Now it's time to implement your new or existing Education Abroad program. This page provides information on tasks you will need to complete in preparation for your program, as well as resources designed to help you complete these tasks. Directing an education abroad program can seem overwhelming at times, particularly if you've never directed one before. The Office for Education Abroad will assist you throughout this process. And if you're taking over responsibility for an existing program, the program's previous director can share with you their lessons learned. New program directors are strongly encouraged to attend a New Program Director Orientation in early fall semester.
Important Note: All faculty-directed programs require two on-site staff. On-site staff can be two MSU faculty/staff members or one MSU faculty member or staff member plus a graduate student or a qualified external staff member (e.g., local faculty member, staff member, graduate student, or local provider, etc.).
You will find a treasure trove of important information in the EA Program Director On-site Operations Manual.
Click on any one of the following tabs to learn more about steps to take and tasks to complete pre-departure:
As program director, you need to develop your program itinerary, build your program budget, and make on-site arrangements. The following sections walk you through each of these tasks.
The frame of your itinerary is provided by your program dates. The start date is defined as the date of arrival in-country; that is, the first day of housing. The end date is the day of departure; that is, the day following the last night of program-provided housing. Students may wish to add personal travel time before the program starts or after the program ends; however, do not include such travel in the formal program dates. As program director, you have three days you can use for program setup before students arrive and/or for tying things up after students leave. These days must be included in the program budget.
Note that MSU policy prohibits program dates from overlapping with on-campus classes or finals. It is not reasonable to expect students to fly out on class/final exam dates. This is especially important to consider for spring break, winter break or May programs that begin immediately after final exams.
In setting your program dates keep in mind student interest, available flight arrangements, and logistical reservations.
Within the frame of your program dates, you will need to determine dates and times for class time, any exams, assignment due dates, program excursions, guest lectures, and other program related activities students are expected to participate in as part of the associated program course.
Your program itinerary is not the same as your course syllabus, but it may make sense to merge the two into one document for students that clearly spells out when they are to be where and for what purpose.
As you build your itinerary, be sure to carefully review MSU's Education Abroad Student Airfare Policy below.
Michigan State University's preferred travel agency partner for Education Abroad programs and student travel is Student Universe. The information below provides general guidelines for student airfare as it relates to Education Abroad programs.
Definitions:
"Official Program Start Date": the date of arrival in-country which should be the first night of program-paid housing.
"Official Program End Date": the day following the last night of program-paid housing.
"Group Flight": Education Abroad signs a contract and is financially liable for the deposits and fees for all seats booked if they are not used or canceled by the commitment deadline. Group flights require at least 10 passengers.
"Suggested Itinerary": a useful alternative to group flights, a suggested itinerary gives students guidance and an option to book flights that they know meet program arrival and departure parameters.
"International Flight": refers to travel to and from the program site(s). In most cases, international flights are the responsibility of individual students. Programs that are heavily subscribed by first-time travelers (First-Year Seminars) or are of short duration (Winter Break and Spring Break programs) often include a group flight for the international travel portion in the program fee to ensure that students travel and arrive together. This will be a group flight, booked and paid for by Education Abroad, and included in the program fee.
"Program-Related Flight": refers to travel that takes place within the program and as part of the official program itinerary. Program-related flights are built into the program budget and charged as part of the program fee.
The following rules apply to student airfare on Education Abroad programs:
You will be contacted by your Education Abroad Program Coordinator when the time comes to create your program budget, though you may, of course, also initiate this process by contacting the coordinator yourself.
As a team, you and your coordinator will work to keep costs for the students as affordable as possible. Try to provide as much financial detail as possible early on about on-site costs for instructional expenses (e.g., course materials, guest speakers, classroom rental, required A/V equipment, etc.), planned excursions and other program activities, group meals, transportation, and lodging.
On the advice of MSU’s Office of Risk Management, program funds may not be used to pay for high-risk activities (such as, for example, bungee jumping, shark cage diving, sky diving, and similar high-risk activities). Please direct related questions to the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security.
Once your draft budget is complete and meets your programming needs, it will be routed to the EA Business Office, the Senior EA Assistant Director of Finances and Operational Management, and then to the sponsoring college(s) for final approval.
Do not publicize in writing or share with students your program fee until you have been informed that your budget has been finalized.
Once your budget is final, a complete breakdown of all anticipated costs will be posted on your program webpage and automatically forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid for students who have indicated that they want to use financial aid towards their program costs.
Education Abroad strives to have summer budgets finalized and program fees posted by the Fall Education Abroad Expo. Students are reluctant to apply and commit to a program unless they know the current year's program fee. Additionally, the Office of Financial Aid does not receive program costs from Education Abroad until the program budget has been finalized. Delayed budgets can lead to limited financial aid which leads to student withdrawals. Finalize your budget early!
If you make changes to your itinerary or budget, you must consult the EA Business Office Accountant. Failure to do so will result in your unit being held liable (financially and otherwise) for these changes.
There are two sources of money available for operating your program: tuition and the program fee. Tuition income is based on a formula established by the university and goes toward program expenses related to the delivery of academic content on site. The program fee covers things like student lodging, any included meals, non-academic program activities, student insurance, and a service fee. Importantly, program director travel is also included in the program fee paid by students, unless the sponsoring college(s) agree to move some or all of these costs to the tuition portion of the budget. Note that, on faculty-directed programs, MSU students pay the same tuition and fees that they would on campus. Non-MSU students pay the in-state and out-of-state Lifelong Education tuition rates.
A complete budget will also include information about additional costs students should plan for, such as: airfare, spending money, course materials, local transportation, funds for meals not covered by the program fee, visa fees (if applicable), immunizations (if applicable), etc. Note: Should students be given course assignments that incur additional cost, include this information in your course syllabus so that students can plan for the additional cost.
A program cannot run a deficit (i.e., a budget be in the red) unless special arrangements have been made with your college and Education Abroad.
Program director salaries are determined by the MSU college that sponsors the program.
Questions regarding payroll procedures should be directed to the Payroll Office (355-5010).
When it comes to making program related payments, it is best practice to have as many program expenses as possible paid in advance by Education Abroad. Items such as student housing, program activities, in-country transportation, etc. are best paid well before departure. You will need to secure an itemized invoice as well as the refund policy from the associated vendor and submit it to your EA coordinator. Please allow two to three weeks for processing. EA can pay via wire, check or, in many cases, credit card. Please ensure that invoices clearly state the preferred method of payment with all the necessary banking information.
Education Abroad is committed to being as transparent as possible with respect to financial arrangements. Financial transactions or business dealings that might pose a conflict of interest should be disclosed pursuant to the Faculty Conflict of Interest Policy. That Policy specifies that "a conflict of interest exists when a faculty member's financial interests or other opportunities for tangible personal benefit may compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the independence of judgment with which the faculty member performs his/her responsibilities at the University." Disclosure is especially important in the event of a contract between MSU and an outside company or organization in which you hold a significant financial interest, even when you are not initiating or taking an active role in assessing or negotiating the contract. When the interest meets or exceeds certain standards established by state law, such a contract must be approved by the Board of Trustees.
You will need to make arrangements for your own and student lodging; onsite transportation; whatever meals will be included in the program fee (e.g., welcome and/or farewell dinner, breakfasts, etc.); classroom space; program activities/excursions; guest lectures as needed; and any other onsite program features. Consider possible accessibility issues for students with disabilities when selecting housing, classrooms, field trip destinations, etc.
Most program directors make their own arrangements on site, often with the help of existing contacts. If desired, Education Abroad can help to identify an onsite provider or a host institution to assist with setting up your program on site. Consider networking with international MSU alumni to assist with select on-site issues. See International Alumni on the MSU Alumni Association Web site.
The majority of planned excursions and class activities should have academic relevance and not be merely tourism outings. As stated in the section on “Building your Program Budget,” on the advice of MSU’s Office of Risk Management,
High risk activities cannot be included in your program itinerary. Program funds cannot be used to pay for high-risk activities. Program directors must not endorse, encourage, or facilitate student participation in these activities including when students are on free time. The following is only a partial list of activities MSU considers to be high-risk. Many of these activities are excluded from MSU’s international health insurance policy:
If you have reason to believe that students may participate in high-risk activities on their free time, you must discourage them in writing. Please contact the Office of International Health and Safety and the Office for Education Abroad for support. If you are unsure if an activity you are considering for your program may be considered high-risk, or if you feel that a high-risk activity is an integral part of your academic curriculum, please contact the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security to discuss.
As you begin to recruit students, special student needs may require your attention in regard to onsite arrangements, such as those of students of color; students with physical disabilities; students who need extra academic support; students who may need assistance with personal, emotional, and educational concerns; LBGTQ+ students; and others. Education Abroad can refer you to relevant experts and resources on campus and help implement any required adjustments.
Due diligence is required when evaluation transportation options for your program. Research the safest modes of transportation for your specific destination and contact the Office of International Health and Safety if you need advice. When evaluating options, ask the questions below. Note that 12-15 passenger vans are not permitted and not reimbursable because of safety concerns.
Your Education Abroad Program Coordinators and/or an onsite provider may be able to assist with locating and recommending suitable housing, keeping accessibility in mind. While abroad, take note of existing accessibility accommodations. Although you may not have a student with disabilities on your current program, this information may prove useful in the future.
Important Regulations
Identify supporting on-site personnel (e.g., Program Assistants, TAs), clearly define their roles, and refer them to the relevant EA program coordinator for registration in the EA database. The latter will ensure that they will be enrolled in MSU's International SOS insurance, receive important communications from the Office for Education Abroad, and be included in any emergency protocols and messages from the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security.
Recruiting participants is an active and multi-step process. Click on any of the following tabs to learn more about the different components of recruitment:
The Office for Education Abroad provides information to students in Via Portal Program Search. Each education abroad program has an online Program Brochure which houses all the details on specific programs.
As a program director, you will work with your EA Program Coordinator to complete and edit information for your Program Brochure.
You will need detailed information in the following categories:
*required
You’ve worked hard to develop and propose your program. Now it’s time to get creative in your efforts to promote your program to students so that it can actually run. Begin promoting your program as early as possible and continue promoting until your program is full or it is no longer feasible logistically to accept additional students (e.g., visa application deadlines, flight contracts, on-site accommodation deadlines, etc.). Here are some tips for you:
Keep interested students engaged!
IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE YOU REVIEW STUDENT APPLICATIONS
Compliance with MSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Office of General Counsel has advised the Office for Education Abroad to reinforce the importance in the administration of education abroad programs of adhering to this and all other university policies.
Specifically, education abroad programming must comply with all MSU policies and regulations, including but not limited to the MSU Anti-Discrimination Policy (ADP). This policy outlines the types of prohibited discrimination and harassment at Michigan State University. Under the ADP, University community members are prohibited from engaging in acts which discriminate against or harass any University community member on the basis of age, color, gender, gender identity, disability status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight.
Program Directors MUST comply with the ADP and should report any potential bias incidents to the Office of International Health and Safety and the Office of Institutional Equity.
The ADP applies to the entire education abroad program cycle, including advising, admission decisions, on-site programming, and post-program follow-up.
The review of student applications consists of two parts: (1) the student conduct review (carried out by Education Abroad) and (2) the academic review (conducted by the program director/s). In addition to this overview, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the student application process, withdrawal policies and EA’s Refund and Charge Policy. Please refer specific questions from students to the Office for Education Abroad. NOTE: The academic review cannot be conducted in the faculty portal until after the student conduct review is completed.
An applicant's participation may be denied or his/her participation approval may be revoked if his/her conduct before departure raises doubts as to his/her suitability for program participation. Participation may also be denied based on prior disciplinary or criminal action.
Education Abroad works closely with the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution and will inform you, usually within ten days of receiving an application, whether or not the applicant has a record. These are records of violations to MSU's General Student Regulations.
You will be asked to review the record and inform Education Abroad of your admissions decision. If you would like guidance on suggested action steps, contact Education Abroad. According to the Office of the Provost, you cannot deny admissions merely because a student has a conduct report. You are expected to carefully review the record to determine whether or not the violation is sufficiently grievous to deny admission. You are encouraged to schedule an interview with the student to discuss the infraction.
Student applications are reviewed online, in the Education Abroad Faculty Portal. For instructions on how to review program applications see the instructions for using the Faculty Portal. In the case of any non-MSU applicants, you will be able to see that they have applied but will not be able to view their transcripts online. Education Abroad will collect hard copies of their materials and scan them to you for review. If you are expecting additional application items (such as résumés, housing forms, statements of interest, etc.) and they are missing from the student file, please inform an Education Abroad staff member and we will notify the applicant that his/her application is incomplete.
It is advisable to review applications early and regularly so students are not left hanging and lose interest in the program. Students are told that applications will be reviewed on a rolling admissions basis. Of course, rolling admissions does not mean first-come, first-served. If you review an application but are unable to make a decision regarding that student, please let your Education Abroad support specialist know the reason that no action can be taken, and your estimate of when you may be able to make a final decision. We often receive calls from students and, without this information, are unable to determine whether their application has been overlooked, or reviewed and put "on hold."
Review student academic records carefully to verify that the student is in "good academic standing" (i.e., GPA of 2.00 or better and no evidence of current or pending academic probation). All students must have a GPA of 2.00 or higher at the time of application; however, this does not guarantee admission, and you may choose to require a higher GPA for participation in your program. If an applicant has a borderline GPA (barely above a 2.00) and there is an additional semester of grades to be reported before departure of the program, contact Education Abroad for options.
All eligibility criteria should be clearly stated in your program flyer and web text. Please contact the Education Abroad Program Coordinator for your program if you have concerns or feel that a student has not or will not meet the minimum GPA requirement. You may want to require an in-person interview as part of your selection process. Interviews of applicants for semester programs are strongly recommended.
In an effort to promote access, ensure equity and provide education abroad opportunities to the most diverse and exemplary cadre of students possible, consistency is required in the application and selection process, as well as language used in written and oral communication, including the application.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT INTERVIEWS: To help mitigate bias and potential backlash from applicants who exchange notes with one another, a standard set of interview questions should be established and agreed upon. In addition, a decision should be made whether or not to interview every applicant or none at all. Decisions to interview some applicants may be perceived as or indeed be done subjectively which diminishes the integrity of the application and review process, as well as disadvantage and potentially harm some students.
Log into the faculty portal and choose "Review Applicants." Then choose the session for which you wish to review applications.
This page lists applications that are ready for review. Your options are
Some applications may be marked "Awaiting Judicial Clearance", which means they are pending student conduct clearance as described under the "Overview of Application Review" tab.
The "View Application" button gives you access to information you need to determine whether the student is eligible and qualified for participation in your program: their unofficial MSU transcript and any other materials you requested as part of the application (e.g., an essay, personal statement, etc.).
When you are ready to record your decision about an applicant, click on the "Make Decision" button. Your options are to "accept," "deny," or "waitlist" students. There is also a text box for comments.
Once you have made your decision on a student in the online system, Education Abroad will notify the student electronically. A student’s status as "accepted,' "denied," or "waitlisted" is not official until the official Education Abroad email has been sent. Please do NOT notify students of your decision yourself.
You can download your participant list from the Faculty Portal or request one from the Education Abroad student support specialist assigned to your program. This will show your program’s current enrollment status.
Once you have reached your targeted (= budgeted) enrollment, you should start a waitlist. Based on our experience with student withdrawal, your waitlist should be about 15 percent of your targeted enrollment. Let your Education Abroad student support specialist know how you wish to manage your waitlist. Do you want Education Abroad to
If none of the waitlisted students is ultimately able to participate, the withdrawing student will be financially responsible as described in the Education Abroad withdrawal policy (students should consult the Education Abroad Refund and Charge Policies).
If you learn that a student wishes to withdraw, let them know that they MUST notify the Office for Education Abroad in writing (email is OK), that they no longer intend to participate in your program. Verbal cancellations are not accepted, and program directors cannot withdraw a student from a program. It is very important that you instruct students to inform Education Abroad. Students often end up financially responsible for program fees because they failed to inform our office. They need to understand that is not sufficient to tell you of their decision to withdraw. Should students inquire about Education Abroad’s withdrawal policy, refer them to the Education Abroad Refund and Charge Policies.
Since withdrawals can negatively impact your program budget, be sure to work with your Education Abroad support specialist and coordinator on closely monitoring enrollment in your program. Should you have insufficient enrollment at the time of the application deadline, do not cancel your program unilaterally. Education Abroad monitors budgeted enrollments and will contact you to discuss options. Programs are only cancelled after consultation among Education Abroad, the sponsoring college(s), and the program director(s).
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and no later than the posted program deadline. Late applications can often be accommodated as long as it is logistically feasible. Ask yourself whether there is sufficient time left for
Do not accept additional students until it is confirmed that any needed additional housing is available and that onsite transportation arrangements can accommodate an additional person.
As your program’s departure date approaches, it is very important to check periodically whether the program participant list matches your class list. It is equally important to ensure that all participants are enrolled in the budgeted minimum number of credits. Under-enrolled students impact the tuition income available for your program (see "Build your program budget" under the "Logistics" tab).
To help ensure the best abroad experience possible for your students, it is crucial to prepare them in advance of your group’s departure. Advise students about textbooks/materials to be purchased before departure. If you will distribute course materials on site, the cost of these materials must be included in the program fee.
Click on any of the following tabs to learn more about the steps to take to prepare your students:
Encourage participants to complete the Education Abroad General Pre-Departure Orientation, which usually opens in November for Winter Break and Spring semester programs; in February for Spring Break Programs; and in April for Summer, Academic Year and Fall programs.
Plan, schedule and lead at least one program-specific orientation addressing the key program-specific details your students need to know. MSU's Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security has a Pre-Departure Orientation PowerPoint template available on their training and resources website. It should include information (to the best of your ability) on safety; health; legal, environmental, political, cultural and religious conditions in the host country; potential health and safety risks; and appropriate emergency response measures.
Make every attempt to communicate all necessary information to students prior to the completion of the previous semester. For example, be sure to inform students of your mandatory reporting responsibilities per the university’s Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) policy. This should also be included in pre-departure meetings and in the course syllabus. If you plan to email students between or after semesters, alert them so they know to regularly check their MSU email accounts.
If you create a website for your program that is not protected by a password, please refrain from providing identifying details regarding housing, such as street addresses.
You may want to arrange for a get-acquainted event for participating students prior to departure. Please note that any expenses associated with such an event need to be included in your program budget.
Be sure to reinforce the message that education abroad is an academic experience first and foremost, and that academic responsibilities take priority over personal interests. Planting this idea helps to combat the occasional notion that education abroad is a vacation. Refrain from referring to the experience as "a trip," but instead use the word "program."
Below are suggestions for what to include in your pre-departure orientation:
Reinforce the concept of students as "cultural ambassadors" and emphasize that their conduct will be seen as representative of the United States, the state of Michigan and this University. Students need to be reminded that while the consequences of poor behavior while on campus or in East Lansing reflect solely on themselves, their misconduct abroad will be attributed to the entire group. In addition, be honest with your students about how their poor behavior reflects poorly on you, as the program director. Most importantly, participants need to understand that the viability of a program rests in their hands. Offensive or indifferent behavior resulting in negative evaluations by colleagues abroad could lead to their refusal to continue hosting your group.
You may want to consider creating a group agreement specifically tailored to your program. These are not legal contracts but are good faith efforts agreements between the students and directors. Ask students to identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviors on which the group can agree. In addition to the expected "don't be late for bus departures," ask students to decide on actions to avoid such situations. For example, students can agree to check that everyone is awake at a certain time, or phone a classmate after their alarm has rung. The students may also agree upon consequences and/or group response to repeated offenses. There is no need for complete agreement - consensus should be the desired goal.
It may be more important to emphasize what the students should do, rather than what they should not do. This applies to bystanders as well. For instance, if one student sees another student displaying inappropriate behavior, that student should step forward to stop it. Encourage this type of response, as well as the peer pressure that students with leadership skills can provide.
If you experience excessive complaining, the group could set specific times during the day when all complaining is allowed. None is allowed throughout the rest of the day. This may seem like an extreme action, but it's proven to work.
Ask students to discuss how personality conflicts can undermine the atmosphere of the program and provide suggestions for dealing with such conflicts. Although it may seem like common sense, you may need to regularly remind students to:
You may wish to address sex and dating among program participants as well as with locals. Pre-departure discussion regarding the local culture's receptivity to public displays of affection, gays and lesbians, and other issues may help to alleviate misunderstandings.
Furthermore, address your concerns about alcohol misuse and abuse. In addition to posing a health and safety risk, alcohol abuse is the primary source of behavioral problems and personality conflicts between group members. By addressing this issue in advance, you not only inform students of your concerns, but also alert them to possible past problems that have had a negative effect on the program. Many education abroad program directors have commented that this proactive approach has been successful in reducing the number of alcohol-related problems.
To begin this discussion, it is helpful to ask students to discuss the consequences of alcohol misuse, such as the following:
Brainstorm with the students about their perception of alcohol use in the host culture, comparing and/or contrasting with alcohol use in the United States. Share your knowledge of alcohol use in the host culture and remind students of the difference between alcohol use and alcohol misuse/abuse. Excessive drunkenness is not tolerated in any country, and is, in fact, considered an illness/addiction in many cultures.
As a program director, you should NOT make direct initial contact with any student's family members without the student's permission. Where possible, the student should communicate with their family members. (NOTE: a parent is not necessarily the student's emergency contact). Education Abroad will encourage all students to keep family informed, but this is ultimately up to the student.
To help decrease parent anxiety and the need/desire to contact you abroad, many program directors use various electronic outlets to provide parents access to program information and updates. Consider creating the following for your program:
If a student is ill or injured, even if it's not an emergency, please call the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line at (517) 353-3784) so that we are informed in case our office is contacted about the situation.
The following are helpful resources for students preparing to go abroad:
This material was developed to support and enhance a student's ability to make successful cultural adjustments both before going overseas and upon returning home from studying abroad. It was produced primarily for traditional-aged, undergraduate US-American university students. Those preparing to participate in a study abroad program will find the first seven sections useful while those who are about to, or have, returned home from an international program can refer to the final four sections. The focus is generally on the concept of culture and how it impacts one's ability to understand and function in a new and unfamiliar environment. It concentrates on the skills, attitudes, and behaviors which all study abroad students, regardless of their specific destination, will find useful.
The Travel Clinic promotes safe and healthy travel by providing counseling to travelers about appropriate vaccines and preventive medication.
Visiting other countries can be a great experience. Whether you are traveling for work or pleasure, solo or in a group, staying for a few days or several years, planning ahead can help ensure your time abroad is both enjoyable and safe. The first step to an international trip is to read our Traveler's Checklist to find out things to consider before you go. Pay special attention to our safety and security information and assess for yourself the risk of traveling to a particular country or region. Some U.S. citizens with special considerations – such as students, women, and LGBTI travelers – may face additional challenges when abroad. If you do decide to travel, make a plan for what to do if something goes wrong overseas.
These centers are fabulous resources as students prepare for their learning abroad experiences.
Have ideas for additional resources for students? Please contact Dr. Inge Steglitz.
As a new program director, you will need to attend a Critical Incident Management Seminar. These seminars are offered through the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security and are required prior to your departure. Seminars are offered in person and online.
MSU requires that all study abroad program directors participate in a critical incident management seminar every two years. Seminar presentations are made by the coordinator for international health and safety and cover preparation prior to departure, resources available, and actions to take while abroad when responding to emergencies. Seminars are offered throughout the year and occur at various days and times to accommodate teaching schedules. Program directors will not receive a travel advance until they attend a seminar. Directors will be notified if they are due to attend a seminar.
Also be sure to carefully review Information for Program Directors on the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security's website, including the EA On-Site Operations Manual.
If your program operates – at any point in time – 90 minutes or more away (by typical mode of transportation) from reliable, emergency medical care, attend mandatory first-aid training.
All onsite staff, including TAs, must go through all required EA trainings, such as the Critical Incident Management Seminars.
Program directors may book and direct-bill their Education Abroad airfare within six months of departure through Conlin Travel or Student Universe. It is your responsibility to schedule your own flight arrangements, which should be done as early as possible. You will need to complete a travel request in Concur prior to booking.
Effective January 2010, MSU will reimburse travelers for the lowest roundtrip airfare. These preferred travel agencies are under contract to find the lowest airfare. They accomplish this through airline and airfare websites, so it should not be an advantage to search on your own. If you wish to fly business class, you must purchase an upgradeable ticket and either use your own frequent flyer miles or personally pay the extra cost for an upgrade. Education Abroad will not reimburse program directors for business class tickets.
When booking your flight, please note that you are allowed up to three days more than the actual program dates for setup and breakdown. These days may fall before and/or after the program and must be included in the program budget. If you plan to add non-program-related travel onto your flight, Education Abroad will reimburse you for the estimated cost of only the program-related roundtrip ticket. Due to our large volume, Education Abroad must rely on program directors to show judiciary responsibility. Even if your initial itinerary is approved by Education Abroad, you cannot use program funds for personal travel. If your non-program travel is approved by another unit, we will share the cost.
According to MSU travel policy, you cannot purchase airfare more than six months before departure. Should you choose not to direct-bill, then you will have to charge the airfare to your personal credit card and will receive reimbursement upon reconciliation of your travel expenses.
In all cases, the passenger receipt and paid invoice statement from the travel agency must be submitted when program expenses are reconciled after your return to campus.
Education Abroad advises that you keep your personal housing and Meals and Incidentals Expenses (M&IE) funds separate from student program funds.
Lodging expenses are reimbursed according to your actual expense and cannot exceed the most current U.S. Department of State rates. In order to keep costs down for students, you will be expected to keep accommodation costs in major cities below $200 per night. This will be discussed during the budget development stage. Expenses can only be reimbursed for the actual amount up to the U.S. Department of State rate (or $200 in major cities) and are determined by the rate when you were abroad, not by the rate when your budget or worksheet was developed. Due to fluctuations in these rates, keep this in mind when you book your reservations. If your housing costs are based on a "per person" rate, you will be reimbursed for only one person.
IMPORTANT: For audit purposes, you are required to have an original detailed receipt to substantiate your housing expenses.
Although Education Abroad may, at some sites, be able to suggest possible options for your housing, Education Abroad cannot be responsible for arranging or negotiating your international accommodations.
Education Abroad can cover the cost of housing deposits any time prior to departure. You are encouraged to book your housing as early as possible to guarantee lower deposit and housing costs. If you need a deposit paid early in order to secure housing at a favorable rate or a preferred location, contact your Education Abroad Coordinator for payment arrangements.
Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) are intended for one person only and is based on the most current rate available from the U.S. Department of State rates (unless you agree to accept a lower rate in order to keep program costs low). The rate varies according to geographic location and is based on the actual time in a location abroad.
M&IE is paid in lieu of actual expenses and eliminates the need to keep receipts for every personal transaction. It is intended to cover such things as meals, laundry and dry cleaning, fees, tips to waiters/porters/hotel maids, etc., baths, faxes, telegrams, telephone calls for reserving hotel rooms, transportation between places of lodging and business or where meals are taken.
If you are submitting receipts for group dinners that include yourself, you cannot collect M&IE plus be reimbursed for the group meal. The Travel Office considers this "double dipping" and will reimburse you for whichever is lower.
If you bring family members with you, and they accompany the group on any portion of the program, you will need to inform the students that the program does not cover any travel costs of your family members. Students may have the impression that their program fees are covering what they perceive to be your family vacation. See Guidelines for Accompanying Faculty Family Members below for further details.
Comprehensive information about education abroad leadership related insurance is available on the web site of MSU's Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security.
The Office for Education Abroad discourages program directors from having family members accompany their program. MSU/Education Abroad reserves the right to impose limits and/or conditions on the roles, activities and presence of family members or friends who accompany program directors. Such limits or conditions derive from programmatic concerns related to health, safety or security as determined by MSU/Education Abroad. In general, family members cannot serve in an official role on the program, including as an emergency back-up person or secondary support personnel, cannot interfere with or join program activities, and MSU assumes no responsibility for their health and safety. If you feel that your situation is an exception to this rule, please contact your Program Coordinator to discuss.
If you bring family members with you, and they accompany the group on any portion of the program, you may wish to inform the students that the program does not cover expenses for your family members. Students may be under the impression that their program fees cover what they may perceive to be a family vacation.
The following describes the limits or conditions that apply to family members accompanying program directors.
It is the responsibility of program directors and students participating in a program to inquire about visa requirements for all countries to be visited, including those before and after the education abroad program. For related information, please visit our page on passports and visas. Travelers may be denied entry into, or be deported from, a country for which a required visa has not been obtained. Education Abroad will reimburse you for the cost of any mandatory visas to countries that are part of the program itinerary. Visa requirements may be different for non-US citizens.
Check the MSU Travel Clinic or Center for Disease Control (CDC) for information on immunizations and health issues. Education Abroad will cover the cost of an office visit and any mandatory immunizations for all program directors (including program assistants) to countries that are part of the program itinerary. Covered services received at MSU Travel Clinic can be billed directly to Education Abroad. Please make sure you include the cost in your program budget. Education Abroad will not cover the cost of updated vaccinations or routine immunizations such as tetanus, etc. If you plan to meet with your personal physician regarding your travel health needs, take a copy of the CDC recommendations to your appointment. Carry all prescription drugs in original containers and bring written information on blood type, prescriptions and other special medical conditions.
MSU and the Office for Education Abroad require that every education abroad program provide Education Abroad with at least one cell phone number prior to departure. There are many ways to obtain international cell service - from renting a phone to adjusting your personal cell phone's service package. Personal calls made on the phone will be the responsibility of the user.
Options for International Cell Phones:
Keep in mind that if you are traveling abroad with controlled equipment or materials (e.g. global positioning systems, encrypted software, or select agents) you may be in violation of federal law. Review the MSU's Office of Export Controls & Trade Sanctions website (click on Export Controls) or contact their office at (517) 432-4500 to discuss federal restrictions or limitations related to your destination. It is also important to consider the kind of student information kept on any laptops you take abroad. If your laptop is lost or stolen you could put students at risk of identity theft. If possible, try not to keep student PIDs on your laptop, or at least only record the last four digits. If you have participants' home addresses, phone numbers and emails, please encrypt or protect the information with passwords.
You must submit the on-site emergency contact information for you students and yourself to the Office for Education Abroad one month prior to departure. Education Abroad will email you a template for formatting this information.
In addition, be sure to leave your detailed travel schedule with Education Abroad and your departmental office.
Travel Request
The University utilizes the Concur system to manage travel profiles, pre-trip requests, travel booking, receipts and travel expense reporting. The Concur Request User Guide contains useful information to help you navigate through this process.
At least one month prior to travel, program directors should log into Concur through their EBS portal and create a Request (formerly known as a Pre-trip Authorization). This Request will include the start and end dates of the trip, the reason for the trip, the details of the different trip segments (such as air, lodging, etc.) and the details of anticipated expenses.
A cash advance request is part of this process. Program Directors should review their program budget, determine what line items need to be included in their advance (i.e., items that have not been pre-paid and need to be paid on-site) and what the estimated cost will be based on the program budget. This information should be used to complete the Expenses tab of the new Request.
Whenever possible, invoices for housing, class activities, instruction, etc. should be requested from the provider well before departure and paid by Education Abroad in advance. It is important to allow adequate time, approximately two to three weeks, for payment processing. If you need to keep any program equipment beyond the program end date, Education Abroad must store the equipment for liability reasons. If you should need the equipment for on-campus purposes, Education Abroad will share the cost with your department.
The travel request, once submitted, will route for approval along with the cash advance request.
Approvals can take up to two weeks to route and finalize, as multiple offices are involved including the home department of the traveler, the Office for Global Health, Safety and Security, the Office for Education Abroad and the Controller’s Office. Please do not leave this to the last minute!
Once approved, the cash advance will be issued per institutional guidelines and will be deposited to your banking information provided to MSU HR. This can take up to 5 business days.
Please note that you must have attended an Emergency Preparedness and Response Seminar within the past two years (or as required by the Office for Global Health, Safety and Security) and have submitted your emergency contact information to receive a cash advance.
A Purchasing Card (PCard) is available for program payments and can be used to supplement your cash advance. The card will be loaded with a specified amount and can be used until that amount is spent. Travel of any kind is a prohibited purchase with the PCard. This includes airlines, auto rentals, cash advances, lodging, meals or per diem, money orders, parking, taxis, travelers’ checks, tolls, trains, wire transfers, visas, etc. For more information on obtaining and using a PCard, please visit the MSU PCard Manual.
The MSU Travel Card is the preferred method for buying travel and travel-related services while traveling on university business. It is strongly recommended that program directors apply for a Travel Card. Follow the link above for full details on obtaining and using an MSU Travel Card.
Do not take additional work commitments during the in-country portion of the program that could interfere with program-related duties and that take you away from the students during official program time or cause you to miss program activities. This could include but is not limited to leaving the program location to:
Exceptions may be made based on program model and instructor appointment. Any such additional work commitments should be discussed with the College Education Abroad liaison and EA prior to departure.
Click on any of the following tabs to learn more about administering your Education Abroad course(s). MSU's Faculty Handbook fully applies to your responsibilities related to your teaching on Education Abroad.
The Education Abroad Advisory Council (ACEA) has asked that the Office for Education Abroad monitor credits to ensure that courses have sufficient contact hours for the number of credits offered. Per the Office of the Registrar, courses must offer 14 instructional contact hours for each credit (e.g., 42 contact hours for a three-credit course).
Time spent on course-related excursions and field trips contributes to contact hours as follows: two hours of an excursion or field trip, including travel time, count for one hour of instruction. For every one hour in class, MSU assumes two hours of study time per day. The university has set a maximum of six contact hours per day.
On average, the standard guide suggests that programs offer 1.5 credits per week on site (e.g., a four-week program should offer around six (6) credits). The sponsoring academic unit will review programs that significantly exceed this guidance.
Mandatory instructional contact hours outside of the on-site dates, should be noted in the program description and must be included in the syllabus. Program directors need to consider how to implement these pre-departure and post-return class sessions for non-MSU students who are unable to travel to East Lansing as well as for students who apply after the sessions have begun.
While the maximum number of credits a program may offer is determined by the considerations above, the minimum number of credits to be offered is driven by the instructional part of your program budget. All students participating in your program must enroll in and maintain enrollment in this minimum number of credits.
You may receive requests for a reduced program course load from graduating seniors. Since reduced course loads affect your instructional budget, program directors are required to consult with the Office of Education Abroad's Business Office and the sponsoring academic college. Programs are not permitted to operate with an instructional deficit due to reduced credit enrollment.
Students who do not maintain enrollment in the minimum number of credits required for a program will be charged the equivalent tuition as an additional program fee. The Education Abroad Advisory Council approved this policy and procedure in summer 2003.
About one month prior to departure, Education Abroad will check student enrollment for your program. However, program directors are encouraged to monitor and compare their class and EA participant lists regularly, especially as your departure date approaches.
Notify EA if your students encounter enrollment problems. "Drop and Add" requests as well as selection of the CR/NC option follow MSU rules and regulations.
It is your responsibility to initiate the creation of your program’s education abroad course sections. Follow the usual on-campus course section scheduling process. To create the section, contact the colleges/departments that offer courses on your program. When ordering these study abroad sections, you will be asked for the course dates. The course start date should reflect the first class meeting and the end date must reflect the due date of the final assignment. Your program course section dates will likely be different from your program dates. For example, you may require students to attend a pre-departure orientation at the end of spring semester and/or have final assignments due two weeks after the program returns. Your course section dates must reflect this. It is a good idea to ask your college or department scheduling officer to provide the Registrar wording such as: "Study abroad program takes place in CITY, COUNTRY, July 1 - August 15. Final assignments are due by September 15th." This notation will be included in the Schedule of Courses so that students can clearly understand the dates.
Special note on "trans-semester courses"
"Trans-semester courses" are course whose dates span two semesters. They will be assigned to the semester in which the majority of calendar days occur. It is important for the financial and administrative reasons outlined in the section below that the majority of your summer education abroad program course dates fall into summer. For example, a program that is on site from July 1 to August 15 has a due date of September 15 for students to submit final assignments. In this case, the course dates are July 1 - September 15 and the course is considered a summer semester course. If the final assignment were due October 30, the course would be considered a fall semester course.
Special note on Winter Break program courses
Education abroad courses associated with winter break programs are considered spring semester courses and must be scheduled to begin after the last day of fall semester. Final assignments may be scheduled to be due after the program returns.
Special note on Fall and Spring semester program offering MSU courses
Fall and spring semester programs that offer MSU courses also require special consideration. If a fall semester course is shorter than 15 weeks or a spring semester course is shorter than 16 weeks, approval from the Office of the Registrar is required. Courses cannot be scheduled for longer than 16 weeks (17 weeks in the spring, including the week of spring break). The only exceptions are for MSU courses approved for ET grading and MSU courses taught by contracted non-MSU faculty teaching at their home university on that institution's calendar.
Your program’s instructional budget is driven by tuition income that can only be captured by Education Abroad if your program sections are designated as education abroad sections (Sections 750-779 and Sections 850-879). If the courses are not designated as education abroad sections, tuition income is not marked for education abroad and will not be available to cover instructional expenses, including your salary.
In addition, education abroad course sections ensure that students can be tracked by major and college, which is important when it comes to the end-of-year allocation of Student Credit Hours (SCHs) to each college. The Provost has asked Education Abroad and the colleges to track the number of SCHs generated from education abroad. Education Abroad also uses the special section numbers to track the overall number of students who participate in education abroad each year.
Education Abroad regularly provides the Office of the Registrar (RO) with a list of applicants. The RO codes all EA applicants so that they may enroll in education abroad course sections. This alleviates the need for overrides, though you may, of course, still require overrides if that helps you manage enrollment based on major, prerequisites, etc. In order to facilitate the override process, you may request a list of participants and PIDs from Education Abroad and provide this list to each sponsoring department. Education Abroad cannot process overrides.
Requests for approval to use any social science course number, including Integrative studies in Social Sciences (ISS) courses, in an education abroad program, must request this through the assistant dean for experiential learning in the College Social Science dean's office.
If you would like to include an IAH course in your new or existing program, please remember that the syllabus must be received and approved by the Center for Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (CISAH) office prior to opening the section for enrollment. Education Abroad cannot include IAH offerings in any marketing materials unless CISAH approval has been obtained in advance.
If you plan to have any courses taught by on-site instructors, be sure to get all the necessary approvals from relevant MSU departments (e.g., approval of syllabi). The Education Abroad business office can provide guidance on hiring and contract processes. When booking on-site guest speakers, be sure you have a Nonresident Alien Professional Services Contract on file that specifies the scope of work to be performed as well as agreed-upon remuneration.
All program directors are expected to follow the MSU Code of Teaching Responsibility as described in the Michigan State University Faculty Handbook. This includes informing students of the grading system before the program and courses begin. This is especially important for programs in which non-MSU faculty members teach the courses and students are issued foreign grades. Be sure to provide guidance to on-site, in-country instructors, lecturers, and guides regarding MSU academic policies and values, in particular MSU's Code of Teaching Responsibility, and how their contribution fits into the overall program design. If you are unsure how to interpret international grades, contact Education Abroad or the International Admissions Office.
Program Management refers to making and keeping your program viable, including
Importantly, you must not cancel your program for any reason, including safety concerns and under-enrollment, without first consulting with both EA and your college’s representative on the Advisory Council for Education Abroad. Cancellation and/or suspension of programs for health, safety and security reasons is handled by MSU’s Risk and Security Assessment Committee (RSAC) in consultation with MSU leadership. The provost has final authority to cancel / suspend a program for health, safety and security reasons. Program directors with health, safety and security concerns are encouraged to discuss with EA so that appropriate action may be taken, including initiating a review by RSAC.
For more on “student withdrawals” see the sub-tab "Manage your participant and class lists" under the "Review and admit applicants" tab in the "Implementation: Pre-departure" module.
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