The Off-Campus Study Advisory Committee is in the process of planning the 2023 interim and summer off-campus programs and to that end invites proposals for new and previously offered interim and summer programs.
The committee will review proposals at its first spring meeting and select six or seven courses for the January 2023 interim session and two or three for May/June 2023. Successful course proposals will: demonstrate the connection between the program itinerary and the course content; include an immersion component such as service-learning, fieldwork, host family stay, or other meaningful interaction with locals; and enhance the diversity of programs offered by Lafayette in terms of subject matter and destinations. Interdisciplinary courses are encouraged.
Interim off-campus courses are typically team-taught, preferably by two members of the Lafayette faculty, with each faculty member receiving an overload stipend. Each course involves approximately three to eight weeks of intensive off-campus study at an international or domestic location in January or May/June.
Responsibilities for faculty directors include:
- Development of the course syllabus, program budget (template provided by the Office of International and Off-Campus Education (IOCE)), and program travel itinerary;
- Maintenance of relationships with on-site service providers or in-country contacts and guides as needed;
- Submission of risk mitigation plans to the International Risk Committee as requested;
- Recruitment of students at the annual Study Abroad Fair in the fall semester and holding information sessions as needed;
- Conducting two to three program-specific pre-departure meetings with program participants (covering such topics as program itinerary, course syllabus, assignments, rules and expectations, and specific country information, e.g., cultural considerations, travel visa requirements, currency, banking, communication, health and safety, etiquette, packing tips);
- Directing the program on the ground and remaining available for the students 24/7 for the duration of the program;
- Performing all administrative duties associated with directing the program in accordance with College-wide financial policies and requirements (i.e., accurate receipt-keeping, timely submission of expense reports, etc.);
- Assisting the IOCE and the Provost’s Office with the assessment of learning objectives and other limited tasks as needed;
- Participation in an IOCE-led faculty leader training prior to departure.
Interim off-campus proposals adhere to the following guidelines:
- Support the mission of the College
- Foster the following interim program student learning outcomes, which may be in addition to clear program-specific learning outcomes:
- Identify and explain key aspects of local cultural or historical contexts, socio-political/economic structures and institutions, and/or natural environments and
landscapes;
- Demonstrate the ability to navigate language, cultural or business practices, interpersonal relations, and/or problem-solving in local contexts.
- Be an appropriate duration (a minimum of 17 days on the off-campus site, not including time spent traveling to/from the site).
- Be as cost-effective as possible to ensure accessibility to under-represented and lower-income students (per-student program fees currently range between $4,800-6,500 for one-credit courses, more for two-credit courses).
- Be taught by at least one full-time active faculty member at the College.
New programs are strongly recommended to be developed in partnership with a reputable study abroad program provider. Rochelle Keesler can provide suggestions.
If you are interested in offering an interim off-campus course in January or May/June 2023, please submit the following to IOCE:
- A completed course proposal form (for courses not previously approved by CEP or courses
previously approved that have undergone significant change since initial approval)
- A course syllabus in Word format, which should include:
- course objectives
- learning outcomes (interim and program-specific)
- academic honesty statement
- course reading list
- grading policy
- description of site-specific activities and resources to be utilized while off-campus
Note: You must submit a syllabus whether the course is a new proposal or has been taught in the past, and both instructors must be identified at the time of the proposal. Proposals that do not include a syllabus will not be considered.
- A preliminary day-by-day program itinerary (if the course was previously taught, please submit an updated itinerary for 2023).
Proposals should be submitted in electronic format only (please save them as a Word document) for easy sharing among committee members and copying/pasting of information onto the IOCE website for development of the program brochure. Please email your proposal to keeslerr@lafayette.edu.
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2022.
If a course is selected, the instructors will work with IOCE over the spring semester and summer break in order to develop the budget and plan the program logistics. Both the budget and the program itinerary will be finalized by May 2022 for the winter 2023 programs and by June 2022 for the summer 2023 programs. Failure to adhere to this schedule could result in cancellation of the course.
Learn more about faculty expectations for interim off-campus programs.
To discuss a proposal idea or best practices on program/budget development, contact Rochelle Keesler at keeslerr@lafayette.edu.