Information for Faculty and Advisors

• Study Abroad Advising
• Guidelines for WVU Study Abroad Programs
• International Research and Grant Opportunities
• Fullbright Scholars Program
• Faculty Language Exchange Program - Guanajuato, Mexico

Study Abroad Advising

Approval Process

1. Obtain a copy of the WVU Transient Form from the Office of International Programs.

2. Complete all information on the top part of the form. Meet and discuss with your academic advisor the course(s) you want to take and enter the Approved Organization, Association or Institution Name, Course Subject, Course Description and Credit Hours. Then enter the WVU Equivalent Course Subject, Number and Credit Hours on the form in the appropriate place.

3. Get all the necessary signatures on the form (including your own). Leave the form with the Office of International Programs who will work with the Office of Admissions and Records to get you registered.

4. For all non-exchange students, when you arrive at your destination, have the organization, association or institution send written verification, on their official letterhead, that you are attending their program by the date indicated on the transient form. Failure to do so could affect your financial aid status.

5. Upon completion of your course, request an official transcript be sent to the Office of International Programs, PO Box 6214, Morgantown, WV 26506.

• Study Abroad Transient Form

Guidelines for WVU Study Abroad Programs

• Provost Letter: Study Abroad Policies

  Executive Summary

1. The first component of the document describes the three following types of study abroad programs, of which West Virginia University offers advising, and/or administration, and/or content development:

• WVU Faculty-Led Programs
• WVU Study Abroad Exchange Programs
• Non-WVU Programs

This document describes the following elements of each of these three types of programs:

• approval of programs
• selection of host institutions or facilities and locations
• responsibilities of program administrators
• credit recognition and transfer process
• financial aspects of the program
• study abroad program candidate criteria
• housing issues
• student services issues
• student responsibilities
  
1. The second component of this document consists of a Study Abroad Contract. This contract is a document that states students’ responsibilities and understandings regarding the following issues pertaining to their study abroad experience:

• academic responsibilities
• financial responsibilities
• behavioral responsibilities
• medical responsibilities
• health and travel insurance coverage statement
• students with disabilities statement
• cancellation and withdrawal policy
• orientation policy
• living arrangement statement
• travel statement
• risk statement
• completion of documentation policy

The complete Guidelines for West Virginia University Study Abroad Programs document can be viewed and printed through Adobe Acrobat Reader.

WVU Faculty International Grant Program
As part of the WVU Faculty Development Grant Program, the Faculty International Grants Program supports international activities, projects, and programs that serve one or more elements of the mission of West Virginia University, i.e., teaching, research, and service. The Faculty International Grant Program is offered through the WVU Office of International Programs and the Office of the Provost. The grant applications will be reviewed by the Faculty Development Grant Committee as part of its regular activities. Applicants for International Program Grants should use the Faculty Development Grant form, attaching a cover memo clearly identifying it as an International Program Grant request and adding all appropriate information referenced below. The application form and information about Faculty Development Grants is available from the WVU Office of Sponsored Programs at http://osp.research.wvu.edu/funding_source/grants/international. More information about the Faculty International Grant Program is detailed below. Please read this information carefully.

The Faculty International Grant Program 2005-2006
The Office of International Programs and the Office of the Provost announce the 2005-2006 Faculty International Grants Program. The program is open to all faculty, regardless of subject matter, expertise, length of service or tenure track status. Faculty members may apply individually or as a group, and activities may focus on a single content area or may be multidisciplinary. There is no limit to the number of times a faculty member can apply for a Faculty International Grants Program. Summaries of previous activities funded by the program will be a part of the evaluation process, however. The forms for this program are the same as for the Faculty Development grants.

Normally grants requesting funding greater than $1,500 per participating faculty member have not been funded or have been funded at an amount smaller than that requested. Activities in the area of research, curriculum development and outreach are given priority. A proposal is more likely to be funded if it can be viewed as "seed money" for clearly planned development, either of a larger activity or of one with a significant, long-term impact on the entire university or on one or more of its units.

There are some constraints on the kinds of activities that will be funded through the Faculty International Program Grants. This program does not fund short-term lecturing or travel to international conferences or symposia. Requests for support to engage in exploratory discussions which are hoped to yield long-term results will not receive high priority. In order for a proposal to be eligible for funding under the program, there should be a clear relationship between the proposed activity/project/program and one or more elements of the mission of West Virginia University, i.e., teaching, research and service.

The proposed activity should have an influence beyond the individual faculty member submitting the proposal. For example, a proposal would have a particularly good chance of receiving funding if it involves graduate or undergraduate students; has an impact on curriculum; results in collaborative research with an international counterpart; or has an impact on the economic development of West Virginia and/or an international partner. There must be a clear follow-up plan for the funded activity.

In addition to letters of support from department chairpersons and deans, applicants are expected to include, where appropriate, letters of invitation from counterpart hosts/scholars in the country or countries in which they will be working.

There should also be evidence of a search for funding from other sources besides the International Grants Program including sources external to the University, other University faculty development funds, and department and/or college funds. Alternatively, there should be indication of a plan for accessing external funds. Special consideration will be given to proposals which have a prior commitment of some funding at the departmental and/or college level.

Information Required
The following are in addition to the items requested on the Faculty Development Grant Program form. Please be sure that you have included all items required and have followed page restrictions.

• Names of all participating faculty.
• Description (two-page maximum) of the activity/project/program for which funding is requested and of any larger project or program of which it is a part. This replaces the "description of proposed activities" page in the existing Faculty Development application packet.
• Description (two-page maximum) of the products of the activity and their long-term impact.
• Description of follow-up to the proposed activity.
• Relationship of the activity to the teaching, research or service of the faculty members involved in the project.
• Departmental and/or college letters of support, whether or not funding is provided by these units.
• Faculty Vitae (no more than two pages per person).
• Appendices as appropriate, including any additional support documentation.

Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria will be applied:

• The overall soundness and innovative qualities of the proposed activity/project.
• A follow-up plan related to the results of the activity/project and evidence of a clear commitment by the faculty member(s) involved to ensure that follow-up will be implemented.
• The potential for this activity to contribute to the mission of West Virginia University, signified by specific plans to ensure that the activity has a long term impact on teaching, research or service at WVU.
• A commitment of the department(s) and/or college(s) represented by the faculty submitting the proposal in support of the activity or project, where appropriate.
• Evidence of a search for funding from sources external to the university, evidence of plans for such a search in the future, and/or attempts to access funding from other university sources.

• Apply for Right Award and Category. The information provided in the catalog is a reflection of what the overseas institution wants or would like to have from the Fulbright Scholar. You can choose by geographical region or your own discipline, but if you are not sure, focus on your discipline and fashion your project statement around that strength in your application. Before you apply, check eligibility requirements and do the following:

  • Make sure you are eligible for a leave of absence or a sabbatical during the grant period, and try to get a commitment from your institution.
  • Check to see if you need some "type of contact", such as a letter, with a host institution, often true for some research or open awards.
  • Apply for only one country and apply for only one award.

• Check the category. The category of "any field", for example, may be misleading. The institution may want a specific course(s) taught. When it says "any field", that means the host institution is "willing to entertain" an application in those areas. Research and/or Lecture are common. You may apply for a combination of both Lecture/Research. An award may specify a percentage of time allotted for research versus lecture. However, if the catalog says Lecture/Research, you can be sure that most of your time will be in the area of teaching. If it is, customize your course syllabus for the country in question.
  
• Preparing Your Application. Your application is judged in part on the definition of the award, found in the catalog, and in part on how well you as a teacher and your project statement "match" that award description. The application is not a "personal odyssey" essay. It is a written project statement of how well you can carry out a professional assignment. In the application, you must make a compelling argument that you are unique in your approach, have the experience and the background to fit the position.
  
  Next, contact a CIES Program Officer. After choosing one or more potential award categories, you have to read about that country. Call a CIES Program Officer. This call is your primary objective at this stage in the application process. CIES Program Officers have all sorts of information at their fingertips, including helping you define the catalog descriptions. They have a working knowledge of the overseas institution, its needs and real wants, what it has sought in the past, and a sound background of the country in question. This is an important phone call. For a list of program officers, go to <http://www.cies.org/staff.htm
  
• Research Host Institution & Country. Do basic groundwork on the host country as well as the need for your area of expertise at the host institution. Make sure the information is accurate and up to date. Don't simply rely on a foreign colleague who's been out of that country for six years. Again, the CIES program officer can help you maneuver through the country's history, recent policy changes, etc. In particular, you will learn what "any field" really means in that country's context. Western Europe, for example, includes many institutions that seek applicants for "any field". However, an institution may be seeking a qualified lecturer or teacher for a specific topic. Better check. If you do this, you can better adapt your teaching style and syllabus to a specific country's culture and students.
  
• Consider Your Project & Assignment.
  Lecture/Teaching – If you teach undergraduate students, you may not be competitive enough in applying to teach graduate students. However, you can state your case by writing of your other strengths or experience in other areas, such as curricula development, how you are active in your own field, and how you work with many students. Focus on the nature of the award, and your expertise. For Liberal Arts, state what makes you qualified? Why? How will you approach graduate level courses? Tell of relevant publications (possibly use summary abstracts), and how you've been effective as a teacher.
  
  Research award situations – In research, you must ask yourself, can you carry out the proposed project in the host country. This is vital to the success of a research application. Do you need clearances to do research? Contacts with a host institution or agency? Will you be able to gain access to archives in that country? Do you have archival experience? If you don't get permission to work in archives, you should still explain why you want to go. Demonstrate research feasibility, and why the same research cannot be done in the U.S. As in the teaching award, make sure you fit your project statement precisely to the research award category.
  
• Award Benefits and Sharing Back Home.
  Benefits for faculty – Turn to last section in the Fulbright catalog. This provides a structure of benefits for faculty who win Fulbright Awards. The award often accompanies a sabbatical or faculty leave period. Benefits may include such items as a stipend, travel, family expenses, maintenance (per diem), and tuition for children. A stipend ranges from $2400 to $3500 per month depending on country and the award category. Note: travel only means an airline ticket. Confirm all arrangements beforehand.
  
  Your contribution back home – Fulbright winners tacitly agree to engage in efforts that foster mutual understanding after returning home. If you use your imagination, you can contribute in a number of ways: share the experience with your students, department, university as a whole; publish articles; and do collaborative research with colleagues. You can also speak to civic groups and work with local and state school systems. You can help with faculty who are applying for a Fulbright. You can work informally or help with your local state Fulbright alumni chapter.
  
• For a Fulbright Application, go to <http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/howto_apply.htm

• Who are you? To state your background, suitability for this award, include relevant background experience and training. Make it applicable to the host country. Will you be an effective teacher overseas? Don't rely on reputation and expect others to "know you" by simply saying, "I'm Albert Einstein?" or "I'm David Hardesty". The Fulbright peer review committee likely will not know who you are except through your project statement.
• Project statement. Discuss the award and the request in your project proposal. Make your case unique. Make sure you're the right fit for the category and the institution. State your qualifications in the terms of the host institution and not in terms of your background, say, in publications. That is, tie what you've done to what you can do in your field, and how you can contribute to that country. Refer to Fulbright Scholar Application for Preparing the Project Statement.
• Syllabus. How do you approach the teaching of a particular subject? Include your current course syllabus but describe how you will change it for the award category. Describe also how you will tailor it for students in a different culture, or for non-English speaking students. Customize your syllabus on the basis of the most up-to-date knowledge of that country.
• Host country references. Learn about the host country. Remember the CIES Program Officer. Call the representative for your chosen region. Describe the suitability of the selected award for what you propose. Draw attention to your relevant experience and courses taught. Focus on your knowledge of that country, its culture. Discuss your pertinent teaching, research, and publications (not just a list of what and where you've published).
• What can you contribute? How will you accomplish the project's aim and carry out the work involved? How can you contribute to the host's needs now and for the future? This is important. Use tips and information provided by the CIES Program Officer. What benefits are to be expected for the local host country's institution? Your university? How will you benefit (e.g., professional goals, development of courses or curricula, or collaborative research)? Why do you want the experience?

• State who you are. State who you are "as a teacher." State what you're going to do (project statement). State how "what you do" will benefit the host institution, your institution.
• Plan ahead. Do homework on host country. Check the award category. Consult with winners of the Fulbright Award on campus.
• Don't let your class syllabus or your resume only do the talking. Let your project statement do it for you.
• The key is to fit your experience to the context of teaching students of other cultures overseas. How do your credentials "match" a category? How can you be effective in working with foreign students?
• Explain how you will adapt your teaching to non-native English students and/or different cultural settings.
• Give evidence of your own flexibility and adaptability as a teacher, and in ways (if any) that you have led classes for non-U.S. students.
• Why are you choosing this particular country? Check award category and make a list that answers this question.

• Focus on presentation in the application as well as the content. Each part requested in the application should reinforce the other sections. Besides three standard forms of reference, you will need one specific reference letter about your teaching experience. For more, go to <http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/tips.htm>.
• You'll be judged and your stated project evaluated on the basis of your qualifications, and on how you're going to do what you propose in the project statement. State how you will be effective overseas. Give range of courses taught. Demonstrate versatility. State your approach to teaching. State what you are trying to do. State your approach to the subject and how you will handle viewpoints of the overseas audience. State your creativity in teaching.
• How will you adapt your materials for the overseas audience? That is, you will likely need to tailor and customize the materials if you've been working only with American students.
• Have you thought about translations, either of materials or of teaching styles? In a foreign situation, how might this affect your approach in teaching of, for example, law, political science, or business?
• What might the impact be of a new linkage between your institution and a foreign university?
• Call the CIES Program Officer for the region of your choice.

• WSU Office of Grants & Sponsored Projects Private Funding Source Connections — Provided by Winona State University (WSU), this page provides links to foundations, corporate foundations, corporations and professional organizations. <http://www.winona.msus.edu/grants/Funding.htm>
• WVU Office of Sponsored Programs Funding Sources — Funding for various projects can come from federal, state and private sources:  government agencies, corporations and foundations, and nonprofit organizations are some examples. Goals of sponsors vary, so preliminary contact can be important if not essential. In your search for funding, here are some good places to start. <http://www.wvu.edu/~osp/funding.htm>

Faculty Language Exchange - Guanajuato, Mexico

WVU and the University of Guanajuato (UG) are co-sponsoring the 6th annual WVU Faculty and Staff Language Exchange from June 1 to June 28, 2008. This is a 4-week cultural exchange for 6 university faculty and staff participants to study a language and to learn about another culture during the regular summer and vacation period. This professional development exchange has 6 positions available for individuals who are employed as faculty or staff at West Virginia Universites, on a first-come, first serve basis. Program Resources   • Program Information   • Faculty Exchange Application

Guanajuato University's Centro de Idiomas is on the downtown campus (tall building, background) - snugly situated, up against the hills of this sprawling city.