Faculty and staff

Faculty Study Abroad Ambassadors

The Role of the Faculty Study Abroad Ambassador

The Faculty Study Abroad Ambassador (FSAA) is a point of contact for both faculty and students within each academic department. The FSAA knows what the resources are for study abroad, where they are, and how to find and utilize them. The FSAA also serves as a conduit between the Study Abroad Office and the academic department in dissemination of study abroad information such as informing the department of the faculty within the department who are teaching abroad, and serving as the point person for the curriculum integration project.

Study Abroad Curriculum Integration

Study Abroad Curriculum Integration at MSU is built on a foundation of collaboration between the Institute for International Studies, the International Studies Advisory Committee (ISAC), made up of faculty and professional staff across the campus and curriculum, and the academic units. The SACI project was endorsed by the university administration as a piece of the /5/5/50 Initiative, which has as one of its objectives to reach 5% of the total MSU student body to participate in study abroad. To reach this goal, and others indicated below, ISAC focused on the following guiding principles:

Partnership with academic departments and faculty
Academically driven study abroad programs
Study Abroad Ambassadors coupled with existing IIS office support for study abroad
Long-term campus impact

The goal of the SACI project is much broader than study abroad participation increase, however. We have aimed also for quality programs, faculty interest and support, and faculty participation. The goals of SACI can be identified as:

Increase of study abroad participation through integration of study abroad programs into the existing curricula at MSU in each undergraduate major field of study
Increased faculty awareness of the importance of study abroad and its contribution toward creating global citizens and educated students
Increased faculty international activities through study abroad, international professional development programs, teaching, and research on international topics
Increased faculty promotion and support of student study abroad
Development of new, quality, curriculum-based experiences abroad where needed
Cultivation of institutional-based long-term international experiences for undergraduate students
Development of staff, partnerships, practices, and materials
Attained goal of 5% of the MSU student body annually who have studied abroad

Where Are We Now?

The FSAA program was launched in spring 2008 but the real work begins this fall as the Study Abroad Office expands to include more staff and resources with which to move this project forward. We are beginning the SACI project in the coming weeks with five academic departments and will continue to expand and add departments as our work with each one reaches an end product.

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