FAQs for Faculty
How do I complete an online recommendation for a study abroad student?
When a student requests a recommendation from you, you will receive an email notification. If this is your first recommendation request, you will be provided with login information and a temporary password. You should change your password once you log on for the first time. This can be done under the My Account tab. Click the My Recommendations tab to view your recommendation requests.
Log on to our Recommender Portal to complete a study abroad recommendation. Your login will be your SAU email address. If this is your first recommendation request, you will receive a temporary password in your recommendation request email. You can change your password by clicking on the "My Account" tab. You can view all of your recommendations by clicking on the "My Recommendations" tab.
If this is not your first recommendation request, log on to our Recommender Portal with your SAU email address and Horizons password. Please note that this is not automatically the same password that you use for the SAU network or blackboard.
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I have submitted online recommendations in the past and now I can't access my account. What should I do?
If you have trouble accessing your account, try these solutions:
What is the difference between the Student Portal, the Manager Portal and the Recommender Portal in Horizons?
Horizons is a web-based application system for study abroad. Different users utilize Horizons for different reasons.
Passwords for each portal are not interchangeable or automatically synched. If you have an account in the Recommender Portal, you may need to change your password the first time you log in to the Manager Portal, and vice versa. If you plan to use multiple portals, it is helpful to create bookmarks for each one.
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How should I begin the study abroad proposal process?
In general, all course proposals begin with at least one conversation with the Director of International Education to discuss the viability of your course idea. If you have not visited your study abroad location(s) before, you will be asked to do so before beginning the proposal process. You will be encouraged to apply for an International Initiatives Grant to help fund this preliminary trip.
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What is an International Initiatives Grant?
An International Initiatives Grant is a competitive grant program awarded by the Center for International Education. These grants are open to all faculty and staff who are pursuing an international initiative that directly impacts students, such as developing a course on an international topic taught at SAU, a study abroad course, a university workshop, seminar, or presentation on an international topic, or an international music or cultural event.
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How do I begin a course proposal?
Click here or visit our Faculty and Staff Resources page to find the link to the online course proposal form.
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Do I need to complete the course proposal all at once? What if I want to continue it later?
The course proposal requires a lot of information. Therefore, it is not necessary to complete it all in one sitting. Log in to your existing course proposal here. The link can also be found on our Faculty and Staff Resources page.
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Why does the course proposal form ask for so much information?
A study abroad course requires the leader(s) to do much more than in a regular class. As in a regular class, you must clearly define your learning objectives and specifically state how you will achieve these outcomes on the study abroad trip. But you also are a guardian, chaperone, disciplinarian, mediator, confidante, and tour guide. Therefore, you must give a great deal of thought to how your trip will be organized, and how you will handle emergency situations.
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Why must veteran study abroad leaders complete the study abroad proposal process every time they wish to lead a course?
By resubmitting a proposal, study abroad leaders are challenged to continuously refine their courses based on their experiences with previous study abroad trips.
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Can I offer a study abroad program for no credit?
No. All study abroad programs organized by the Center for International Education are courses for which academic credit is offered.
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Why must there be at least two leaders on every study abroad course?
This policy ensures that while abroad if a leader or a student is unable to participate in course activities, the other leader can continue to facilitate the course for the rest of the students.
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Why am I required to work closely with an on-site educational institution and/or with an approved program provider? Why can't I just "go it alone" in order to keep costs lower?
An approved program provider and/or on-site educational institution provides essential logistical support that is well worth the expense, particularly if there is an emergency.
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How am I paid for my study abroad course?
You are strongly encouraged to teach the course within your ordinary course load. If you do so, then you will not earn an additional teaching salary. You will earn a per diem to pay for meals and incidental expenses that is no higher than the rate specified for your study abroad country by the US Department of State. You can choose to be paid less than the specified rate, but you will be paid no less than $15/day. You will receive your per diem check prior to departure. You normally are not asked to keep receipts.
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How is the program price set?
The program price is set by the Director for International Education, in consultation with the program leaders. The program price takes into account the anticipated number of students, program leader expenses, and student expenses.
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Who reviews course proposals?
Course proposals are reviewed by the Director of International Education, the Study Abroad Coordinator, your Department Chair, your Dean, the Associate Dean of University Academic Programs, and the Vice President for Finance.
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After my course is approved, what happens next?
A specific course website is created on the Study Abroad website. This website includes: the course description, approved program price, application deadline, list of what is and what is not included in the program price (from the approved program proposal).
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How will my course be marketed?
The course is marketed to students by faculty leader, department, and the Center for International Education. Students should always be referred to the website for the most up-to-date and reliable program information.
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Who reviews student applications for my course?
Applications are reviewed by the Center for International Education and the program leader(s). Faculty leaders will be given user rights to our study abroad Manager Portal to view students' applications online. Students are sent an acceptance email from the Center for International Education outlining important dates and payment deadlines. Students who are not accepted also receive an email from the Center for International Education.
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