Five-step sequence

1. Framing: familiarize yourself with the larger institutional and learning contexts.

Given the rationale for and contexts of education abroad programming, it is important to consider academic as well as non-academic learning goals. In addition to academic outcomes, program directors should articulate what they hope to achieve in terms of students' intercultural, interpersonal, personal, and/or professional learning and development.

Prospective program directors are encouraged to talk about desirable learning outcomes with experienced colleagues as well as with colleagues in Education Abroad.

2. Pre-Proposal (downloadable instructions)

• An informal process that provides the opportunity to articulate your initial program idea and share it within your department and college, and with Education Abroad
• Write up the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” and “why”
• This first step can be done at any time throughout the year
• Think about all the programmatic aspects you will ultimately need to address. Meet with colleagues to help you think through your programming ideas:
• On campus: identify and consult with MSU faculty who are experienced program leaders; consult with your college representatives; reach out to area studies staff pertinent to your proposed destination(s); seek out guidance and advice from Education Abroad staff
• Partners and contacts abroad

3. New Program Development Site Visit (optional)

• Explore on-the-ground possibilities and realities to enhance the final proposal
• Time the visit so you will have sufficient time to write the required site visit report and prepare the program proposal (12-18 months prior to your proposed program)
• Can be made at any time during the year
• Apply for these funds at least a month before your visit in order to minimize airfare expenses
• Education Abroad offers Site Visit grants that can fund up to 50% of the cost for one program leader to make a site visit for one week (up to a maximum of $2,000). The remaining funds must be covered by one or more academic unit.
• Prior to traveling on the site visit, you should review all the questions and prompts for the full proposal so that you can take them all in to consideration during your visit

4. Full Proposal

• A full proposal includes the submission of an online application form, a narrative description of the proposed program, and accompanying documentation.
• Depending on the type of program you are proposing, there are different requirements for the narrative responses and for required supplementary documents:
  
  
• Faculty-Directed Programs
• Direct-Enroll Programs
• Exchange Programs
• Provider Programs (coming soon)
  
  
• Consider and respond to all the questions and prompts in the "Narrative instructions"
• Narrative responses, rather than bulleted lists, are preferred

5. Review Process

• Once a complete program proposal is received by Education Abroad, a final decision regarding approval takes an average of one month, depending on reviewers' availability and need for program revisions. In order to be approved in time for sufficient marketing and program planning, proposals should be submitted at least one year in advance of the planned program start date.
• Early submission of proposals is critical due to the complexities of developing any new program.
• Proposals can be accepted less than one year in advance, but program publicity and student planning, including student access to financial aid, may be adversely affected by late program approvals. New programs cannot be advertised or marketed to students until final approval is received.