Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity
Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity (STAO) allows faculty and instructors to teach one three-credit course on an established Learning Abroad Center summer program. STAO instructors develop a course that fits well with the focus of the program and complements the other course offerings. The instructors work at a study abroad center with local faculty who teach the other course. The instructor teaches for the duration of the program, usually six weeks. Experiential learning should be a component of the course design, although not as much as some courses taught abroad because students will also need to attend other classes.
Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity serves the University of Minnesota students and academic departments in the following ways:
For students:
- Makes learning abroad accessible to all University of Minnesota students
- Serves as a gateway to further international opportunities
- Cultivates community through shared academic experiences abroad
- Allows students access to University of Minnesota faculty and local host-country faculty
For academic departments:
- Internationalizes curriculum: Provides more in-depth experience for Majors and Minors
- Provides extended international leadership and teaching opportunities
- Establishes academic and professional connections abroad
- Demonstrates departmental support for learning abroad and encourages broader international engagement at the University of Minnesota
Current Locations
Features
- Longer than most teach abroad opportunities, usually six weeks
- Teach at a Learning Abroad Center with local faculty
- Designed to fit in with program focus and complement existing courses
- May be discipline-specific or interdisciplinary
- Three credits at the 3000-level
- No prerequisites
- Fulfill liberal education requirements
- Enrollment of up to 25 students
- Open to all undergraduate students (from the UofM or another institution) with at least a 2.5 GPA
Model
- Provides the highest level of support from the Learning Abroad Center for course development, administration, and implementation
- Has a lower level of administrative responsibility in country
- Engages instructors in a cohort of local peers
- Follows a pre-established program timeline and framework
Structure
Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity courses typically consist of:
- 45 contact hours
- Experiential learning in local community
- Readings
- Assessment
Instructors attend the program orientation prior to departure and on site and work closely with the academic director at the host center.
Program Leader Experience
The Learning Abroad Center facilitates all on-campus and on-site arrangements, including academic and cultural advising for students; financial aid advising; marketing and recruitment; design and production of all printed materials; application and registration processing; pre-departure orientations; travel; room and board; classrooms and other necessary instructional support; and other related activities.
Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity leaders are actively involved in the development of the course and recruitment for the program. If target enrollments are not met, the course will not run. Once on site, instructors attend all course-related activities.
Because program leaders interact with diverse student groups, it is important for instructors to think about how their own background, identities and privileges influence how they interact with and educate students. In addition, program leaders should consider how they plan to encourage program participants to think about their own positionality and identities while learning abroad.
Program leaders are to attend the University required Health & Safety Leader Training facilitated by GPS Alliance's International Health, Safety, & Compliance office. Additionally, leaders will be invited and encouraged to attend the LAC's Excellence in Leading Learning Abroad Series. Summer Teach Abroad Opportunity leaders will receive the same level of LAC training and support as all LAC Seminar Series program leaders.
Proposal & Review Process
Deadline: February 1 of the year before the course will run.
Learn more about the Proposal & Review Process.
Contact
For this program type, there may be additional opportunities to propose a program outside of the normal LAC Seminar Series process and timeline. Contact Lindsey Lahr, Assistant Director, Instructor-led Programs.