Faculty Mini-Grants

There's still time submit applications for the current Faculty Mini-Grants cycle. Proposals for the November to April cycle are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 15.

The purpose of these grants is to provide seed money to individual faculty or groups of faculty interested in increasing study abroad participation, either through faculty-led initiatives or student exchanges with overseas universities.

Funds are typically used for international travel to establish academic programming and program logistics. Up to $2,500 may be requested. Preference will be given to quality proposals that show a dollar-for-dollar level of matching from department and/or college sources and that are framed within that unit’s established plan for internationalization.

Full-time faculty members from all curricular and academic specializations are eligible to apply. The Mini-Grant proposal guidelines and forms are available on the VT Education Abroad website.

Please address any questions to Jennifer Quijano Sax (jquisax@vt.edu), director for International Education. 

Program Leader Training

Registration for the Program Leader Pre-Departure Training focused on health, safety and risk management is still open. The Fall 2013 training session will be held from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. in the Great Room on the second floor of West Ambler Johnston Hall. Please enter the building using the main entrance facing the McComas Lot, which is the closest parking available. 

Participating in the training are Maj. Kevin Foust, VT Police Department; Steve Capaldo, Legal Counsel; and Pamela White, J.D., Equity and Access.

Refreshments will be offered. Please click here to RSVP.

Please mark on your calendars the Spring 2014 training session on Friday, April 25, 2014. The location will be announced in the spring. 







Major Kevin Foust of the VT Police leads a group discussion at last spring's training.

Title IX Training

• The University’s responsibilities pursuant to the 2011 “Dear Colleague Letter”
• Virginia Tech’s policy on harassment and discrimination
• Your responsibilities if someone discloses a harassment or sexual violence concern to you on an abroad program
• How to support a student that discloses a sexual assault on an abroad program
• How to handle “consensual relationships,” and
• Staying aware of boundaries.

Monthly Brown Bag Lunches

Thank you to Annie Hesp for leading an inspiring October Brown Bag on "Getting a new program into action."

Below are highlights from the discussion:

• Cast a wide, but precise net when considering the student market for your program.
• Be specific to student interests: Find an angle that fits different types of students.
• In proposing a program, know and understand what the university/college/department requires.
• Developing a program proposal is an iterative process. Revise it each year and be transparent. 
• 80/20 rule: The planning phase will consume 80% of the time and effort. Implementing the program will require the last 20%.
• There are two routes for arranging logistics abroad: 1) Do everything yourself (more time-consuming, less expensive, more personalized), or 2) Work with a third-party provider (less effort, additional expenses, finances are easier to calculate).
• Remember, "we're there for the students." The study abroad experience is ultimately for them.

The November Brown Bag lunch is on November 22 from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. in the IAO conference room (526 Prices Fork Road). The topic is Internationalizing the Corps of Cadets with Nyusya Milman-Miller (CLAHS/Foreign Languages and Literatures). Major Rewa Mariger, Recruiting Officer for the Corps, will also join the discussion.

The informal gatherings are opportunities for campus administrators and study abroad program leaders to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate in sending students abroad.

Future dates and topics:

• January 24: Study Abroad Scholarships Overview with Bill Pruitt (Education Abroad) and guests Christina McIntyre (University Honors), Delight Yokley (MAOP), and Stephanie Clements (Scholarships & Financial Aid).
• February 28: Destination Latin America with Daniel Cordova (Outreach and International Affairs).
• March 28: Study Abroad Video Workshop with Gabe Minnich and Megan Donald (University Relations).

 

Alumni Awards for Excellence

Nominations for the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Education, for the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Outreach, and for the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Research are currently being accepted. The deadline for nominations and submission of nomination materials is 5 p.m. EST Monday, January 27, 2014.

Each award recipient will receive a monetary award of $2,000 and a plaque. The Alumni Awards are conferred during the honors convocation in the fall (August 2014). Please refer to the Employee Awards and Recognition Programs Policy 4335, Section 3.4, regarding taxation of awards.

For more information on the respective award descriptions, criteria, nature, and requirements please see here. 

Please send complete nomination packages only, including all letters and support materials, via email, campus mail, or hand delivery, to:

Betty Watts, bettyw@vt.edu
International Affairs Offices
526 Prices Fork Road (378)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6452

Past award recipients can be found here. Prospective nominees are encouraged to consult here.

 

Staff Position Updates

Our office is currently conducting two searches.

The search for a part-time Education Abroad Advisor (EAA) is ongoing. The EAA will work closely with members of the campus community and students to promote education abroad programs and activities. In addition to overseeing a regional portfolio of programs (to include faculty-led, exchange, and non-VT programs), the EAA must also understand best advising practices established in the field in addition to a having a comprehensive awareness of campus policies and procedures as they relate to education abroad. The EAA will provide highly customized advising and services to students interested in study abroad, including processing applications, assisting with visa procurement, and processing transcripts.

The search for the Assistant Director of International Education for Strategic Partnerships and Public Relations is also ongoing. The Assistant Director will manage the university’s international strategic partnerships and public relations. Specifically, the position will oversee the university’s student mobility partnerships with overseas universities, with responsibility for managing student exchange agreements. The position will also coordinate the Education Abroad Office’s public relations efforts, overseeing its marketing and communication initiatives on campus and beyond.
Please mark your calendars for January 28, 2014. The Education Abroad Spring Expo will be held from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. We will be opening registration for the expo soon!

Education Abroad Spring Expo

Please mark your calendars for January 28, 2014. The Education Abroad Spring Expo will be held from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. We will be opening registration for the expo soon!

 

Thank you for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

VT Education Abroad