The Office of Study Abroad (OSA) is pleased to announce the fifteenth offering of grants to allow a number of qualified professional advisers to visit an MSU study abroad site. OSA has provided funding for 47 awards since Spring 1997.

OSA will provide funding to cover the travel, room and board costs of a one-week visit to an MSU program during the 2008 calendar year. A total of two awards will be available during this cycle.

Questions regarding this grant may be directed to Cindy Felbeck Chalou, 432-4345.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is Thursday, November 1, 2007.

Office of Study Abroad Program:
Site Visit Grants to Professional Advisers

The Office of Study Abroad (OSA) is charged with the responsibility of leading and coordinating campus-wide efforts to endorse study abroad as a normal and integrated part of students’ college careers. In recognition of the essential role that advisers play in encouraging students to go abroad, OSA is pleased to offer grants that will allow two undergraduate advisers to visit MSU study abroad programs during the 2008 calendar year.

These grants are primarily intended for professional advisers, rather than faculty members who do advising in addition to their teaching and research. Faculty members have other opportunities to go abroad, by developing and leading short-term study abroad programs, by obtaining funding for research, and so on. In colleges where advising is done by professional advisers, or through a combination of professional advisers and faculty, only the advisers will therefore be eligible for a grant. However, in colleges where faculty members do nearly all advising, faculty will be eligible to apply.

Although priority will be given to academic advisers, applications will also be accepted from advising staff in non-college units, such as Supportive Services, Career Services and Placement, RCPD, Admissions, etc.

The travel grants will allow individual advisers to better understand the design and functioning of a particular program, and will provide limited exposure to, and experience with, the local culture. More broadly, these grants will provide advisers insights into the sorts of skills and perceptions that our students can gain when they study abroad.

Advisers will spend a maximum of one week at an MSU program site while it is in session, and will be expected to work with the MSU lead faculty member or the local Resident Director in familiarizing themselves with the program during their stay.

Amount of funding: Grants to individual advisers will cover airfare, ground transportation, and reasonable per diem expenses (food and lodging) for a site visit of a maximum of one week to an MSU study abroad program, while the program is in session. Modest funds will also be available to take participating students to dinner at a restaurant on site.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements: An adviser interested in applying for a grant must meet minimum eligibility requirements; he or she must:

• have served as an adviser for at least two years by the time of the site visit;
• not have already visited the site where the MSU program is located;
• demonstrate a prior and successful commitment to promoting study abroad among his or her advisees;
• have worked out, in consultation with the Dean's/Director’s office, a detailed and workable plan to increase future undergraduate study abroad participation (for all programs, not only for the program he or she will visit) in the college/unit;
• if a faculty member, not have led an MSU study abroad program.

Selecting a Site: Individual advisers interested in applying for this grant should contact Cindy Felbeck Chalou,432-4345, to obtain details regarding favorable destinations and timing, and to discuss their proposed visit. Visits must be made while MSU students are participating in a program at the site. Applicants are strongly encouraged to select semester-length programs to visit. Additionally, preference will be given for visits to programs that have historically not reached their targeted enrollment.

Activities on Site: Grant recipients are expected to participate in the program and duplicate the student experience as closely as possible. Operating under the direction of the MSU lead faculty member or the local Resident Director, they will, as appropriate: visit several different classes; tour facilities such as residence halls, computer labs, dining facilities, etc; have informal discussions with local personnel whenever possible; schedule a meeting and/or dinner with students; participate in any scheduled field trips; and attend other activities organized on site. Efforts will be made to house the adviser in the same type of accommodations provided the participating students, such as a local family, in a university residence hall, etc.

Application: Interested advisers will submit a proposal of no more than two pages in length that (see sample application at the end of this document):

• indicates length of time he or she has served as an academic adviser;
• requests funding for a visit to a given MSU program and the desired semester for the visit (please specific one program destination and not a general category of programs such as “any program sponsored by my college”; priority will be given to those proposals that clearly indicate research and careful consideration have been given to the site selection);
• provides a convincing rationale for visiting that particular program (please be specific on how it relates to your college and target student population);
• discusses the adviser's past success in promoting study abroad among the college's undergraduates;
• discusses in detail the adviser's plans for collaborating with OSA in promoting study abroad in future years in the college after his or her return to campus.

The proposal narrative must include a letter of support from the Dean, Associate Dean, or Director of the College/Unit.

Selection: If more than one application is submitted from a college/unit, input on selection may be sought from the college/unit. Preference will be given for visits to locations that have not been visited by your college/unit advisers within the past two years. Priority will also be given to advisers from colleges that have received limited study abroad funds in recent years. After OSA reviews the applications, it will notify the recipients and the appropriate Dean's/Director’s offices of the awards. Awards will be granted to visit the site indicated on the application. If circumstances beyond the control of the adviser affect such a visit (cancellation, no students enrolled), OSA will work with the adviser to identify an alternative destination or delayed visit. However, if the adviser should decide to change the destination, a new rationale must be submitted for OSA review. Upon notification of the award, the award recipient will receive a copy of the Professional Adviser Site Visit Handbook and it is expected that the recipient will contact OSA to discuss an itinerary, budgeting, travel planning and arranging, communication with the faculty leader or Resident Director, disbursement of funds, etc.

Upon Return to Campus: Once the site visit is completed, the adviser will:

• be required to submit a report to the Associate Director of OSA that describes the site visit activities and impressions, lists the positive program features and those that need improvement, and identifies possible specific strategies and activities that will increase study abroad participation in his or her college/unit. This report is critical for program assessment, feedback of the process to OSA, and ideas to share with advisers from other colleges/units.
• play an active role as an advocate in his or her college/unit for all MSU study abroad programs, including sharing site visit insights and experiences with faculty and advisers. Additionally, recipients will work closely with the Office of Study Abroad in developing and implementing effective and efficient recruiting strategies and activities within his or her college/unit. This will include at least five classroom visits during the academic year following the visit to speak to students about his or her experience and to promote study abroad.

Application Deadline: Advisers should submit electronic or paper proposals to Cindy Felbeck Chalou, Associate Director of OSA, 109 International Center, by no later than Thursday, November 1, 2008.

This is a sample successful application for a Professional Adviser Site Visit Grant

November 1, 2004

Cindy Felbeck Chalou
Assistant Director, Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center

Ms. Chalou:

I appreciated our conversation and the information given to me regarding the opportunity to participate in the Professional’s Advisor Site Visit Grant. I believe that if I am given the chance to be involve in this wonderful prospect, I would be able to give back to the community I serve at Michigan State University (MSU).

As an undergraduate student at MSU, I did not take advantage of the study abroad program. I walked away from college with a degree, but not with an understanding of another culture, heritage, and language. Therefore, I am very excited about this opportunity to participate in this venture next academic school year.

As a professional at MSU, I think that it is very important to broaden your horizon and grow as an individual. The experience to travel to another country as an ambassador for MSU will help me to learn the importance of being globalization. After experiencing a study abroad program by observing and interviewing students, touring the program’s residence hall, and participating in planned tours and events, I would be able to come back to campus knowledgeable about and enthusiastic about promoting the Office of Study Abroad. The following are my responses to the criteria for the application:

Section 1: Applicant Criteria
Including my time spent at the Office of Supportive Services, I have been an advisor for more than two years.

• I am not a faculty member, and have not led an MSU study abroad program.
• I have met and consulted with my director a workable and detailed plan to increase future undergraduate study abroad participation in my unit.

Section 2: Program Requested
I am requesting funding for any site related to the Asian Studies Department. My preference would be to visit the Singapore program.

Section 3: Rationale
Working as an Asian Pacific Coordinator in the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs (ORESA), a large part of my responsibility is to work with the ORESA Aides in North Complex to build community and retain students at MSU. To meet my goals and objective, in the summer, I work with the MAGIC program to introduce incoming first year students to MSU. Throughout the school year, I support and help the ORESA Aides implement and plan academic and retention related programs for students of color on campus. Also, as a part of my duty I facilitate four PRO 101 seminars for College Achievement Admissions Program (CAAP) students. Additionally, I am the advisor for the Asian Pacific American Student Organization (APASO). Under the APASO umbrella, there are fourteen different sub groups. As you can see, in my position I am in constant communication with students in every capacity at MSU.

Section 4: Promoting Success
Being a firm believer that every student should have the opportunity to attend a study abroad program, I have actively promoted the concept of study abroad to all of the students I encounter. I sincerely believe that the experience overseas can offer students a more diverse cultural perspective, open them to new and different ideas, and encourage students to think and approach their environment from a global perspective. In the past as an academic adviser in the Office of Supportive Services (OSS), I often use my first year seminar, programs, workshops and individual advising sessions as a platform to speak about the many benefits of studying abroad. I have encouraged many students to register for AL 200, Cultural Difference and Study Abroad class. I have attended informational workshops regarding programs overseas given by the Office of Study Abroad. Additionally, I have informed my students about the Study Abroad Fair and attended the fair personally. Last year, OSS had the privilege of acquiring money from President McPherson to send CAAP students to study abroad. I often emailed and spoke of the scholarship to students who were interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. In my current position, I also use my PRO 101 seminar as an outlet to advertise and promote the study abroad program. The students in APASO and I have discussed the possibility of developing a scholarship to encourage student in APASO to participate in a study abroad program. I have connected with Jaden Do, a past study abroad participant, with ORESA Aides to form information sessions for students at north complex.

Section 5: Plans for Collaboration
In the summer session, the MAGIC program would service as an excellent opportunity for me to promote and encourage students to attend a study abroad program. After attending a study program myself, I can relay to the students my own experiences abroad. I believe that first year students in the MAGIC can act as a very captive, motivated, and receptive audience. Because the program is a six days in length, I can hold sessions with students early in the week and do follow up with students who have expressed an interested in the study abroad program throughout the week.

During the school year, I would utilize my connection with the ORESA Aides and students in APASO to address the importance of experiencing a study abroad program.

I am extremely excited to participate in the Professional Advisor Site Visit. I see this grant as a great opportunity for me to receive the insight I need to instill interest, excitement, and confidence into the possibility of studying abroad within the ORESA and APA population. I believe that this opportunity will confirm and surpass the many positive comments I have made about studying abroad at MSU.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at (517) 353-7745. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Yen Pham
APA Coordinator
Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs