Information for Faculty Leaders

After Approval of the Faculty Led program by the Study Abroad Committee

Remember that the Faculty-led Group Study Abroad Programs Handbook is your guideline for what is expected of you by PSU. If anything in the Handbook is unclear, please contact the Study Abroad Coordinator with your questions.
In this section you will find reminders from the Study Abroad office that hopefully will help your program be a success.

1. Promotion

You will work with the Study Abroad Coordinator to promote your program on campus. Promote within your department and with colleagues in the university. Spread the word among your students as well.
A good kick off to your promotion is the PSU Study Abroad EXPO which is held in mid-October. Contact the Study Abroad Coordinator at the beginning of the Fall semester to find out specific dates and reserve a table.

2. Paperwork

As a faculty leader, your students will be handing in their paperwork to you unless you arrange otherwise with the Study Abroad Coordinator*. Once you have a complete packet from each student, you will submit this paperwork to the Study Abroad Coordinator. These forms should be submitted at least three weeks before your departure date. If you are traveling during a break when the university is closed this deadline will be adjusted.
The Step 1 application is due before the rest of the paperwork, at least 2 months before your departure date. You can use this as an application to your program especially if more students are applying than you have space for. Work with the Study Abroad Committee to decide who will participate in your program.
Go to the Forms page to see all the paperwork that is necessary for participants to hand in. Also found on that page are the forms that faculty leaders need to turn in.
*If you would like the Study Abroad Coordinator to collect the paperwork, contact her. The Study Abroad Coordinator will then collect the appropriate paperwork from participants. It will be kept in the International Programs & Services office unless copies are requested by the faculty leader.

3. Pre-Departure Meetings

All students going abroad on PSU Study Abroad programs or who are approved by the Study Abroad Committee must attend the Pre-Departure Orientation given by Study Abroad Programs. The orientation will take place once each semester. This is a general orientation.

You will meet with your group to discuss details specific to your program and provide a country-specific pre-departure orientation before leaving.

4. Stipends

When you turn in your faculty application, the Study Abroad Committee will also decide if your program will receive funding from the Study Abroad Travel Stipend fund. The Committee follows a formula to decide the amount assigned to each program. Your program must be a credit bearing program to receive funding, and students must be earning 3 credits for the study abraod experience. This may include a pre-travel on-campus course bearing some of the credits.
If you have received funding from the Study Abroad Travel Stipend fund for the participants in your program, you must hand in your paperwork on time to receive funding. Any student who does not have a complete packet will not receive a stipend. Students must also sign the Stipend Agreement form which explains what is expected of them upon acceptance of the stipend.
*In order to receive a stipend students must have a Social Security number or a Tax ID. This is especially important to check if you have international students participating in your program. If students do not have either please contact the International Programs & Services Office for advisement.

5. Travel Consults

The health and wellness checks required for travel on a study abroad program are done at the Student Health Center. Appointments should be made online through Student Health Services. These checks are scheduled for Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings ONLY. The checks should be done approximately 3 months before your departure date. Please advise your students to plan ahead for this check. Keep in mind, your program may be leaving around the same time as others.

6. International Insurance

PSU requires that all participants in the Study Abroad program purchase international insurance for the time they will be abroad. Many students and parents have questions about this requirement. Below there are links to two informational handouts from HTH Worldwide that explain the coverage provided while abroad and the medical issues a study abroad participant should be aware of. Any questions about this requirement can be directed to the Study Abroad Coordinator.

HTH Worldwide: Global Health and Safety Services

Study Abroad Checklist: Medical Preparation for Studying Abroad