that you consult with others planning trips to identify opportunities for
collaboration and/ or scheduling efficiencies.
7). Service-Learning: ONLY if your program has a significant service- learning component, complete
the section below. IF NOT the please continue with section 8.
Please note: While the Office of Service-Learning is not an official part of the learning abroad approval
process, all proposals with a significant service-learning component should consult with the Office of
Service-Learning. Additionally, given that the OSL is such an invaluable resource, proposals with a
significant service-learning component will be copied to the Office of Service-Learning for their feedback
and suggestions.
8. Experiential learning/internships: ONLY if your program has a significant experiential learning
component, complete the section below. IF NOT the please continue with section 11.
Please note: While the Office of Experiential Learning is not an official part of the learning abroad
approval process, all proposals with an experiential learning or internship component should consult with
the Office Experiential Learning. Proposals with an experiential learning or internship component will be
copied to the Office of Experiential Learning for their feedback and suggestions.
9. Service-Learning Program description
Projects (Please describe briefly the nature of service/type of projects that students will perform and how
these are connected to the academic content of the course(s) or to the co-curricular goals and learning
outcomes.
Partners (Please describe the roles of your community partners and the community needs or issue that
the project will address). Describe how the project will be reciprocal and mutually beneficial and meet a
need identified by the partner.
10. Experiential Learning description
(Please describe briefly the nature and type of work that students will perform and how this work
connected to a major or a career link. Describe where the students will work and how their work will be
supervised and evaluated. Indicate if the internship will be paid or unpaid.
11. Students:
Target group (major, graduate or undergraduate, etc.; please be as detailed as possible about the students
to whom you plan to market the program).
Anticipated enrollment (please give an anticipated enrollment for the program). Please note that for
credit bearing courses enrollment needs to support the cost of the faculty/staff members’ travel expenses.
(7-10 is a typical minimum class size for academic travel. Minimums vary across co-curricular programs)
12. Program facilitator:
a). Facilitators position -Learning Abroad facilitators must be a full-time Gannon employee or
have pre-approval to be a program facilitator through the office of Risk Management and
Insurance. Teaching faculty must be qualified to be the instructor of record for the courses if the
program is credit bearing.
b). Experience with the country: Please describe your experience traveling internationally and
your familiarity with the country (ies) and culture(s) your program will visit. Lead facilitators are
expected to have travel experience.
13). Signatures:
Please note: signatures of the chair/program director and dean at this stage indicate that your program
and/or college support the general idea and need for the program, the proposed facilitators qualifications
to direct it, and its general fit within the curriculum and/or co-curricular goals and learning outcomes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Proposal Developer:
Date
Chair/Program director
Dean or Vice President
Date
Date