INTEREST IN LEADING STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
Preliminary Process Overview
Thank you for your interest in leading a study abroad program through the Maricopa Community Colleges. Study abroad changes lives, brings the world closer together, and is most often the most impactful experience a student has while at the community colleges.
Faculty who initiate programs often find them as hard to launch as they are rewarding over time. The process generally takes 24 months to accomplish, from conception of the idea toleading a program abroad. Following is a summary of the key steps needed for starting a program related to training and paperwork.
Preliminary Steps
  1. Have a conversation and seek the support of your department head.
  2. Complete this “Interest” form.
  3. Meet with your college study abroad oversight administrator about your idea. He/she will inform you of any other requirements/concerns your college may have related to study abroad (some colleges do not support faculty leading programs for example) and will outline next steps.
  4. Once a determination has been made that your college is able to provide support for another study abroad program, proceed with the following:
Additional Steps
  1. Submit a Site Assessment Proposal
  2. If approved, travel abroad to plan the study abroad program.
  3. Complete a Site Assessment Report
  4. Submit a Study Abroad Program Proposal by August 1st of the year preceding the summer you wish to travel
Required Training
  1. Study Abroad Faculty Training Part I: Introduction to Developing and Leading a Study Program Abroad through Maricopa - Fall Semester
  2. Study Abroad Faculty Training Part II: Pre-Departure Orientations and Crisis Management Abroad Spring Semester

Residential Faculty Name: / Date:
Residential Faculty Discipline: / Sponsoring Department:
Length of Proposed Program: / Proposed Program Dates:
Estimated cost: / Host Country:
NEED FOR NEW PROGRAM SITE
What countries are you proposing to visit as part of the study abroad program? Are their existing MCCCD study abroad programs to the proposed country? If so, how would your proposed program be distinctly different from what is currently being offered?
HOST COUNTRY INFORMATION
Are there any current Department of State travel warnings or alerts in the host country or region? Any other concerns regarding travel there that could impact student safety?
Do you have any affiliations with a university or study abroad (third party) provider for this site? If so, please describe them.
Please explain your prior experience with this country and/or region of the world and other international travel experience you may have had.
What is your language proficiency in the host country, if the native language is not English? How would you bridge any language barriers?
PROPOSED COURSE INFORMATION
●List proposed courses and accompanying faculty.
●Do courses offered have a broad enough appeal to attract a sufficient number of applicants?
●Check with your appropriate College VP to determine minimum enrollment requirements.
Course Title: / Credits: / Prerequisites
(If any): / AGEC Course Designation(s) (If any) / Faculty Instructor
How many credits will students be required to take?
ACADEMIC AND INTERCULTURAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Why should a new study abroad program be created for this destination with these specific courses? (What are the academic advantages to the specific program location?)
Please state how the program location is linked to the class you are proposing to teach abroad?
What are the academic goals and objectives of the program? Please indicate the course competenciesthat provide rationale for offering the courses abroad.
Please provide a link to the MCCCD Official Course Competencies for the course(s) to be offered in this program.
How does the location support the specific goals, objectives and learning outcomes of the program as well as the mission of the Maricopa Community Colleges?
What evidence is there of student interest for this program (including location and academic content)?
Do the courses offered meet AGEC requirements or fulfill other degree requirements?
How will you foster intercultural understanding and student development? How might you build in reflection exercises so that students become more aware of the cultural differences around them and how they are responding to them?
ADMINISTRATIVE/INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
What administrative, “in-the-field” logistical and fiscal experience do you have that qualifies you to develop and lead an academic program abroad with students?
What other faculty will be assisting in this program? Have they previously lived, worked, or studied abroad?
How many years do you see yourself leading a program to this site? Have you considered a succession plan or secondary leader?
MARKETING & RECRUITMENT
How will you market and recruit students for the program? Please indicate a preliminary marketing plan, and the time you can dedicate to this task that would allow for recruitment of the minimum number of students. (Keep in mind that you may lose about 50% of applicants by program fee deadline.)