Information for Faculty and Staff

Education Abroad staff are always happy to come to your class to discuss study abroad program options with your students. Presentations can be tailored to last from ten minutes to the full class period. Presentations can cover general education abroad options or can be specific to certain subject areas or regions of the world. Email or call us to schedule presentation!

Credit Transfer

The Course Planning Form is a required part of all U of I Education Abroad applications. (When working on this fillable form, please download to your computer to enable the digital signature function.) This form has various purposes:

• It allows for a student to determine (in coordination with their advisor) whether the courses count towards major/minor requirements, general education requirements or free electives in their degree audit.
• It allows department chairs or their designees to determine how study abroad courses will articulate (transfer back) to the U of I.
• If the course has a U of I equivalent, the Department Chair enters the U of I course equivalent information on the form. If the course does not have a U of I equivalent, the Department Chair enters 000 as the course number and determines if the course is worth upper-division, lower-division and enters this information on the form.
• It allows the student’s academic advisor to review the student’s full plan of study, discuss it with the student and sign the form giving their approval.
• It allows the student’s college dean to approve upper-division coursework to count toward the U of I residency requirement.
• It allows the Office of the Registrar to determine the number of U of I credits the student will receive for each course they takes abroad.
• The form is submitted to the Registrar’s Office and kept on file in case any questions arise regarding credit transfer.
• Students can submit new versions if their plans change. All original forms are kept as part of the U of I Education Abroad application.

Financial Aid

Students can typically use grants, loans and scholarships for U of I affiliated education abroad programs. The only type of financial aid that cannot be used are waivers and work study appointments. If the program costs more than it normally costs to study at U of I, it may be possible to get additional financial aid. Students should visit Student Financial Aid Services to determine what they may be eligible for to fund an international experience.

Program Selection

The University of Idaho maintains a robust set of programmatic partners around the globe. If you are interested in learning more about current partners, please reach out to the Education Abroad staff and we can discuss training and promotional opportunities for faculty and staff members. The primary responsibility for programmatic advising lies with the Education Abroad staff in the International Programs Office, and you are always welcome to refer students to us. If you, however, want to learn more about programs that are particularly well suited to your specific student population, please let the Education Abroad staff know, and we will happy to share the variety of options available to the students who you serve.

Academic Advising (While Abroad)

While abroad, students may need to be advised by email in order to prepare them for their return to the U of I. We recommend that this advising take place in the same timeframe as other students with the same class standing so that they can register on time. Students will also need their Advisor Registration Hold removed. Once all holds are removed, students currently abroad can register for classes at the U of I online.

Transcripts (After Returning)

After students return, foreign transcripts are sometimes slow to follow. The normal time frame for this process is one to four months after the student completes their program. If you have any questions regarding the status of student transcripts, or have urgent requests, please reach out to Education Abroad.

Who Should Complete Faculty/Staff International Travel Registration?

• Per U of I Policy (APM 70.23), all faculty and staff must register themselves in the International Travel Registration system for any international travel (or travel to a U.S. territory) that is in any way connected to the U of I. Territories are considered international for U of I Risk Management purposes. U.S. territories include:
  • American Samoa
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Guam
  • Midway Islands
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Republic of Palau
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
• Students traveling abroad for conferences, workshops, or any other U of I-affiliated non-credit bearing experiences must also register their travel through the International Travel Registration system.
• If students will accompany faculty or staff abroad for a credit -bearing experience, then the faculty/staff member leading them must complete a Faculty/Staff-Led International Travel (FSIT) Proposal, not an International Travel Registration. Once this is approved, students will be provided a link to complete their own materials as a part of the trip.
• If students study, conduct research or earn any credit/fulfill any U of I requirements while abroad, they must complete the appropriate application, not the International Travel Registration. More details can be found here.

Additional Insurance Information

State of Idaho Foreign Liability Coverage: As a University of Idaho employee, you are automatically covered by the State of Idaho Foreign Liability Program provided by ACE American Insurance Company. This coverage is mainly for Liability, Auto Liability and Foreign Voluntary Workers Comp but has some emergency travel service coverage as well. It does not cover employees while they are in the U.S., its possessions or territories. Security evacuation is not available from Iraq or Afghanistan. Information about this coverage and instructions for creating a profile and downloading printable insurance cards are available within the International Travel Registration. 

Blue Cross of Idaho coverage abroad: If you are enrolled, there is also some international coverage provided by the U of I employee insurance program through Blue Cross of Idaho. You can find Blue Cross providers abroad at Blue Card Worldwide; however, many of these providers may not actually bill Blue Cross on your behalf. Also, Blue Cross may not have the network or connections needed at the time of the illness or injury to provide sufficient medical, medical evacuation or repatriation of remains services.

Supplemental insurance: Neither the State of Idaho nor the Blue Cross international coverages are considered sufficient. It is suggested that your department purchase supplemental insurance on your behalf for your international trip. This is an allowable expense on regular university budgets. Those traveling on a grant budget should check with their grant's PI. You can search a variety of policies to meet different needs through InsureMyTrip.

Faculty/Staff-Led International Travel (FSIT) is an excellent way for faculty or staff to offer life-changing international academic or service experiences to students. At the same time, faculty and staff can gain international experience, network with colleagues at foreign institutions, earn additional salary and learn new things that can help to internationalize the U of I curriculum upon return.

What is FSIT?

The university defines any university international travel led by a U of I employee that involves U of I undergraduate or graduate students, authorized third parties, alumni or the public as a Faculty/Staff-Led International Travel (FSIT) program. This may include but is not limited to travel for study, research, field-work, service, internship or volunteer work.

University Policy Regarding FSIT Programs

For an FSIT (as defined above) to be considered university sanctioned travel it must be approved by the International Programs Office via the processes laid out in U of I Policy (APM 70.23). This is to ensure that in the rare instance that something goes wrong (natural disaster, political upheaval, student injury, etc.) that you have a team of seasoned professionals working with you, and you have the protection that comes along with the program existing as U of I affiliated. Absent this U of I registration process, you will, by default, take the full personal liability of program execution individually upon yourself (including the responsibility for the well-being of each individual person participating in the program). Program registration also ensures that your FSIT will be handled in a manner consistent with U of I policy and national best practice standards.

Creating an FSIT

Consult with the Director of Education Abroad in the International Programs Office and review the FSIT Program Support Manual  for guidance through the program creation process.

Proposal Deadlines

FSIT proposals must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• Fall, Fall Break, Winter Intercession: Dec. 1 of year prior to travel
• Spring, Spring Break, Summer: Aug. 1 of year prior to travel

Each year, about 800 faculty and professionals from around the globe will travel to more than 140 countries to lecture and/or conduct research. For over 55 years, scholars have been crossing borders, encountering different cultures, gaining teaching and research insights and sharing "the Fulbright experience." As a faculty or professional, there are many options for Fulbright service. Read on to learn how you can take advantage of the opportunities created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright.

Award and application information for the below programs can be found online at fulbrightscholars.org.

Traditional Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Scholar program allows faculty to choose either lecturing, combined lecturing/research, or full research awards. Most lecturing assignments are in English. For those conducting research, language capability is required depending on the area of the world and project. Grants are typically from two months to an academic year. Adjunct and retired faculty as well as administrators are also encouraged to apply. Awards are available in 45 disciplines from art to urban planning, as well as many disciplines grants open to any field. The competition for traditional Fulbright awards opens March 1, with a deadline of Aug. 1. Grants begin about one year following the application deadline.

Distinguished Chair Awards

The Distinguished Chair awards are among the most prestigious in the Fulbright Scholar Program. They have an earlier deadline of May 1. Some 30-40 chair awards are available each year for applicants who are in the top of their professional fields. Most chair awards are in Western European countries, although a few are offered in Canada, Russia and Israel.

Senior Specialists Program

Designed to promote short-term academic opportunities for U.S. faculty and professionals, the grant lengths are from 2-6 weeks, allowing grantees to collaborate with their counterparts in other countries, give a series of lectures, and participate in activities. From archaeology to journalism, there are opportunities in a growing number of disciplines. When you apply and are selected, you are placed on a roster and Fulbright will try to match you with an overseas institution seeking an expert in your field. The Senior Specialists Program has an online application and has a rolling deadline.

New Century Scholars Program

Leading academics and professionals representing many different disciplines, nationalities and cultures assemble annually to address a topic of global significance. Approximately 30 experts from the U.S. and abroad are selected. Participants are given an international exchange opportunity of two to six months in length to further their research and to investigate comparative approaches to the topic. The 30 scholars share outcomes and ideas during a final plenary seminar in Washington, D.C. Recent topics include "The Challenges of Health in a Borderless World," "Addressing Sectarian, Ethnic, and Cultural Conflict Within and Across National Borders," and "Toward Equality: The Global Empowerment of Women."

Alumni Initiatives Awards Program

The Alumni Initiatives program extends the traditional Fulbright experience into a long-term institutional impact. These awards enable former U.S. and international scholars to develop innovative and mutually beneficial projects to further the linkages developed during the grantee's time abroad. Successful projects run from distance-learning courses to joint curriculum development efforts.

International Education Administrators Seminars

Designed for higher education administrators (e.g., deans, provosts, vice presidents) who want a short but in-depth experience, each summer seminars are offered in Germany, Japan, and Korea. Seminars vary from 2-3 weeks in length and focus on introducing participants to the society, culture, and higher education system. The application deadline is Nov. 1.

German Studies Seminar

The annual 3-week German Studies Seminar focuses on current German society and culture, and examines political, social, and economics institutions. Each year a theme is chosen, with past themes including "Environmental Protection and Alternative Forms of Energy" and "Visual Culture in Germany: Film, Television, and the Internet." Participants are U.S. scholars in German studies and in disciplines related to the seminar topic. Lectures are usually in English. The seminar begins in Berlin and includes visits to other cities. The application deadline is Nov. 1.

Fulbright Teacher and Administrative Exchange

This program provides opportunities for full-time teachers, administrators, and other school or college faculty to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from other countries for 6 weeks, a semester, or an academic year. International collaborations such as these often foster enduring relationships between schools. Application deadline is Oct. 15.

Visiting Fulbright Scholar Program

Individual Fulbright grants are available for overseas scholars to conduct research or pursue combined lecturing/research in the United States. Grants range from three months to an academic year. To host a visiting scholar, U of I faculty/departments should register their interest with Fulbright and indicate the areas of expertise or specialization and a contact person. When contacted by a scholar, urge the scholar to complete the application process by the deadlines and be sure to provide the scholar with a detailed letter of invitation which will become part of the application.

Occasional Lecturer Program

Travel awards are available for any of the roughly 800 international Fulbright scholars in the U.S. to travel to campuses for short-term guest lectures. This is an excellent way to provide an international scope to a U of I class, lecture series, or conference. The institution issuing the invitation (U of I) is asked to provide the Occasional Lecturer with local transportation, accommodations, and meals.

Scholar-in-Residence Program

This program brings Fulbright Visiting Scholars to teach at U of I for one or two academic terms, and is designed to initiate or broaden international programs or curricula. Round-trip travel is provided for the scholar and they receive a monthly stipend, basic medical insurance, and a professional allowance for travel, books, and other expenses. Some cost-sharing, based on the U of I departmental resources, is required, in the form of either supplementary salary and/or in-kind support such as housing, meals, or professional travel allowance. The deadline for U.S. institutions to apply to host a Scholar-in-Residence is Sept. 15.

Teach Abroad

USAC Visiting Professor (VP) Program

The U of I, in collaboration with the USAC, offers international teaching opportunities to full-time faculty members (in good standing) for month-long summer or semester-long programs in one of USAC’s specialty programs around the world. USAC is seeking professors who:

• Can offer at least one course that specifically relates to the teaching site, region, or nation, or is clearly international in nature, and may be taught in either English or the site’s native language (Spanish, French, etc.);
• Have student evaluation summaries that reflect superior teaching abilities and written approval from their supervisor, and who will be returning to the U of I following the term abroad;
• Are flexible regarding international living and working conditions and are willing to enthusiastically experience local culture with their students;
• Are willing to contribute to the host university in addition to teaching the selected courses; and
• Are willing to publicize the opportunity to their current and future students.

Please contact the Director of Education Abroad to be added to the interest list and for the current VP application with information and details.

Teach Abroad with Harlaxton

Through U of I's partnership with Harlaxton College, a unique program in a stunning Victorian manor just an hour outside of London by train, U of I faculty can apply to teach a summer course that runs late May through early July. Faculty generally teach one course. Once courses are approved, Harlaxton recruits for those courses and then decides which will be offered based on enrollment of students. These decisions are made in late January of the year of the program. Approved courses for the Harlaxton summer session pay a salary of $500 per student enrolled in your class.

Please contact the Director of Education Abroad to be added to the interest list and for further details.

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Grants

DAAD works to foster connections between scholars and institutions in North America and their counterparts in Germany by offering a number of programs to strengthen the links between academe in Germany and North America. These programs support both the activities of individual scholars and post-secondary institutions seeking to strengthen their international ties. Details on these opportunities can be found on the DAAD Faculty website.