Globalizing the Community College Experience: Best Practices in Study Abroad

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Globalizing the Community College Experience
Best Practices in Study Abroad

• Presenters
• Chirinjev Peterson, Director of International
  Education at Greenville Technical College
• Katharine Purcell
• Debra Denzer

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Early Considerations

• Short Term or long term?
• Instructor led or third party?
• Credit or non-credit?
• Financially supported by the college and the
  community?

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Build on Your Strengths

• Choose a site and country with strong personal or
  business linkages .
• Choose a Faculty Director with great passion.
• Work very hard to be successful.
• Give yourself at least 9 months of serious
  planning time.
• Continually build support and publicize.

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The Study Abroad Course

• Title and Focus? Broad or Narrow?
• Contact hours versus credit hours?
• Learning Objectives?
• List of Readings?
• Assessment methods?
• Day by day syllabus? Build in flexibility!
• Pre-departure orientations dates, places, topics
• Post program session and debriefings.
• News articles, photos and publicity

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A Holistic Experience

• Balance classroom time with site visits.
• Balance unscheduled time with scheduled time.
• Have a Plan A, B and maybe C!
• Stay calm and portray confidence to students.
• Encourage a colleague to travel with you.

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Administrative Roles Campus Roles

• International Education Director
• Guide the Faculty Director.
• Secretarial assistance
• Create fliers and application material.
• Schedule interviews with applicants and selection
  committee.
• Business office liaison
• Provide assistance with financial transactions.
• Counseling staff
• on call as needed

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Faculty Directors Role

• Realistic timeline
• Program budget.
• Reservations with Host Institution
  (transportation, housing, activities)
• Program itinerary.
• Marketing
• Study Abroad syllabus.
• Pre-travel/Financial documentation
• Instruction and supervision
• Program, Faculty, Student Evaluations

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The Student Role

• Application
• Orientation
• Travel
• Evaluation

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Budgets Preliminary and Revised

• Airfare
• Lodging
• Local transportation
• Local guides
• Meals
• Guest lectures
• Gifts
• Health insurance
• Passports and visas
• Drug screening and background checks
• Surprises, such as changes in exchange rates

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Participant Payment Procedure

• Require a deposit of approximately 20 before
  scheduling an interview.
• Set up a payment schedule for the remainder of 3
  equal payments due before program commencement.
• Have a clear policy about refunds.
• Set a date after which refunds cannot be made.
• Participants will be responsible for expenses
  incurred if expelled from the program while
  abroad.

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Expect the naysayers! WOW the Students

• Marketing
• Notice Boards
• Flyers
• Campus announcements
• Past participants
• Classroom visits
• Visits with individual departments and faculty
  members.

• Student Barriers
• Cost (too expensive)
• Fear (flying, new experiences, etc.)
• Obligations (Family/job/school)
• Background checks
• No passport

It is hard to leave ones comfort zone
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STUDY CULTURE LANGUAGE IN MEXICO WITH A FOCUS
ON HUMAN SERVICES
WHO? All Students, Human Services Students
Encouraged WHAT? IDS 206 WHERE? Mexico WHEN?
March 21-29, 2008 HOW? Through Study Abroad
Cultural Immersion Class
And Cultural studies with an
emphasis on human
services HOW MUCH? 1,200.00
Subject to change WHY? To increase intercultural
understanding and
knowledge of Mexican culture, to
improve Spanish
conversational skills and to improve
understanding
of issues facing migrants and immigrants
involved
with the human service delivery system in the
US WITH WHOM? Ms. Beverly Wagner, LISW HOW TO
APPLY? E-Mail Beverly Wagner at Beverly.Wagner_at_
gvltec.edu to request an application.
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STUDY ABROAD IN MUNICH (Bavaria), GERMANY
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Drug Screening and Background Check

• Require applicants after interview to undergo
  drug and background screening.
• Contract a reputable independent agency to
  perform the testing and background check.
• Require a short time period in which student
  should have test performed, usually within a few
  days.
• Revoke conditional acceptance into program should
  if screening is positive or criminal record
  surfaces

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Student Documentation

• Study Abroad Assumption of Risk and Release Form
• Study Abroad Emergency Medical Information Form
• Study Abroad Emergency Contact Information
• Alcohol Release Form
• Code of Conduct Form
• Medical Insurance for Study Abroad

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Faculty Documentation

• Study Abroad Emergency Medical Information Form
• Study Abroad Contact Information
• Travel Reimbursement Checklist

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While on the Go

• While abroad, Students Participate In
• Daily Meeting with Faculty Director
• Participate in Planned Group Activities
• Interact with the local people
• While abroad, the faculty director stresses
• Health, Safety
• Communication with families
• Timeliness
• Appropriate Alcohol Use
• Appropriate communication within the group

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Post Return Debriefing Study Abroad Program
Evaluation

• Presentations by students sharing their
  experience
• Student assignments handed in
• Student/Faculty evaluations of program
• Invite Guests To Student Presentations!
• Campus leaders
• Community and or business donors
• Prospective faculty directors for future programs

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Shock of Re-entry

• Loss of Group
• No one wants to listen to me
• When can I go again?
• Who am I?
• Why do we not do this and that in
  the place?
• Can we all hang out together all the time ?

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Best Practices Short Term Study Abroad
Thank You!

Photo of Amanda Pruitt (right) and her husband
David (left)