Faculty are key to the sustainable success of study abroad at Baldwin Wallace University. Faculty have a tremendous influence on students' learning and development. In addition to faculty being encouraged to promote study abroad opportunities during their in-classroom interactions with students, they also have the opportunity to work with the Explorations Office to create, plan, and lead a study abroad program. Explorations provides administrative and logistical support for all faculty-led study abroad seminars. Faculty-led study abroad programs are designed to encourage a variety of students to study abroad. These opportunities would not be possible without the dedication and effort of the faculty who direct these programs.
What is a faculty-led study abroad seminar? A Faculty-Led seminar is defined as an off-campus experience that is tied to a BW course in which students and professors travel together, in or outside the United States for an extended period of time. A study abroad seminar can be created around any discipline.
Who is eligible to lead? Faculty must meet the requirements below:
- Tenure track or term contract (minimum of three-years)
- Must have completed their second-year review by the conclusion of the semester in which the application is received (i.e. March 1st deadline for application, second-year review must be completed by the end of the spring term).
- International/travel experience.
Program Length : Faculty-Led Seminars follow a 3+1 model. This means, there is an on-campus 3-credit hour course + a 1-credit hour travel course. The on-campus course must be a full-semester course. The travel portion of a faculty-led seminar is typically 12-16 days in length (usually in May or over spring break).
Academics
Student Academic Credit: Short-term seminars are 4 credit hours (3+1).
Faculty Teaching Credit :
- Study abroad credits must be counted within the normal load. Load allocation will be coordinated with each department chair or dean to avoid overload.
- The department must allocate funds for the 3-credit course.
- Instructors will receive a 1-credit stipend upon return from travel.
International Studies Core Requirement and Experiential Learning Requirement (EXP): Any BW Study Abroad Program, approved by the Explorations/Study Abroad Advisory Council, will fulfill the international studies undergraduate core requirement. and will fulfill BW's experiential learning requirement.
Proposal Process
NEW PROGRAMS (At least 3 years in advance)
1. At least 3 years before the prospective date of travel, speak with the Director of Study Abroad for advice about how best to frame the proposal to meet the Advisory Council's criteria for Purpose, Academic Components, Safety, Seminar Balance, and Resources. Note: If the proposal will include a Service Learning course, notify and meet with the director of Service Learning.
2. At least 2 years before the prospective date of travel, draft the proposal and obtain approval from all department/division heads through the appropriate faculty process of the disciplines involved in the prospective seminar. The application can be found on E-trieve.
Note: If new courses are being developed for this seminar or if they include existing courses being modified for I or D designation, obtain approval from the appropriate Curriculum Committee for all of those courses. Seminars cannot be submitted for Study Abroad Advisory Council approval until new courses have been approved by the appropriate committee.
Submit the completed proposal to the Study Abroad Advisory Council for discussion, recommendations, approval, and if/when approved, scheduling. Proposals are due 2 years in advance by the following deadlines:
- SPRING SEMINARS: March 15 (i.e. Applications for Spring 2027 seminars are due no later than March 15 of 2025).
- FALL SEMINARS: October 15 (i.e. applications for fall 2027 seminars are due no later than October 15 of 2025).
**Note: once the application has been approved, all seminar directors are required to attend two workshops in preparation of the program.
PRE-EXISTING PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Seminars traveling during the above deadlines must notify the Director of Study Abroad of intent to resubmit a proposal before departure so that it can be included in the vetting process for that semester. Full proposals must be submitted within 60 days of return. *Note: A letter of intent must be filed with the Study Abroad Center to meet the 2-year deadline.