Faculty-Led Program Development

Information below pertains to CSU Faculty-led programs, which do not include First Year Seminar Abroad Programs. For details about leader qualification for those programs, please see the First Year Abroad Program Leaders website.

Faculty Program Leader Qualifications

Colorado State University faculty [Continuing, Contract, or Adjunct (CCA) or Tenure Track] are invited to lead and teach education abroad programs within their area of disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical experience, and professional expertise. If employed as staff, the person must have faculty privileges, have a tenured home, and/or emeritus status within a department. Additional requirements include:

1. 1. At least two years’ experience teaching residential students on CSU Fort Collins main campus (not via CSU Online or remote)
   2. Experience leading groups of students on excursions off the CSU campus or, at the discretion of OIP, instructors may be asked to co-lead/shadow on a program prior to leading themselves
   3. Have knowledge of and experience in the host country and/or conduct a site visit to the destination prior to leading students abroad
   4. Review of and agreement to comply with the CSU Education Abroad Companion & Guest Policy and the Program Leader Scope of Work (available upon request)
   5. Attend required annual Emergency Response Protocols workshop and other training sessions specified by the Office of International Programs.
   6. With approval from their Department and Education Abroad, leaders may co-lead up to two programs per year.
   7. Must be on campus for the 2 semesters immediately preceding the program start, to lead marketing & recruitment efforts.

Support Staff / Co-Leader Qualifications

Colorado State University employees (full-time, permanent status) may be recommended by the primary leader and invited to co-lead education abroad, providing pastoral care and assistance (non-teaching) to program leaders. Additional requirements include:

1. 1. Approval from the home department including compliance with any departmental selection process that may exist for co-leading/supporting education abroad programs.
   2. If staff, at least two years’ experience working full-time on CSU Fort Collins main campus (not via CSU Online or fully remote) is required.
   3. Preference for experience leading groups of students on excursions off CSU campus, experience with team building/community building, conflict resolution and/or facilitating reflection and discussion.
   4. Preference that support staff have knowledge of and experience in the host country.
   5. Acting in the best interests of students and to prevent possible conflict of interest, support staff should not be spouse, partner, or relative of program leader.
   6. Support staff must acknowledge and agree to the CSU Education Abroad Companion & Guest Policy and the outlined Program Leader Responsibilities.

Graduate Student Assistant Support Role

Colorado State University graduate students may be recommended by the primary leader and invited to serve as an education abroad support staff, providing pastoral care and assistance to program leaders.  Graduate students may assist with course preparation and grading, with program leader instruction. Additional requirements include:

1. 1. Approval from the home department including compliance with any departmental selection process that may exist for supporting education abroad programs.
   2. Preference for experience leading groups of students on excursions off CSU campus, experience with team building/community building, conflict resolution and/or facilitating reflection and discussion.
   3. Preference that graduate assistants have knowledge of and experience in the host country.
   4. Graduate assistant must acknowledge and agree to the CSU Education Abroad Companion & Guest Policy and the Graduate Assistant Contract.

At the discretion of OIP, we reserve the right to deny any CSU faculty, staff member, or graduate student requesting to lead or co-lead an education abroad program.

Recognize that leading a program abroad brings additional roles not present in the typical CSU employee or faculty position; program leaders advise, discipline, manage individual or group dynamics and/or help with personal student concerns or emergencies. The scope of a program leader role includes:

• • Academic Content/Course Development
  • Promotion and Recruitment
  • Application Review and Selection
  • Collaboration with On-Site Vendor for Logistics and Planning
  • Student support which may include traveling on a group flight, assisting with navigating cultural adjustment, group dynamics and/or roommate or interpersonal conflicts, supporting student questions on both academic and daily life in country questions, and other related duties
  • Incident Reporting, Behavioral/Conduct Agreements, and Emergency Response
  • Finances and Expense Reports
  • Other Related Duties

Questions to Consider

• Purpose/Alignment: What is the purpose of the proposed faculty-led program? How does the program align with my academic expertise and research interests? Do I have sufficient time to plan and implement a successful program?
• Department: How does this program support my department’s goals?  Will this program fill a gap in current education abroad offerings? Do department leadership and colleagues support the proposal?
• Recruitment: Who is the program designed to serve (e.g., specific majors or minors, students with background in a certain language, etc.)?  Is there sufficient student demand to support enrollment targets (10 to16+ students)?
• Location: How is the course enhanced by the overseas location?  What unique educational opportunities will students gain from being in this location?  How will students engage with the local community, culture, institutions, or professionals?  Is the location considered higher risk?  Do students have interest in this location?
• Student Support/Emergency Response: How comfortable am I being responsible for students 24/7 in an international environment?  Am I prepared to manage crises such as travel disruptions, student medical emergencies, conduct issues, political unrest, natural disasters, or mental health concerns?

OIP-Education Abroad partners with the CSU University Curriculum Committee, Colleges & Departments, and the International Travel Oversight Committee to support the development of faculty-led custom programs abroad. All courses taught abroad are required to go through the UCC Approval Process to be approved as a Study Abroad course. The CSU Todos Santos Center holds an exception for this approval process.

• Study Abroad Courses are limited to offering 1 credit per week abroad.
• Contact hours for Study Abroad Courses are measured at 1 credit per 40 contact hours while abroad. Study Abroad contact hours include academic and cultural site visits/excursions alongside classroom discussion and lecture hours. Study Abroad courses can offer pre and/or post international experience classes to support additional contact hours. Pre & post contact hours are measured at 1 credit per 15 contact hours.
• Contact hours must be clearly outlined in the syllabus when submitting the course for approval in the CIM course approval system.
• UCC Curriculum Information & Deadlines
• UCC-Handbook – Education Abroad Section (pages 23 to 26)