Grand Rapids Community College

Faculty-Led Study Away Proposal

Instructions

Thank you for pursuing the development of a study away experience. Prior to completing the proposal please be aware of the eligibility requirements and overall approval process.

General Eligibility

1. The FacultyLeader is full-time tenure track and Support Person is an employee of GRCC

2. The FacultyLeader and Support Person are in good standing with the College (no active professional improvement plan)

3. The Faculty Leader and Support Person have received professional training and understand the policies and procedures around leading Study Away experiences

4. The Faculty Leader and Support Person together will have appropriate travel experience(s) (group travel, leading travel experiences and experience traveling to the proposed destinations)

*The Faculty Leader is defined as the primary GRCC full-time faculty member who is teaching the course, organizingand facilitating the experience.

*The Support Person is defined as a GRCC employee with responsibilities related to organizing and in some capacities facilitating the experience (may include pre and post-travel support).

Study Away Proposal Submission & Approval Process

1. The Faculty Leader must submit the completed Study Away Pre-Approval Form (pages 3-6) to the Director of Experiential Learning, Michael Schavey by February 1st with all supporting signatures.

2. The Faculty Leader will then collaborate with Hillery Haney, Katie Daniels and Michael Schavey to begin the development of the full proposal ensure it meets the review criteria and is prepared to be submitted by April 1st.

a. The full proposal includes the following documents:

  • Study Away Pre-Approval (approved by February 1st),
  • Study Away Proposal,
  • Third-Party Provider Estimate,
  • Course Document (from the GRCC Curriculum Database,
  • Syllabus (must be in the new standard syllabus template)

b. The proposal and supporting documents may be emailed to Michael Schavey, Director of Experiential Learning at or mailed/dropped off to the Department of Experiential Learning.

3. The Study Away Review Team will have approximately two weeks to review all proposals and determine any concerns to be addressed. Feedback will be shared with faculty to strengthen the overall proposal.

4. The faculty member submitting the study away proposal will be asked to present their proposal to the Study Away Review Team near the end of the Winter semester (April).

5. Results of the Study Away Review Team will be announced early May. Decisions are final.

Grand Rapids Community College

Faculty-Led Study Away Proposal

Pre-Approval Form

Faculty Instructions

1. The Faculty Leader will submit the Study Away Pre-Approval Form (pages 3-6) to the Director of Experiential Learningfor initial approval. The Director will verify the Faculty Leader and Support Person have the necessary travel experience and training.

2. The Faculty Leader will then submit the Study Away Pre-Approval Form to the appropriate Department Head or Program Director(s) for signatures.

a)Example: Hillery Haney is leading a study away experience to Morocco using the HU 219 course. She will need to receive approval from the Department Head of Language and Thought as Humanities (HU) is a discipline within this department.

b)The faculty member will use this form to inform the Department Head of his/her intent to facilitate the study away experience and explain how this experience will benefit students.

3. Upon the approval of the Department Head, the faculty member will then acquire the support from both Associate Deans from the School in which the course is housed (Arts & Sciences, Workforce Development or Student Success). The faculty member will inform the Associate Deans of his/her intent to facilitate the study away experience,explain how this experience will benefit students and obtain their signatures.

a)Example: Hillery Haney is leading a study away experience to Morocco using the HU 219 course. She will need to receive approval from the Associate Deans within Arts & Science as Humanities (HU) is a discipline within this School.

b)In certain situations, signatures from Associate Deans from multiple Schools may be required.

4. On or before February 1st, the faculty member will submit the completed Study Away Pre-Approval Form to Michael Schavey, Director of Experiential Learning by email () or dropped off (Main Building, Level G2, Room 59).

Department Head/Associate Deans Instructions

1. Upon receiving this form, the Department Head/Associate Deans must communicate with the faculty member (preferably in person or by phone) to ensure the full intent of the study away experience. The conversation may include questions like, “Is the course being proposed the most appropriate for the study away experience? “or “How does the study away experience enhance the proposed course versus an on-campus offering?”

*The Associate Dean for Faculty Evaluation and Hiring will verify that the faculty member(s) leading the study away experience are full-time tenure track faculty and do not have an active professional improvement plan.

*The Department Head and Associate Deans may also ask to review the final proposal prior to it being submitted to the Study Away Review Team (deadline is April 1st.)

Grand Rapids Community College

Faculty-Led Study Away Proposal

Pre-Approval Form

Course Information(the course being taught as part of the study away experience)
Course Number / Course Title / Number of Credits / Number of Contact Hours
Travel Information (When will the experience be offered?)
Semester:(Fall/Winter/Summer) / Year: / Anticipated Start and End Dates: / Program Length:(Number of days)
Faculty Leader Information
Faculty Leader Name:
Campus Phone:
Campus Email:
Travel Experience
Briefly describe your travel experience that qualifies you to lead this study away experience. Describe your group travel experience, leading travel experiences and experience traveling to the proposed destinations. Describe any past travel experiences dealing with adverse challenges (disorderly participants, emergency/crisis situations, etc.)
Support Person Information
Support PersonName:
Campus Phone:
Campus Email:
Travel Experience
Briefly describe the Support Persons travel experience that qualifies him/her to support this study away experience. Describe the group travel experience, supporting travel experiences and experience traveling to the proposed destinations. Describe any past travel experiences dealing with adverse challenges (disorderly participants, emergency/crisis situations, etc.).
Pedagogy Information
How does using Study Away as a pedagogy for this course enhance the student learning beyond the typical classroom experience? What are the academic advantages of offering this program in the intended locations? Please describe the proposed itinerary for the study away experience.
Budget Information
Describe the per student cost and what is included (flights, meals, lodging, on-ground transportation, travel insurance, etc.)

Faculty-Led Study Away Proposal

Pre-Approval FormSignature Page

1. [Director of Experiential Learning]

By signing the Pre-Approval Form, you support the overall intent of the study away experience and confirm that the faculty member(s) leading the experience possess the necessary travel experience and has attended the Introduction to Study Away Training.

______

Print Name SignatureDate

2. [Department Head/Program Director]*

(if applicable, the Department Head/Program Director where the faculty member(s) teaches)

By signing the Pre-Approval Form, you support the overall intent of the study away experience.

______

Print Name SignatureDate

3. [Department Head/Program Director] - (the Department/Program where the course is housed)

By signing the Pre-Approval Form, you support the overall intent of the study away experience.

______

Print Name SignatureDate

4. [Associate Dean of Operations] - (the School where the course is housed)

By signing the Pre-Approval Form, you support the overall intent of the study away experience.

______

Print Name SignatureDate

5. [Associate Dean for Faculty Evaluation and Hiring] - (the School where the course is housed)

By signing the Pre-Approval Form, you support the overall intent of the study away experience and confirm that the faculty member(s) leading the study away experience is a full-time tenure track faculty and does not have an active professional improvement plan.

______

Print Name SignatureDate

Grand Rapids Community College

Faculty-Led Study Away

Standards and Guidelines

The College has established specific standards and guidelines to create a framework for creating and facilitating courses with a study away experience. These standards and guidelines help to ensure overall safety, affordability and reduce liability to the institution. Standards and guidelines are reviewed and maintained by the Study Away Review Team.

Faculty Eligibility

To reduce risk and liability to the institution, the following faculty eligibility standards are in place.

The faculty member is full-time

Is in good standing with the College (does not have an active professional improvement plan)

Has attended training/professional development through the College

Must clear a criminal background check

Support Person Eligibility

To reduce risk and liability to the institution, the following faculty eligibility standards are in place.

The support person is full-time

Is in good standing with the College (does not have an active professional improvement plan)

Has attended training/professional development through the College

Must clear a criminal background check

Student Eligibility

To reduce risk and liability to the institution, the following student eligibility standards are in place.

  • Be a GRCC student (degree-seeking preferred)
  • Be over the age of 18
  • Be in good academic standing (abovea 2.0)
  • Have a clearStudent Code of Conduct record check
  • Have a clearCriminal Background Check
  • Have a clear Title IX record
  • Must have proof of current Health Insurance
  • Have no outstanding fees owed to the College
  • Have adequate financial means to participate in the experience

Curricular Standards

To reduce risk and liability to the institution, the following curricular standards are in place.

  • The course being proposed for the study away experience is either part of a program or the course meets a general education requirement
  • The syllabus being used is in the new template (
  • The course has an updated Course Document(from the GRCC Curriculum Database,
  • The proposal clearly explains the curricular benefit of teaching the course in the desired location(s)

*It describes how the course makes use of modes of instruction, assessment, and learning at the study away location that is different than what would be expected when offered in its traditional format.

*It describes how does the course enriches the classroom experience through use of location and/or unique resources.

  • Minimum enrollment for Study Away experience is(12) students (unless specified by accreditation)

Study Away Proposal Review Rubric

Revised: April 2017

Members of the Study Away Review Team will use this rubric to reviewand score each Study Away Proposal (page two). Team members will bring their

scores to the final review meeting (end of April) as part of the official recommendation.

Initial Review: Director of Experiential Learning

The Director of Experiential Learning will review all proposals to ensure the following meets our institutional policies and/or expectations. Those proposals not meeting the below criteria (1-5) will not move forward in the review process.

1. The following documents were submitted with the proposal.

Pre-Approval (with signatures)

Curriculum Vita (only for first time faculty)

Updated Course Document

Budget Proposal (with provider estimate)

Itinerary

Syllabus (in the syllabus template)

2. The Faculty Leader is eligible to lead the travel experience.

Full-time tenure track faculty

In good standing with the College (does not have an active professional improvement plan)

Has attended training on the facilitation of Study Away experiences via the Study Away Faculty Scholar

Has travel experience (specifically to those locations being traveling)

Haslead past successful group travel experiences

3. The Support Person is eligible to support the travel experience.

Is full-time employee

In good standing with the College (does not have an active professional improvement plan)

Has attended training on the facilitation of Study Away experiences via the Study Away Faculty Scholar

Has travel experience (specifically to those locations being traveling)

Hasparticipated/supported inpast group travel experiences

4. The proposal clearly describes how participants will receive their daily meals and expectations of transportation.

Describes how meals are provided

Describes how students will travel to and from destinations

5. The proposal clearly describes how students will be oriented to the study away experience.

Describes how students will be oriented prior to departure (including timeline and topics covered).

Name of Faculty Leader(s): ______

Name of Review Team Member: ______

Individual Team Member Scoring

Each team member will score proposals individually. Scores are collected and tallied at the final review meeting. Each of the items below will receive a score of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with 5 being excellent.

1. The proposal clearly connects the course and institutional learning outcomes to the travel experience.

The listed course learning outcomes are in alignment to the outcomes in the Course Document.

The proposal clearly describes how course learning outcomes will be met through specific study

away activities.

The proposal clearly describes how the course learning outcomes will be assessed.

The travel experience makes effective use of the travel location(s) for structured experiential learning.

Length of travel experience seems appropriate for achieving learning outcomes. (duration benchmark of short-term experiences is 10-14 days)

2. The proposal clearly describes how the study away experience enhances the course beyond the traditional classroom experience.

Describes the level of direct exposure to: language, culture, history, art, religion, economics and geography.

3. The proposal clearly describes the travel location(s) and proper vetting in terms of quality and safety.

Describes all travel locations and how each location provides an academic advantage for meeting course learning outcomes.

Describes measures taken to ensure the travel locations are safe (not under a Travel Warning).

Travel locations appear to be appropriate for the learning experience.

4. The proposal clearly describes measures taken to ensure third-party providers are of good quality.

Describes the method of determining third-party providers.

  • Asked other faculty at GRCC or other institutions
  • Used a list provided by the Department of Experiential Learning
  • Explored multiple providers for the best fit

May describe specific services by the third-party providers to ensure overall safety and quality such as:

  • a daily guide for ongoing support
  • health and travel insurance

5. The proposal clearly describes efforts made to determine student interest and connection to student success.

Statements pertaining to how credits earned will help students complete a degree.

Any data provided to illustrate student success rates and/or stories of student impact from previous trips.

Any data provided to gage student interest.

Describes the success of enrollment from previous study away experiences.

Describes how part of the proposal development included feedback from students to ensure student interest.

Grand Rapids Community College

Faculty-Led Study Away Proposal

Please fully complete this form and submit other required documents by April 1st.

Course Information(the course being taught as part of the study away experience)
Course Number / Course Title / Number of Credits / Number of Contact Hours
Travel Information (When will the experience be offered?)
Semester:(Fall/Winter/Summer) / Year: / Anticipated Start and End Dates: / Program Length:(Number of days)
Faculty Leader Information
Faculty Leader Name:
Campus Phone:
Campus Email:
Travel Experience
Briefly describe your travel experience that qualifies you to lead this study away experience. Describe your group travel experience, leading travel experiences and experience traveling to the proposed destinations. Describe any past travel experiences dealing with adverse challenges (disorderly participants, emergency/crisis situations, etc.)
Support Person Information
Support PersonName:
Campus Phone:
Campus Email:
Travel Experience
Briefly describe the Support Persons travel experience that qualifies him/her to support this study away experience. Describe the group travel experience, supporting travel experiences and experience traveling to the proposed destinations. Describe any past travel experiences dealing with adverse challenges (disorderly participants, emergency/crisis situations, etc.).

As part of this proposal, faculty will need to submit the following documents:
_____Pre-Approval
_____Updated Course Document
_____Third-party provider estimate
_____Syllabus (in the syllabus template)
_____Curriculum Vita (if first time applicants)
_____Any Other Supporting Documents
Pedagogy Information

Please respond to the following questions. Be sure to provide enough detail and alignment to the Faculty-led Study Away Experience Proposal Criteria (listed on pages 8-9).