Call for proposals to direct an upcoming semester abroad program

The Office of International Education is seeking faculty proposals to direct the following upcoming “Simpson Experience Abroad” (SEA) semester program:

• London, England in Fall 2023:  Simpson partners with the University of Roehampton, a public university with a “leafy” campus setting similar to Simpson’s to offer this program.

Interested faculty members should consult the Call for proposals to direct London Fall 2023 semester program document and be in touch with Jay Wilkinson to discuss proposal ideas by Mar. 31, 2021.  (Because directing a semester abroad program offers opportunities and constraints, this meeting is essential to be able to write an informed proposal.)  Proposals should be submitted by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2, 2021.  Also, please review the Expectations for SEA semester-long program directors document as it provides important information about the role of a semester-long program director.  Upon submission, proposals will then be reviewed by the Study Abroad Committee which will make a recommendation to Dean John Woell who will make the final decision about who the director for this program will be.

Students who participate in study abroad programs often cite their experiences as some of the most valuable of their college career.  Working in another country for a semester can also be a career highlight for faculty leaders.  Our faculty make these opportunities available by their willingness to direct our programs.  We hope you will consider submitting a proposal.

International Travel Course Development Grants

The OIE hopes to be able to offer a limited amount of grant funding to help Simpson College faculty develop new international travel courses by allowing them to visit the site of a new course.  The primary purposes of these grants are to allow travel course faculty to gain first-hand knowledge of, and experience in, the location of a new upcoming international travel course as well as to reduce costs for students by giving the course leaders knowledge of in-country accommodation and transportation options such that they can make such arrangements themselves and thereby limiting the use of third-party travel providers. International travel course development funds can be used to cover airfare, lodging, and meals, as well as any excursions which might be included as a future travel course activity.

All faculty members with full-time contracts for the 2020-2021 academic year can request funding of up to $2,000. Priority will be given to those instructors whose courses have already been proposed and are in the approval process for May Term 2022, but if funds still remain, grant applications from instructors who anticipate submitting a course proposal in January 2022 for May Term 2023 will be considered for funding as well.  Please consult the Course Development Grants Call for Proposals 2021 document for specific details and also submit a completed ITC Grant Budget Form for 2021. 

Grant applications should be submitted electronically to Jay Wilkinson in the OIE by 9 a.m. on Tues., April 6, 2021.  The Study Abroad Committee will review all grant applications and will make funding recommendations to Dean John Woell who will likely make final decisions by mid-April.  Grant applications received after April 6 will be considered on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted.

International Travel Course proposals

Faculty members interested in proposing an off-campus travel course for May Term 2022 or Summer 2022 should consult the Guidelines for planning successful off-campus travel courses for May Term or Summer 2022 and use the updated course proposal (2022 TRAVEL COURSE "PROPOSAL" FORM).  New for May Term 2022:  For a previously approved international travel course which successfully ran, and at least one of the prior instructors would be teaching the course again, here is the new and shorter 2022 TRAVEL COURSE "RENEWAL" FORM faculty can complete and submit.

Faculty interested in proposing an international travel course should also review the following two documents: Expectations for Short Term Study Abroad Faculty Leaders as well as Assistance provided to Simpson College faculty leading short-term study abroad experiences.  While the form doesn’t need to be submitted until April 1 for the following year’s travel course, here is the May Term 2022 Logistics Form for your reference and use.

International travel course proposals for May Term 2022 are due to the Office of International Education by Friday, January 15, 2021, and for Summer 2022 by Monday, February 15, 2021.

Online study abroad application website

If you need to access the online study abroad application website to review applications submitted for a travel course or semester abroad program you will be leading, click on this link (http://simpson.abroadoffice.net/index.html).  If you need assistance with your user name or password for the system, please contact Jay Wilkinson in the OIE for assistance.

Expectations for Short-Term Study Abroad Faculty Leaders

Faculty Leaders of short-term study abroad courses are expected to abide by policies, procedures, and guidelines established by the college with regard to academics, student development practices, and administrative issues.  Please consult the Expectations for Short Term Study Abroad Faculty Leaders and direct any questions you may have about the document and the policies outlined in it to the Director of International Education.

Policies for accompanying non-student participation in Simpson College short-term or semester-long study abroad programs

Please consult the Policies regarding Non-Student Participation in Travel Courses or semester abroad programs document for clarification regarding accompanying non-students on study abroad programs.  For questions or clarification, please contact the Director of International Education.

Crisis Management Plan for Study Abroad

If you’re leading a Simpson-sponsored study abroad experience, you should be familiar with the college’s Crisis Management Plan for Study Abroad.  Click Crisis Management Plan for a the most up-to-date version of the document, and if you have any questions about your role in the plan, please contact Director of International Education Jay Wilkinson.

Your Adventure is About to Begin!

For a copy of the pamphlet provided to all study abroad students at their pre-departure health and safety orientation session, click here.

International Education Incident Report

If you’re leading a college-sponsored study abroad experience and someone gets injured, needs to be hospitalized, or is involved in a criminal act (either the victim or the perpetrator), please use the Incident Report for International Education to record the event.  Once completed, either fax or send the report as an email attachment to the Office of International Education as soon as possible.

Semester Abroad Program Director’s Self-Evaluation

Upon completing a Simpson Experience Abroad semester program, faculty directors are required to submit a written evaluation of the program. The evaluation should be submitted electronically to the Director of International Education no later than one month after program completion. Click here for Program Director report template.

Non-Students participating in Study Abroad Programs

Faculty members teaching May Term International Travel Courses or leading semesters abroad who are planning to have non-students join their study abroad programs must complete the following liability forms.

• Liability Release – Non Student Minors-Under 18 Years of Age_final
• Liability Release – Non-Student Adult_final

For more information about any of this information, please feel free to contact:

Matthew Kaye
Director of International Education
Simpson College
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-1288
toll free (800) 362-2454, ext. 1288