Proposing a Program

Introduction

Together with Yale instructors, the Offfice of International and Summer Programs (OISP), which includes Yale Summer Session (YSS), offers Yale credit-bearning programs in New Haven, On-Line, and Abroad.  We are delighted that you might be interested in running a summer program abroad through YSS. Please read further to learn more.

TOC:

Deciding to Teach or Lead a Program Abroad

Why teach or lead a Yale Summer Session Program Abroad?

• To broaden student interest in a particular field of study.
• To broaden student understanding and interest in the world around them.
• To connect Yale students to other students around the world.
• To encourage students to take more courses in your department back on campus.
• To build your own professional credentials.
• To engage in professional networking opportunities abroad.

Leading a study abroad program requires a student service-oriented attitude and a higher level of commitment than teaching a course on campus or online. Teaching and leading a study abroad program also requires some administrative work. While you will have time to yourself at the host site, keep in mind that your time is not your own. Your first commitment is to the program and students. 

Guidelines for Creating a New Course and Program Abroad

Instructors interested in leading a summer program abroad must consider the following when planning a study abroad program:

1. Courses are taught and led primarily by Yale instructors. Visiting instructors may teach only if approved by the academic department sponsoring the course.
2. The instructor is responsible for all course content. It is expected that the course includes excursions and other activities that take place outside the classroom and are intended to enhance the students' overall academic experience abroad.
3. Students shall not incur extra cost for any activity required as part of the course of study. These activities shall be included in the general program cost. Students pay a program fee that will determine your program’s activity budget. The instructor should consult with the Study Abroad Director to confirm that activity costs do not exceed the program budget.
4. All course proposals must be approved by the sponsoring department’s DUS. 
5. All courses must be credit-bearing and approved by theYale College Course of Study Committee (CSC). After YSS approval, the course proposal is sent to the CSC. Courses should generally be offered for two credits. Two credits are a full session load, and students generally expect that they can take more than one credit while studying abroad.
6. A course must have at least 10 students enrolled by the application deadline to proceed. If there are not at least 10 students enrolled, the instructor must consult with the YSS Dean and Study Abroad Director in order to determine the feasibility of running the program with fewer than 10 students. Courses are generally capped at 18 students.
7. Instructors are involved in the planning, creation, and execution of the course and program from the very beginning, and will consult and or work with YSS in every phase to create the best possible experience within the budget for students.
8. If two or more instructors are on-site together because they are co-teaching or running two courses concurrently, one instructor from Yale is designated as the lead instructor. The lead instructor will typically be the senior faculty member and has primary responsibility for ensuring student safety and welfare.
9. Participants must be at least 18 years of age by the time the course is held and have completed one year of college. An applicant who is not enrolled in a university may be considered if he or she has already completed a bachelor’s degree.
10. Yale students will have first priority for all programs, except where special arrangements have been made. However, visiting students may be accepted to a Yale summer program. An instructor may decide that he or she would like to advertise the study abroad program to students outside of Yale. The Study Abroad Director can advise and/or work with the instructor to accomplish this.

Planning for the Unexpected

In addition to planning for classroom and course needs, it is essential to plan as much as possible for student needs outside of the classroom. The following list is example of situations that may arise outside the classroom:

• A student becomes ill and needs to visit a doctor.
• A student is involved in an accident and needs to go to a hospital.
• A student suffers emotional stress and needs to talk to a psychological counselor.
• A natural disaster occurs in the host city or country.
• A terrorist attack occurs in the host city or country.
• A student's passport is lost or stolen.
• A local political situation destabilizes the host city or country.

Advertising Your Program

It is essential to advertise your program as broadly and effectively as possible, both inside and outside of the department. It is especially important that students taking courses in your department know about the program to be offered abroad as soon as possible, since most students plan for the following summer during the fall.

During the fall semester, the instructor as well as other members of the instructor’s academic department will work with the YSS staff to advertise the program through such means as promotional materials in print, information sessions, classroom announcements, and academic advising. There are many ways to advertise your study abroad program:

• Make announcements in your class.
• Visit/make announcements in your colleagues’ classes.
• Ask colleagues to announce your study abroad program.
• Make and distribute flyers (YSS can assist you in this).*
• Have informational meetings (a Yale Study Abroad staff member can come to a meeting you plan).*
• Use the Study Abroad website to advertise your program. Videos and photos of your program abroad are especially appealing to students for this purpose. 

In addition, YSS attends events such as the Academic Fair (August), a “Yalies Abroad” panel during Family Weekend (September), the OISP Summer Opportunities Fair (November), Bulldog Days (April), and other events around campus. Please inform us if you have materials you would like us to hand out to interested students.

*Please note: this is a collaborative effort and is not the exclusive responsibility of Yale Summer Session/Yale Study Abroad. Also, please inform our office of any promotional efforts carried out on your own as we would like to track the rate and success of such efforts.

After successful advertising, which we hope will attract many applicants, instructor(s) will be informed of every applicant to the program after March 1. Instructors will be e-mailed the applications for their programs and must read through applications and recommend the students best suited for their programs, ranking students for a waitlist as necessary. The cognizant Senior Associate Dean holds the final authority on all admissions decisions.