Dear Faculty,
The Office of Off-Campus Study invites faculty to submit all proposals to direct an Extended Study (ES) group for either the fall semester (with a January, 2025 ES) or spring semester (with a May, 2025 ES). ES programs are normally 21 days long and operate as off-campus extension courses to supplement content from an existing, on-campus course. To see examples of current and past extended study programs, please review the off-campus study website section, Extended Study information link.
Extended Study programs permit faculty to teach on-campus, semester-long courses and take students off campus for three weeks at the end of the course. This experience allows you to expand your learning environment to the location that is the focus of your course. During the three weeks, your students may conduct fieldwork or archival research, lead performances, or engage with a new culture or intensive language. These experiences occur in January after the completion of fall courses or in May/June following completion of spring courses.
Preference in the selection process is given to new destinations and to faculty who have not yet led an extended study group. Please meet to discuss your plans with your department chair prior to submitting a proposal. Consider meeting with me (director) and/or the associate dean of the faculty for global and local initiatives (April Baptiste) — to review ideas. Faculty leaders will be notified by early November about the progress of the submission. The Office of Off-Campus Study is increasingly working with provider programs and faculty directors to create customized programs. This process helps us with on-site logistics and permits faculty to concentrate on carrying out the educational elements of the extended study. Our office will work with you to determine whether the site you are considering can be assisted by a provider or not.
Both the Extended Study proposal budget and 2024–25 Extended Study Proposal Form (google form) may be submitted now through Monday, Oct. 16. For assistance with your preliminary budget, please meet with Susie Michael (smichael@colgate.edu) prior to submitting your proposal. The Off-Campus Study Committee reviews all proposals and normally recommends between five to seven proposals to the DAC for the following academic year.
All faculty directors of off-campus study programs must go through a credential/verification process as part of best practices in education abroad. These practices are supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, to ensure the safety of our students while engaging in education abroad and experiential learning. Members of the faculty who are interested in leading or are currently in queue to lead a study group or an extended study, please submit your names via the following form.
This should be done at any point before submitting a proposal for consideration. Here are the steps in the credential/verification process:
- Interested faculty will complete the credential form provided above. Credentials will be valid for five years.
- Credential forms will then be shared with the following offices for review: Dean’s Advisory Council, Office of Equity and Diversity, Accounting and Finance, and The Vice-Provost for Administration and Planning.
- Once a faculty member receives their credential they can submit their name/proposal to the respective steering committee(s) for study groups or departments/programs for extended studies.
- Once approved by the relative steering committee or department/program, proposals will be submitted to the Off-Campus Study Office.
- Proposals are then reviewed by the Off-Campus Study Committee (four appointed faculty, associate dean for global and local initiatives, two off-campus study staff members, and a representative from the registrar’s office). The OCS committee may request changes to proposals at this point.
- Recommendations will be forwarded to the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty for consideration and approval.
- Letters of decisions will be sent to the faculty member.
a. Faculty who did not undergo a background check at the time of hire will also undergo a limited one-time background check (education background and criminal record only) as part of the review process.
b. If for any reason a faculty member is unsuccessful in the credentialing process, they will have the ability to have a conversation with the provost/dean of the faculty and can reapply.
c. Any accompanying partners/spouses on study groups or extended studies who will have sustained and ongoing contact with students will also need to go through the verification process.
For more information about the Extended Study group process, please refer to the online Extended Study Director Manual. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Joanna Holvey Bowles
Director, Off-Campus Study
jholveybowles@colgate.edu