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** Maximizing Campus Engagement for Education Abroad**

Learn how Washington State University doubled its Education Abroad growth in four years by involving faculty and administration. Explore the strategies, challenges, and successful outcomes of fostering campus-wide ownership and increasing student participation. This comprehensive guide offers insights on developing influential relationships and implementing necessary changes to enhance the education abroad experience.

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** Maximizing Campus Engagement for Education Abroad**

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  1. It Takes a Campus:Involving faculty & administration in education abroad Candace Chenoweth Director, Education Abroad & International Credentials Washington State University

  2. The WSU Education Abroad Mission: …to assist all WSU undergraduate students with integrating a successful education abroad experience into their four year degree program.

  3. Salaried Staff: -Director -EA Advisor & Outreach Coordinator -EA Advisor & Exchange Coordinator -EA Faculty-Led Program Specialist -International Credentials Specialist -Program Support Supervisor -Two half-time Senior Secretaries Current Staffing at WSU Education Abroad Office

  4. Current Staffing at WSU Education Abroad Office Student Staff: - 1 Marketing Intern - 1 Outreach & Promotions Intern - 16 EA Peer Advisors - 2 Office Staff (work study) - 40 EA Ambassadors

  5. WSU Education Abroad Growth Doubles in Four Years

  6. Education Abroad Growth Across Various Program Types

  7. WSU Education Abroad Numbers by Colleges 2005-2006

  8. State of the Education Abroad Office in AY 2001-2002 Low Participation Rates: • 263 students studied abroad • 2 Faculty-Led Programs • 28 Exchanges – most out of balance

  9. State of the Education Abroad Office in AY 2001-2002 Contributing Factors: • Limited communication with academic units & administration • EA credit issue creating dissatisfaction across campus • Ownership for education abroad solely with International Programs

  10. Catalyst for Education Abroad AY 2001-2002 • Provost expressed desire to send 1,000 students abroad each year • President established education abroad as a university benchmark: • Michigan State University • Texas A&M • UC Davis • Virginia Tech • Colorado State University

  11. Benchmark #1:Number of education abroad participants

  12. Benchmark #2: % of graduating class studying abroad

  13. Necessary Changes • Campus-wide ownership of education abroad • Consistent, streamlined processes • Double participation numbers within 5 years • Realize staff positions to match growth

  14. Developing Influence “As advisors in international education, your positions probably will never wield power. Therefore, you must become influential!”

  15. Developing Influence Overarching Goal: To Manage Relationships Toward Desired Outcomes But how?

  16. Developing Influence To Develop Influence with Three Main Constituencies: • Administration • Faculty • Advisors

  17. Developing Influence with Administration

  18. Starting Point: The Education Abroad Credit Issue Committee with broad presentation across campus: • Registrar, Assistant Registrar, Support Staff • Assistant to the Provost/Acting Director Admissions • Dean, Honors College • Director, General Education Program • Academic Governess • Catalog Committee • Committee learned about education abroad while EA developed important allies • Created buy-in with key offices

  19. Starting Point: The Education Abroad Credit Issue EAC Committee’s Goals: • Review best practices surrounding education abroad credit transfer • Think outside the box • Create system best for WSU

  20. Starting Point: The Education Abroad Credit Issue Once EAC System was created, EA “Sold” it: • Presented at dean’s and chair’s meetings • Presented to academic units • Distributed EA Faculty Cheatsheets to departments

  21. Linking with the Administration • Began to include Financial Aid Representatives in presentations • Developed Emergency Preparedness Plan in cooperation with: • Risk Management Team • Health & Wellness • Attorney General Office • Presented to various constituencies: Dean’s Council, Chair’s meetings

  22. Beginning to Create a Campus Buzz… 17% Growth 2002 15% Growth 2005 14% Growth 2004 20% Growth 2003 520 452 395 319

  23. Beginning to Create a Campus Buzz… Interest grows across campus: • Provost: notices numbers & increases ‘behind the scenes’ support • Faculty: interest in faculty-led programming begins to develop • Students: contracted with marketing research class to survey student opinions • Associate Provost: Forms Education Abroad Task Force to examine barriers and solutions to education abroad

  24. The Education Abroad Task Force EA Task Force forms in 2004 • Broad Campus representation • Libraries, ROTC, Registrar’s Office • College of Science, Foreign Language, Honors • Committee studies student survey data • EA has an opportunity to provide in-depth orientation to EA best practices & curricular integration • Board of Regents views Committee Report at summer retreat

  25. As Word Got Out… …interest spreads • Allies voiced support • New allies sought EA out • EA incorporated into Freshman orientation sessions • Recruiters ask EA to make presentations • WSU press team writes about EA

  26. Developing Relationships with Faculty

  27. Starting Point: Faculty-Led Program Growth 2004: Full Time Faculty-Led Program specialist position created 2005: ½ time FLP Clerical Position Created 2007: Requesting Additional Full-Time FLP Specialist 30? 23 10 9 1 3

  28. Starting Point: Faculty-Led Program Growth • Growing Faculty-Led Programs = Growing Pains • No systems or processes in place for managing Faculty-Led programs • Standards and systems inconsistent across campus • Faculty used to doing it “their” way – who needs Education Abroad? • No training assistance for faculty

  29. Developing FLP Guidelines: Collaboration with Other Campus Offices Solicit expertise from across campus to create streamlined procedures: • Department Finance Offices • Financial Aid • Student Health & Wellness • Student Conduct • Student Accounts • Risk Management Team • Business Affairs • AGs Office

  30. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Recognized the need for faculty: • Education • Training • Support • Buy-in

  31. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Faculty Education Opportunities: • Site Visits- Secured opportunities for faculty members to participate in site visit with EA staff • Architecture, Engineering, Nursing, Spanish Language, • Early Childhood Development • Meetings -Facilitated meetings with study abroad representatives as well as campus contacts (contracts officer, travel clinic, risk management team, AG) • Workshops -Brown Bag Lunch Workshops • Written Materials – Brochures, “cheat sheets,” etc.

  32. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Faculty Training: • Workshops: Brown Bag lunches • Co-presented during pre-departure orientations • Produced manual: How to Design a Faculty-Led Program

  33. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Manual – How to Design a Faculty Led Program • Spotlighted Provost’s interest in Education Abroad • Upscale design created sense of credibility • Comprehensive nature created expectation of buy-in • Excellent training tool

  34. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Faculty Support: • Mini-Grant Program for faculty-led programming initiated by Associated Vice Provost for International Programs • Small awards of $500-$2000 for new programs • Few strings attached • Facilitated implementation of 12-18 month timeline • Created expectation of cooperation! • Will offer again in 2007

  35. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Faculty Buy-In: • Small grant through Office of Assessment to develop assessment tools for faculty-led programs • Funded part-time position • Literature review, faculty survey • CTLT helped create outcomes, rubrics, & suggested prompts • Refining administrative and evaluation processes

  36. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Faculty Buy-in: • Include faculty-led program directors in Education Abroad Fairs • Include interested departments in fairs • Host events for faculty

  37. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad “The Year of Study Abroad Reception” • Invited Key Faculty and Administrators to meet EA Program Representatives • Time: Evening before large fall study abroad fair, immediately after work • Place: Central, on-campus location with visitor access • Served Wine, beer, & h’orderves • Recognized Faculty for their contributions while promoting networking with providers • Wildly Successful!

  38. Involving Faculty in Education Abroad Bending over backwards… It’s a balancing act! Faculty Interests & Needs EA Staffing & Time Constraints VS.

  39. Maintaining Established Relationships Organized Courtship Rituals • Education Abroad Fair Breakfast in Spring • Faculty-Led Program Showcase in Fall • Mom’s Weekend Open House • Faculty invited on site visits • Schedule opportunities for outside Program Representatives to meet with key faculty

  40. Shifting the Focus to Advisors

  41. Starting Point: Increasing Advisor Awareness of EA Options • The Education Abroad Office’s Goals: • Advisors will have a basic understanding of education abroad processes and opportunities • Advisors will raise the topic of Education Abroad with their students • Advisors will help students incorporate Education Abroad into the student’s four year plan

  42. Starting Point: Increasing Advisor Awareness of EA Options Advisors’ Workshop in Late September: • Invited 300 staff and faculty members who provide advising • 40 participants attended • Repeated workshop in a.m & p.m • Nice setting, high quality refreshments • Introduced goals of EA, basic information about studying abroad, benchmarking data

  43. Advisors Workshop Outcomes Participants response to post-workshop survey: • 100% reported the workshop was helpful! • EA Mission/Curricular Integration - 100% found useful • Mock First Timers Session - 91% found useful • Faculty-led Program Information - 71% found useful • Financial Aid and Scholarships - 71%wanted to know more • Providers that offer programs in their academic area - 71%wanted to know more

  44. Making Ties with Advisors Future projects targeted toward advisors: • “You look like someone who’d like to study abroad!” buttons • Curricular Integration Worksheets

  45. Making Ties with Advisors Future Events Targeting Advisors: • Invitation to Spring Fair Breakfast • Panel presentation on EA topics (tutoring opportunities, living with host families, academic excursions, etc.) • Advisors only guided tour of fair

  46. Making Ties with Advisors New Event Idea: Hot Picks for High Achieving Students: An Evening of Study Abroad for Faculty & Advisors Co-Sponsored by Education Abroad & The WSU Honors College

  47. Perils & Pitfalls

  48. Perils & Pitfalls Just when you think you’re safe… • Competing Interests rear their ugly heads!

  49. 87% Perils & Pitfalls At Times such as these… • Use your network to fight back – the more the merrier! • Pull out the statistics – there is power in numbers!

  50. Summary

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