OVERSEAS TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
International Services Office
Slippery Rock University

Guidelines, Compensation, Responsibilities and Restrictions for 2010

A)    Guidelines

1)  Application must be completed by faculty member and approved by department chair and dean. 

2)  The course must be part of your department's curriculum (minor alterations of the content to fit the  location are permissible).

3)  The course should be a three credit hour course.

4)  Course description and course outline must be submitted with the application.

5)  The course should be one that is relevant to the international setting.

6)  If applying to teach both spring and summer courses overseas, separate application forms must be submitted, including all attachments.

7)  Summer courses must meet the 45 hour academic requirement in order to grant three hours of credit.  

8)  Both summer and spring break seminars have minimum enrollment requirements which vary by program, location, experience, etc.  After initial program approval, this will be individually discussed and determined.

9)  Attending the overseas portion of the program should be a mandatory part of the course requirements unless special arrangements are pre-approved by the Director of International Services. 

10) Programs that are based in more than one city will significantly increase costs, which in turn will then limit the on-site program activities.  To get the most value for the money allocated, it is strongly suggested that all programs limit travel within country.

11) Faculty are responsible for marketing of the class and recruitment of students to ensure sufficient enrollment.  Guidance is available from International Services if needed.  Note that this is often the most challenging part of the process.  Results of your efforts here will determine final approval for international travel. 

B)     Faculty Compensation

1)  Summer courses are offered on a contingency basis, with a target enrollment of approximately 16 students.  Final approval for summer contract, typically 3 credits, will be determined on or around the student application deadline of March 15; this decision will be based upon the number of applications and deposits on file in the International Services Office.

2)  Spring break seminars do not qualify for additional compensation.

3)  Airfare, housing and some meals will be provided.  Additional meals and miscellaneous expenses vary per program and are the responsibility of the faculty member and/or department and/or college. 

C)       Responsibilities

1)  International Services Office Support: 

a) Assist with program design

b) Coordinate flights, lodging, overseas program events

c) Process student applications & deposits

d) Organize student billing

e)  Issue International Student ID Cards

f)  Assist with brochure development

g)  Assist with recruitment, to possibly include

(1) listing on SRU website 

(2) listing in master schedules

(3) class visits and presentations

(4) Rocket advertisement 

2)  Faculty Responsibilities:

a)  Identify possible academic and culturally related site visits and events

b)  Recruit students, to possibly include

(1) speaking to classes, clubs, etc.

(2) marketing to professional organizations

(3) Rocket article

(4) mailings

(5) campus fliers

(6) website

c)  Develop academic schedule to work within program dates

d)  Inform participants regarding academic expectation, highlights of course, etc.

e)  Inform International Services Office in writing of special requests (i.e. field trips) in advance of final budget approval

f)  Travel to/from program site with students

g)  Supervise activities while overseas 

D)    Restrictions

1)  For summer courses, dependents on tuition waiver do not count toward the target of 16 students.

2)  If necessary, optional field trips can be arranged.  They can be included within the price or identified as the responsibility of the participant.

3)  It is strongly advised that family members not participate unless enrolled in the class.  If they opt to participate but not take the class, all travel, accommodation and other arrangements must be made independently. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 17, 2009

Return to: International Services Office, 114 Carruth Rizza Hal
(updated March 2009)

Click here for application.