Minutes of Study Away Committee Meeting--
November 11, 2008

Present: Erik Ching (Chair), Sam Griffin (student), Tim Hanks, Christopher Hutton, Kailash Khandke (Assistant Academic Dean for International Relations), Lisa Knight, Brent Nelsen, Cheryl Patterson, Emily Wilson (student).
Recorder: Lisa Knight

Erik thanked Cheryl for being acting chair while he was away.   We discussed briefly the Southern Living proposal and its need for a course to be developed and attached before going to the faculty.

We discussed the New Mexico program and tabled it pending answers to questions about the number of credits for faculty; compensation for Kate Thibault; need of RA for only 8 students and 12 credits.  Erik will also urge Travis Perry to inform students clearly that the semester program will only receive 12 credits.

El Salvador MayX program was discussed and approved.  We discussed the contingency plans.  Kailash explained that the budget would be increased some because Gandolfo learned that there would be no housing available at FU and would shift the whole duration of the program to El Salvador.  Erik noted that this MayX program competed with the Latin America program, even though he approved it, and urged that the committee monitor the impact of May X on Furman’s semester programs, and whether or not it promotes participation on semester programs or reduces it, and what is best for Furman’s longterm study away activities.

Latin America program was discussed and approved pending chair approval.  Erik expressed concern about the challenges he has faced trying to find four faculty ready, willing, and qualified to participate on the program.  Tim suggested that it seemed important to integrate the four classes better, especially Biology.  Cheryl suggested Erik consider an IDS course, taught by one of 3 professors (instead of having 4 faculty on trip). Erik agreed, but noted that such a plan requires additional demands on participating departments in order to give their faculty appropriate course credit, which is something he has sought to avoid with the current model.

Kailash raised questions of next deadlines, and after discussion committee agreed that October 1 be the deadline for May X and the following fall and spring semester programs.