As part of the continuing effort to advance the MCC study abroad goal of providing
distinctive learning experiences and professional development that foster lifelong
success, we seek MCC faculty input for developing short-term-term study abroad programs.
The market for short-term-term programs has grown dramatically, and recent data show
that more than half of all students studying abroad participated in short-term-term
programs (NAFSA 2010).
Proposals are reviewed by the study abroad coordinator and the International Institute
Advisory Board, and an interview will follow. It is essential to share your proposal
with your supervisor, prior to submission, in order to avoid potential scheduling
conflicts (email confirmation from a Dean is adequate)
The initial Study abroad faculty proposal form needs to be completed and submitted to Jessica Esperanza via email ([email protected]).
Given the rationale for and contexts of study abroad programming, it is important
to consider academic as well as non-academic learning outcomes. In addition to academic
outcomes, faculty/staff should consider what they hope to achieve in terms of students'
intercultural, interpersonal, personal, and/or professional learning and development.
Prospective faculty/staff program leaders are encouraged to talk about desirable learning
outcomes with experienced colleagues as well as with colleagues in the International
Institute.
This also reflects MCC's Undergraduate Learning and Global Competency Goals by contextualizing
them within education abroad. This is a work in progress and is intended to expand
and change as our thinking about student learning on education abroad evolves.
Academic development and intellectual growth
Personal growth
Professional development
On-campus internationalization of MCC
Skills for engaging with culturally different others
Academic Development and Intellectual Growth
Study abroad can …
Provide a new perspective on the major through exposure to coursework based in different
cultural frames of reference and/or taught by local instructors
Expose students to academic content not available on the home campus
Contextualize learning by linking it to local realities (including community engagement
and service-learning) and related global dimensions
Provide guided reflection on different ways of knowing
Provide structured opportunities for comparative analysis, critical and creative thinking,
and problem-solving
Enhance students' country-, region-, and culture-specific learning through pre-departure,
on-site, and post-program interventions focused on geography, history, politics, literature,
etc.
Motivate students to begin or continue learning another language by exposing them
to structured situations, inside and outside of the classroom, which will significantly
facilitate the development of language skills in the context of culture
Engage students in research projects with local students and faculty
Provide opportunities for students to give presentations about their education abroad
projects/experiences on the home campus and/or at meetings of professional associations
Stimulate students' sense of curiosity through engagement with the local cultures
Personal Growth
Students can develop personally by …
Forming meaningful relationships and friendships with local people through home stays,
local clubs, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Reevaluating their values, vocation, and personal ethics, facilitated by reflective
journaling assignments and structured reflection sessions
Expanding their comfort zone in a context of balanced challenge and support so as
to enhance their ability to (inter)act in unfamiliar situations
Experiencing a sense of self-sufficiency by mastering and reflecting on difficult
situations
Reflecting on issues of personal identity and interdependence in a global context
Developing a sense of social responsibility through engagement with local communities
Professional Development
Study abroad programs can …
Provide opportunities to students for meeting professionals in their chosen field
of study so they may learn how to relate professionally with culturally different
others (in labs, businesses, professional organizations)
Integrate internships, service learning, community engagement and other opportunities
for experiencing local work life
Offer pre-departure and post-program frameworks designed to help students make connections
between learning on study abroad and their career paths
Provide opportunities on site and post-program for students to reflect on skills learned
and knowledge gained
Provide a structures for exploring future professional direction
On-campus Internationalization of MCC
Our students’ international learning experiences add value to the on-campus experience
by …
Infusing the classroom with the various cultural perspectives to better prepare students
for education abroad and be more receptive to the global or comparative perspectives
of returned education abroad students
Building on faculty's regional expertise and connections to identify suitable locations
and partner institutions, linking education abroad to faculty scholarship and research,
and expanding existing institutional links and networks that contribute to the department's
research agenda
Including student research on education abroad programs
Linking faculty and student expertise gained through education abroad with strategic
initiatives at the departmental, college, and university levels, thus making education
abroad programming sustainable
Skills for Engaging with Culturally Different Others
While skills including the ability to deal with ambiguity, be flexible, and take the
perspective of a culturally different person, cut across the other three categories
of student learning, they also warrant separate treatment as central to learning through
education abroad.
Education abroad programs can facilitate intercultural learning by …
Enhancing students' self-awareness and understanding of their own culture with opportunities
to compare and contrast host country customs, values, and traditions with their own
Allowing time for structured and unstructured encounters with local people and customs
in a variety of contexts
Providing opportunities for exposure to, interaction with, and reflection on everyday
aspects of the host culture through taking classes at the local university, engaging
in recreational activities with local students, home stays, service-learning opportunities,
individual projects, participation in local customs/celebrations, etc.
Encouraging students to experience the world through the eyes of the other culture
by exposing them to the literature and arts of the local culture
Preparing students for intercultural experiences through pre-departure orientation,
readings, and other media
Helping students realize and articulate their intercultural learning and identity
development through post-program reflection
Requiring attendance at regularly scheduled on-site reflection sessions during which
critical encounters with the host culture are analyzed
Helping students make connections between the host country's culture, society, history,
politics, and arts
Faculty-led study abroad programs are short-term programs that are academic in nature
and designed to give students hands-on international experiences that relate to their
academic goals.
It is important to take into consideration the type of student who you will be targeting
for this program. Are many of your students non-traditional? Do they work full or
part-time? Do they have families or children? If you answered yes to any of these
you should plan to keep your trip between 10 and 14 days. If your students are more
traditional (live on campus, have more flexibility) – you should plan your program
in any length up to one month.
Study abroad programming is credit bearing. Once your program/course is approved,
that course will be part of your teaching load (or overload). Expenses such as airfare,
lodging, meals, etc can be covered for each faculty leader by building them into the
program budget. Faculty travel funds could also be used for a faculty-led study abroad
program. Consult with your division travel committee representative about faculty
travel funds.
Faculty-led program budgets are NOT based on per diem rates because the money is coming
directly from the students. Faculty should budget a fair amount of money for their
meals and exact cost of lodging when building the budget to keep the program cost
as low as possible for students. Typically, for faculty-led programs abroad we will
budget $40-$70/day for faculty meals.
You need 12+ months in advance to plan and implement a faculty-led study abroad program.
Additionally, before you begin the process you will need to attend the MCC Faculty-led
Study Abroad workshop. The workshop is required for all faculty who wish to lead a
study abroad program. The workshop is offered once per semester. Contact the International
Institute for more details.
All faculty-led study abroad is credit bearing now at Mott so students are able to
use their financial aid and scholarships in most cases to pay for the study abroad
course. The study abroad course generally has a course fee attached to it which covers
the cost of the programming. Students should contact the Financial Aid office for
specific questions they might have in regards to their scholarships and awards.
There are many ways to consider keeping the cost of the program down.
The first is to recruit the maximum number (10) students to go on the trip. Group
rates are typically based on a minimum of 10 students. The ratio for students to faculty
on study abroad programming at Mott is ten students to one faculty member.
Combine your program with another teacher/university.
grants and/or have fundraisers to support your program.
No. The study abroad coordinator will help to smooth the process for you. There
are also many private providers that work to help you customize your program and reduce
your stress. These providers do not typically impact the cost of the program very
much because they work with hotels and transportation services and get commission
from them. The trend in study abroad for faculty is to take advantage of the providers
who are here to help you.
