WORLD Class Lunch & Learn Recap: March 2017

Faculty Insight: Faculty participants each discussed their preliminary ideas for potential study abroad programs. Dr. Phillip Lucas kicked off the discussion by describing his experience designing his upcoming faculty-led study abroad program in Camino de Santiago, Spain. He provided his background in religious studies and pilgrimages and explained the process of being nominated for a WORLD Class Travel Award to participate in a CIEE International Faculty Development Seminar on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.  This experience laid the ground work for preparing him to work with CIEE and WORLD to develop a Faculty-Led Study Abroad program for students.  Lucas explained that by working with CIEE and WORLD on the logistics of the program, he was free to concentrate on the integrity of the academic program. He also described his experience recruiting students for the program and strongly recommended that new faculty work with an international provider to develop their programs.

 How to Develop New Programs:  Brent Spencer, international learning program coordinator at WORLD, led a discussion on the Nuts and Bolts of developing a new faculty-led study abroad program.  Most participants at the lunch & learn were new to study abroad program development.  A robust discussion with questions and answers followed including conversation on how to find good providers for program logistics, different models for structuring faculty-led study abroad, timeline and steps for developing a new program, risk management, how to find financing to keep programs affordable for students, student scholarship resources, and resources WORLD provides for faculty and students throughout the process.

Participants were encouraged to make an appointment to meet with Brent Spencer to discuss their specific ideas for programs for next year.