91大神

271 聽Education Abroad

Approved by President
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division: Academic Affairs
Responsible Office:  International Affairs
Responsible Officer: Vice Provost for International Affairs

I. Purpose

91大神 (91大神 or University) supports off-campus international educational programs or courses as a valuable and integral part of undergraduate and graduate education. 91大神 encourages participation in international opportunities that meet the legitimate academic needs of its students and in cooperation with programs internal to 91大神 and those external to the University. 91大神 recognizes that such programs or courses take a variety of forms in length and focus.

The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear and definite authority for decisions which must be made in regard to education abroad as it relates to the safety of the student and faculty participants.

II. Scope

This policy is intended to apply to the education abroad courses planned and conducted by faculty and staff of 91大神. It is not intended to supersede the safety cancellation policy of an education abroad consortium, in which students from 91大神 may be participants. It does not pertain to 91大神 Signature Programs.

III. Introduction

1. All international education programs or courses sponsored or approved for academic credit by 91大神 are required to maintain standards of quality in the delivery of instruction, support services, and administration which are consistent with educational excellence.
2. In general, programs or courses operated or sponsored by, or in combination with, 91大神 abroad shall be:
   1. Within the scope of the mission of the University;
   2. Integrated into the undergraduate and/or graduate curricula;
   3. Financially sustainable;
   4. Subject to regular, periodic evaluation and assessment according to the University’s normal review procedures for academic programs; and
   5. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
3. In addition, programs or courses operated or sponsored by other institutions with which 91大神 participates shall adhere to the specific policies listed below.
4. All consortia in which 91大神 participates must develop structures for international education programs or courses to be approved by 91大神 through the home institution. Memorandums of understanding or agreement require approval of the Provost, President, or designee.

IV. Types of Programs

91大神 sponsors and administers its own international programs and/or courses, or participates in partnerships with international institutions or consortia, to offer opportunities for global study to its students.

1. 91大神 enrolls full-time 91大神 students and awards credit to these students for international education programs or courses.
2. 91大神 accepts international transfer credit from institutions recognized by their country鈥檚 ministry of education or U.S. accredited schools of record.

V. Defining Roles

Individuals who are approved to participate in, and travel with, international education programs sponsored by 91大神 include enrolled students, program directors, group leaders, and other faculty or staff from the University.

VI. Safety and Welfare of Participants

1. Safety Considerations Involving Travel
   1. 91大神 reserves the right to limit travel to countries or portions of countries where the U. S. Department of State currently advises against travel or tourism by Americans.
   2. 91大神 may further restrict travel where the U.S. Department of State or other credible authority has identified safety risks.
   3. Upon notice/warning from the U.S. Department of State or other relevant authority, the below referenced administrative officials shall have the final decision on whether to cancel, terminate, postpone, limit, or continue an education abroad program. The decision shall be made in consultation with the program director/faculty member, International Education and Exchange Committee, Department Chair, Dean, and Provost. The Vice Provost for International Affairs and the Provost shall make the final decision.
2. Emergency Response Plan
   1. All 91大神 education abroad programs must have emergency response plans in place for international programs to facilitate swift action by program directors, faculty, and students in the event of emergencies affecting multiple participants, the entire program (natural or human disasters such as earthquake, flood, hurricane, fire, nuclear incident, political/civil unrest, terrorist activity, or threat), assault (physical or sexual), health or psychiatric emergencies, missing participants, arrest, death, and incapacitated program directors.
   2. All program directors must be trained on emergency and crisis management procedures by the Office of International Affairs and the Office of Education Abroad.
3. Information to be Provided to Students. 91大神 will inform participants who enroll in 91大神 education abroad programs that it:
   1. Cannot guarantee or assure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the international education environments.
   2. Cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
   3. Cannot assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for participants.
   4. Cannot assume responsibility for the actions of persons not employed or otherwise engaged by the program sponsor for events that are not part of the program or that are beyond the control of the program sponsor or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a participant to disclose pertinent information.
   5. Cannot assure that home-country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.
   6. Cannot assure that U.S. standards of hygiene, medical practice, and food and product safety will apply in the host country.
4. Insurance Coverage. 91大神 is responsible for informing approved participants about the coverage, availability, mandatory purchase of accident and health insurance, and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance prior to departure for any 91大神 approved education abroad program.
5. Students with Disabilities
   1. 91大神 shall attempt to work with institutions abroad to provide reasonable access for students with disabilities.
   2. 91大神 shall inform students that it cannot, however, guarantee any particular access.
6. Student Conduct and Discipline
   1. 91大神 policies regarding student conduct apply to all 91大神 students registered for credit regardless of their attendance at the 91大神 campus in Tennessee or while participating in an approved education abroad program.
   2. All participants, whether enrolled for credit or not, must attend a program pre-departure and on-site orientation, including emergency contact information and repatriation information, including issues relevant to the culture, social, and health conditions of the host country, in addition to information about registration, fee payment, and reenrollment, as appropriate.
   3. All international education programs must brief program participants regarding student conduct expectations including, but not limited to, alcohol and drug use, visitation, prohibited locations, and abuse of laws and customs of the country to be visited.
   4. A student鈥檚 removal from an international program may be conducted in accordance with聽Policy 540 Student Conduct聽and/or the host institution policies on student conduct, whichever is more conservative in keeping with聽Policy 540 Student Conduct. Students should become familiar with the host institution鈥檚 policies governing student conduct, and a discussion of such policies should be a part of the student鈥檚 orientation session.
7. Academic and Logistical Program Assessment. 91大神 will assess both academic and logistical aspects of education abroad programs which they operate or sponsor.
8. Media Inquiries
   1. 91大神 will establish policies for media inquiries regarding any incident involving 91大神 faculty, staff, or students involved in any 91大神 approved education abroad experience.
   2. 91大神 Education Abroad policies require that the Vice Provost for International Affairs consult with the Provost and/or legal counsel regarding the release of student information on student records in accordance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

VII. Establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Contracting with Institutions Abroad

1. 91大神 has established procedures for the contracting with potential institutions abroad, including appropriate legal review.
2. Partner universities may be proposed by anyone in the institution but the decision to pursue a formal agreement with any institution abroad must be supported by the Provost and the President, or designee. Such agreements must be processed through MT$ource and fully executed prior to implementation

VIII. Host Country Consideration

To promote the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, no restrictions shall be placed on the establishment or maintenance of programs in other countries based on the political, religious, racial, ethnic, or ideological characteristics of a host country or its government.

IX. Financial Management

1. Employee Compensation/Benefits provided by Program Abroad. A program shall provide, upon request, disclosure of any benefits provided to any employee of 91大神 which are paid for or subsidized by participant fees or secured from any vendor that is providing services to students.
2. Emergency Reserve/Contingency Fund. 91大神 shall maintain a reserve/contingency fund deemed adequate in response to the international activity level in order to respond to emergencies and unforeseen problems of students, faculty, and staff engaged in 91大神 sponsored or supported education abroad programs or courses.
3. Contracting-Legal Review
   1. 91大神 will exercise reasonable care in contracting with any institution or entity associated with international education/travel programs to ensure compliance with 91大神 policies and promote the best interests of the students and the State of Tennessee.
   2. All contracts must conform to Tennessee state law and 91大神 policy, including legal review.
   3. Contracting issues shall be discussed at orientation sessions offered to faculty, staff, and students.
4. Fiscal, Management and Educational Standards. 91大神 has fiscal, risk management and educational standards for international education abroad programs whether offered by the University, direct exchange, a third party provider, or through consortia.
   
   91大神 will make appropriate arrangements to use existing accounting and reporting procedures for all education abroad travel for program directors.

X. Program and Course Evaluation

1. Evaluations are required for individual courses and for all international education programs to determine the continued academic value and student satisfaction of each program.
2. At a minimum, the program evaluation must include perceived strengths and weaknesses, the projected and actual costs of the program, program enhancements or improvements needed, strategies for improvement and lessons learned that can be a good tool for future program directors or faculty leaders.
3. The evaluation should include student assessments, as appropriate, as well as a full evaluation completed by the program director or faculty leader.

Forms: none.

Revisions: none.

Last Reviewed: November 2020.

References: Policy 540 Student Conduct.