Deans’ Council Meeting
8-14-2014
Study Away Program Update
Short History
 February 2012: ProDeans put all Study Abroad opportunities on hold indefinitely
 Summer of 2012: Dr. Mark Schaub of GVSU prepared a report of recommendations
 December 2012: Deans Council approved the Study Away Program as a pilot
 Winter/Summer 2013: (3) Study Away experiences were approved and successfully facilitated
 August 2013: Deans Council concluded the pilot and approved the Study Away Program
2012-2013 Trips (pilot year)
HU 293 French Culture and Civilization, Hillery Haney, 10 days traveling France
AD 248/258 Community/Transcultural Nursing, Sherry Knoppers, 10 days traveling Costa Rica
FM 289 Fashion Exploration, Susan Baglien, 3 days in New York City
2013-2014 Trips
HU 219 Global Studies through International Travel, Hillery Haney, 10 days traveling Morocco
HU 219 Global Studies through International Travel, Aleta Anderson, 13 days traveling Germany
AD 248/258 “Community/Transcultural Nursing”, Sherry Knoppers and Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft, 10 days
traveling Costa Rica
2014-2015 Approved Trips
HU 219 Global Studies through International Travel, Aleta Anderson, 13 days traveling Germany
HU 219 Global Studies through International Travel, Audrey Heckwolf, 10 days traveling Italy
HU 219 Global Studies through International Travel, Hillery Haney and Kimberly Overdevest, 10 days
traveling France and Belgium
AD 248/258 Transcultural Nursing, Sherry Knoppers and Laurie Moody, 9 days traveling Costa Rica
2013-2014 TLQM Study Away Process Measures
1. Faculty are introduced, trained and consulted in experiential learning methods and practices.
Faculty Scholars Hillery Haney and Carmela Zapata provided a series of sessions in the Fall through the
Center for Teaching Excellence as well as numerous one-on-one consultations. The Winter semester
focused on culminating the sessions into one four-hour workshop. Hillery Haney will continue the
workshop format for both Fall/Winter semesters.
Top Questions Asked
Topics included
Can you have split pay if two faculty lead a trip?
Introduction to the Study Away Program,
Are there scholarships?
Logistical and legal considerations of Study Away,
Can you use student club money towards cost of trip?
Overall process of submitting a successful proposal
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2. All stakeholders follow risk management procedures.
1. Faculty and students must go through a Criminal Background check
2. Students must have their Student Code of Conduct history reviewed
3. Faculty and students are informed of the behavior expectations and communication protocol
4. Faculty and students must complete the following forms:
 Assumption of Risk Form
 Emergency Contact Information Form
 Health Information Form
 Health Insurance Coverage Certification Form
2013-2014 TLQM Study Away Outcome Measures
1. The number of faculty prepared as a result of receiving professional development.
Anling Lai, Language & Thought
Aleta Anderson, Language & Thought
Bernard Manker, Language & Thought
Yan Bai, Social Science
Marguerite Erlandson, Business
Oscar Neal, Mathematics
Sasha Ahmed, Culinary Arts
Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft, Nursing
Kimberly Overdevest, Visual Arts
Tran Nguyen, English-ESP
Katherine Hughes, Counseling
Jose Mora, Distance & Experiential Learning
Michael Schavey, Experiential Learning
Process/Procedure Improvements
Study Away Proposal Enhancements
1. Strengthen the alignment of the proposal review rubric to the questions in the proposal.
2. Changed the scoring format from a point system to a “Meets Expectations or Does Not Meet Expectations”
3. Proposal addresses travel destinations are deemed safe and describes the professional contacts made
in the countries they are traveling.
4. Proposals are submitted with an updated course document and syllabus.
5. Changed the proposal deadline from October 1st to April 1st to ensure faculty have enough time to
prepare for their experience and recruit students.
6. Extended the duration of time for the review team for proposal review.
7. Requested the Curriculum Specialist to be on the review team and/or become involved in pre-vetting proposals.
8. Determine what is meant by 'proposals needing faculty support.'
9. Continue to reinforce the policy/standard of only full-time faculty leading an international trip
(adjunct can support, but not lead)
10. Ensure that members of the Study Away Review Team attend the Study Away workshop.
Operational Enhancements
1. Ensure all remaining funds from each trip be refunded back to students
2. Transition the Study Away Student Intake Form into OrgSync
3. Secured liaisons within Counseling and Financial Aid to better serve students
4. Currently seeking ways to make study away experiences more affordable for students
5. Transitioned meeting with faculty focusing on communication protocols into an in-class presentation
for both faculty and students focused on overall safety and a communication plan
6. Improve communication with faculty of students making payments and processing of invoice
7. Provide general information on how financial aid is used towards the cost of the study away experience
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Curricular Enhancements
1. Strengthen the HU 219 Course Document:
*clarify instructional staffing requirements (must meet the requirements to teach at GRCC)
*clarify the level of experience in the destination country.....change to 'extensive travel experience'
*faculty must meet the teaching requirement within their discipline
*Language & Thought Department Head must be a part of the course and assignment approval
Recommendations
1. Add this update into the TLQM Report
2. Continue to strengthen processes and procedures
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