112.6 Study Abroad Program Administration

112.6 Study Abroad Program Administration

A. Background

Furman University conducts a number of study abroad programs for students.

B. Policy

All study abroad programs will be conducted so as to provide adequate supervision, guarantee maximum benefit to the participants, and ensure strict fiscal controls.

C. Guidelines

1. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean has general administrative responsibility for all study abroad programs.

2. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean appoints a Coordinator of Study Abroad Programs and directors for each individual foreign study program. The Coordinator will work in connection with the Director of International Education.

3. Each program must meet the criteria established by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

4. Each director is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the program, including arrangements for travel, lodging, educational facilities, and approved curriculum. Travel plans will be subject to the approval of the Coordinator of Foreign Study Programs and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

5. Teaching faculty for each program will be recommended by the appropriate department chairperson in consultation with the director of the program and the Coordinator of Study Abroad Programs. In selecting faculty the chairperson should consider not only the special requirements of the program but the department's needs on the home campus. The choice of all faculty in study abroad programs must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.

6. All such programs which provide for academic credit will be so planned and conducted as to meet high academic standards. Each program will include provisions for lectures, study, and examinations as well as those tests, papers, reports, etc., which are appropriate to the course and the schedule. These elements should approximate the content and procedures set for similar courses conducted on the campus.

7. The program director administers the process of selecting participants. The teaching faculty assist. Normally, a program which requires a Furman director must have a minimum enrollment of fifteen. Among the requirements for consideration of any applicant from schools other than Furman will be submission of a transcript and a letter of recommendation from an academic advisor. A personal interview will be required if at all possible. Approved participants from other schools will be assessed a fee in addition to the basic fee charged Furman students.

8. Since the fees charged for some study abroad programs may be inadequate to cover the actual costs, the university reserves the right to cancel or curtail scholarships or concessions to participants during the term of study abroad.

9. Each director establishes a budget for his program and presents it to the coordinator and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean for approval. The approved budget will be strictly observed.

10. Each program director is responsible for seeing that consent and general release forms are executed for each program participant and that these forms are delivered to Financial Services before the participants leave the campus.

11. The necessary expenses of the director and faculty teaching in the program will be paid by the university. These will include the following:

• Travel from Greenville to the location of the program and return. Travel on an individual basis will be by the most economical method.
• Other travel necessary to the program. Such must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean.
• Food and lodging. Such expenses will be within reasonable limits. Furman will not pay for unusually expensive meals and lodging except as individually approved.
• Theatre tickets and similar entertainment. Furman will pay only for such as are necessary to the program.
• Furman will not pay for ordinary personal expenses such as extra personal travel, laundry, haircuts, gifts, souvenirs, meals and entertainment of others, etc. Upon approval, Furman will pay for entertainment and gifts for persons who assist in the program.
• Furman will not pay expenses for family members accompanying the director and teaching faculty.
• Program directors are not authorized to make student loans on behalf of the university. If it is necessary to advance loans to students, this must be considered as a personal matter between the director and the students. Students should be encouraged to have adequate spending money available so that loans will not be necessary.

12. Within four weeks after the conclusion of a program, the director will file a report on the program budget.

13. If the director has found it necessary to use Furman funds for unsupported personal expenses, these funds must be repaid within one month of the conclusion of the program.

14. Grades for off-campus courses are due within two months of the conclusion of the program.

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