Office of International Education at the University of Georgia

Very early in your planning process, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Kasee Clifton Laster, Director of Study Abroad, to discuss your program plans.

The first thing to consider when evaluating a study abroad program idea is whether the program will be viable and how it will fit among the overall study abroad offerings of the University of Georgia. The following factors will help you in conducting your own assessment of your program's viability. The Director of Study Abroad can provide current student participation data on request.

Test of New Study Abroad Program Viability

1. Demand for opportunities or new/additional opportunities in the particular countr(ies). As UGA has many study abroad programs, please consider first the number of existing programs in the country, as well as whether there are appropriate, high-quality non-UGA programs already serving the need.
2. Demand for additional study abroad opportunities in the discipline(s). Consider whether there are existing programs serving this major and whether or not they fill to capacity, as well as whether there are appropriate, high-quality non-UGA programs already serving the need.
3. Any other potential conflicts with existing offerings (for example, proposing a program in an area where UGA maintains a residential center, but not planning to use that residential center).
4. Safety and stability: No program will be allowed to start or to continue in area where there is a current State Department Travel Warning or which is otherwise known to be unstable or unsafe. Consider first State Department information, but also your personal experience/knowledge, current events, and any other relevant information.
5. Broad-based support and administrative assistance from your department, dean, etc., to start and run the program.

If you feel that your program idea is viable and a good complement to existing offerings, then please complete the Initial Brief Proposal , have it signed by your head and dean, and submit it to the Director of Study Abroad. The proposal will be evaluated on the bases of viability and strategic fit by the Strategic Planning Committee for Education Abroad, a group of associate deans, program directors, and OIE staff. The Initial Brief Proposal document contains additional detailed information about the approval process and timeframe.

Deadlines for Submission of the Initial Brief Proposal

Maymester or summer programs	31 January of the prior year
Fall semester or academic year programs	31 January of the prior year
Spring semester programs	30 September of the prior (academic) year

If your Initial Brief Proposal is approved by the Strategic Planning Committee for Study Abroad, the next step is the New Program Proposal. For submission deadlines for this document, please see the detailed scheduling information in the Initial Brief Proposal.

At this stage, you should also schedule an appointment with Chris Schwarzer (582-2900), Financial Director for International Education. Mr. Schwarzer will assist you with the development of your initial program budget and with on-going financial management of your program.

Once viability and strategic fit have been determined, the review process focuses on risk management and safety, budgetary considerations, and academic approval. Please note that while OIE does NOT review programs for academic rigor, we will ask you to show that your head and dean have done so. Full program proposals must be approved by the Director of Study Abroad, the chair of the Risk Management Committee, and the OIE Business Manager. The final signature, constituting official approval, is that of the Associate Provost for International Education.

Programs should not be publicized until this approval has been secured .

Full Program Proposal Documents

New Program Proposal Academic Unit Checklist a copy of this document, signed by your head and dean, should accompany the full New Program Proposal. Your head and dean will need to see full syllabi in order to complete this document. Sample Budget and Instructions

Many important documents can be found on the faculty and staff forms page.

The following documents - in the version you will actually be distributing to students, including any adaptations or additions - must be included with your program proposal itself:

1. Sample Study Abroad Program Student Application
   can be adapted for your use, although some sections are required
2. Health Record for Overseas Programs
   must be used as is
3. Study Abroad Program Evaluation
   you may add additional questions, but for ease of gathering comparative data, we ask that you please use the questions included first, in the order listed
4. An agreement/waiver customized to your program and destination country
   please contact the Director of International Partnerships for assistance with this item
5. The current Consular Information Sheet from the U.S. State Department.

Once your study abroad program is approved, click here to find out more about exhibiting at the study abroad fair.