Proposal Title: International Exchange Programs

Transcription

1 Proposal Title: International Exchange Programs Point Person and Contact Information: Kate Bronk, Study Abroad Coordinator Phone: Address: 103 Alumni Hall Department(s)/Unit(s): Office of International Education (OIE) Amount Requested: $39,000 over 3 years Proposal Summary: In consideration of today s globalized society, it is crucial for SUNY Oneonta students to have an understanding of the world and the people in it. Through the funding of student scholarships, this proposal will launch inbound and outbound student participation in six new international exchange programs that have been developed within the past two years. In addition to providing opportunities for SUNY Oneonta students to study abroad in less traditional locations, this proposal will help international exchange students to study at SUNY Oneonta, thereby further diversifying the College s student body.

2 Section I Narrative Part A. Proposal significance: As we live in a globalized society, SUNY Oneonta students need to be able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds. In order to prepare students for success in a globalized society, our College offers 12 international exchange programs in Asia, Africa, and Europe, and is in the process of receiving SUNY system approval for two additional programs. International exchange students from our partner institutions help diversify our student body and make SUNY Oneonta and the greater community a more culturally vibrant place. Significant exchange program growth has occurred recently, as six of the College s 14 exchange agreements have been signed within the last two years. The new exchange agreements expand the program locations that are available to our students, and include less traditional study abroad locations, such as the Netherlands, Taiwan, and Japan. This proposal requests funding for scholarships for inbound and outbound students who participate on the six new exchange programs, in order to help offset financial costs for students and launch participation in the new programs. who receive scholarship funding will be expected to help promote our exchange programs. In addition, students will be expected to participate in a service-learning or volunteer activity during their exchange programs. This focus on service is significant not only because it aligns with the College s strategic plan, but because the acts of service will enable students to obtain a deeper understanding of their host countries and the cultures of their host countries. Proposal objectives: Objective 1: Offer $1500 scholarships to inbound/outbound exchange students each academic term over the next three years, as identified in the chart in Part E of the proposal. Objective 2: Promote Oneonta exchange programs through events and student testimonials with the help of exchange program participants. Objective 3: Offer at least one opportunity for inbound/outbound exchange students to engage in a service-learning or volunteer opportunity during their semester abroad. Part B. Contribution to the 2015 Strategic Plan: This proposal will prepare our students to succeed in a diverse and changing world, which is an important part of the College s vision that is outlined in the Strategic Plan. The proposal contributes to each of the following areas that are emphasized in the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan: Student Engagement: Studies show that study abroad participation may result in higher GPA s and graduation rates among students ( Impact of Study Abroad on Retention and Success, 2015). Study abroad can help clarify and/or confirm students personal, academic, and professional interests and goals, and cause students to pursue these areas of interest more vigorously upon return to their home campus. Promote Inquiry, Service, and Scholarship: This proposal will ensure that exchange students participate in community engagement and service, as mentioned in Part A. In addition, this proposal will enable the College to

3 highlight student accomplishments by launching the exchange of students on new Oneonta exchange programs and actively seeking and sharing student testimonials about their international experiences through events and campus communications. Broaden Access to SUNY Oneonta s Exceptional and Affordable Educational Programs: This proposal will broaden access to SUNY Oneonta s academic programs by diversifying the student body with the welcoming of international exchange students. In addition, providing scholarships to exchange students will help to reduce our students loan debt at graduation. As previously mentioned, the proposal will also help increase our students four-year graduation rates. C. Supporting data: The Office of International Education (OIE) tracks the number of inbound and outbound exchange students for each program, in addition to the total number of SUNY Oneonta students who participate on all SUNY programs. The six exchange programs that this proposal focuses on are new; therefore, only a small number of inbound and outbound students have participated in the programs, and some programs have not yet had any student participation. The majority of SUNY Oneonta study abroad participants currently study in Europe or Australia; out of the 47 SUNY Oneonta students who studied abroad in Fall 2015, 40 students (85%) studied in Europe or Australia, and only 7 students (15%) studied in other regions, including Latin America and Asia. The scholarships funded through this proposal will help to motivate students to study in less traditional locations. decisions to study abroad are influenced by conversations with former program participants and international exchange students. This is exemplified by statements made in students program applications, as well as in conversations between students and staff members in the OIE. Therefore, utilizing program participants for program promotion will be an important way to continue the flow of inbound and outbound exchange student participation once participation is launched. Research indicates that community service enables students to obtain a deeper understanding of their host countries and the cultures of their host countries (Sauber, 2012). Therefore, this proposal incorporates an expectation for students to participate in a servicelearning or volunteer activity during their exchange programs. D. How the activity will be assessed, using measurable, documented outcomes: Outcome for Objective 1: Participation in new exchange programs will be launched. How outcome will be measured: Each funding year, and for 3 years afterwards, the OIE will track the number of students who participate in the new exchange programs. Outcome for Objective 2: interest in new exchange programs will increase. How outcome will be measured: The OIE will track the number of students who participate in the new exchange programs during each funding year, and for 3 years afterwards. Outcome for Objective 3: Exchange program participants will gain a better understanding of their host countries and the cultures of their host countries. How outcome will be measured: The OIE will ask students to reflect on their service-learning and/or volunteer experiences upon the conclusion of their exchange programs.

4 E. Implementation strategy and timeline: Several factors contributed to the decisions behind the number of scholarships that will be awarded to inbound and outbound students from each of the six new partner institutions, as well as the academic terms in which the scholarships will be funded. One factor is the academic calendar of each partner institution, which will affect the ability of inbound and outbound students to study at SUNY Oneonta or a partner school in any given term. A second factor is the estimated likelihood of inbound and outbound students to want to and be able to study at SUNY Oneonta or a partner school with a scholarship award versus without a scholarship award. Scholarships for outbound students will be advertised using multiple methods, including but not limited to: campus , student portal, fliers, during one-on-one advising sessions with OIE staff members, and through academic departments. The OIE will collect and review scholarship applications, and determine which students to award scholarships to. Scholarship decisions will be based on the quality of students plans to help promote their experiences, and their financial need, as expressed in their applications. The availability of scholarships for inbound students will be communicated to partner institutions by the OIE, and coordinators at the partner schools will be responsible for nominating students for the available scholarships. Number of Inbound/Outbound Exchange Funded By Scholarships Each Term* Term Fall 2016, Fall 2017, and Fall 2018 Spring 2017, Spring 2018, and Spring 2019 Total Funded Over 3 Year Period Partner Institution Inbound Outbound Inbound Outbound Inbound Outbound Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy) Hanze U. of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) American College of Greece (Greece) National Chung Cheng University (Taiwan) U. of Lincoln (UK) Tokyo Metropolitan U. (Japan) *The scholarship awards will be $1500/student, and will help offset travel and living expenses. References Impact of Study Abroad on Retention and Success (2015). Retrieved from Sauber, N. (2012). The Impact of Service: Cultural Understanding and International Service- Learning with Bridgewater State University. Undergraduate Review, 8,

5 Section II Funding Request Please see the StAR Budget Template that is attached with this proposal. Section III Appendix A The Chief Information Officer has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to technology: [X ] Not Applicable The Associate Vice President for Facilities has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to facilities: [X] Not Applicable The Budget Director has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs: [X ] Not Applicable The Senior Executive Employee Services Officer has reviewed this proposal and verified potential costs as it relates to human resources: [X ] Not Applicable Other consultation (be specific):

6 Proposal Title: International Exchange Programs Point Person and contact information Name: Kate Bronk, Study Abroad Coordinator Campus Phone: (607) Campus Department/Unit: Office of International Education StAR Proposal -- Budget Template Budget Detail please enter whole dollars 1-time Costs by year Total 1-time Use of Funds Description Number of Positions Costs Personnel Costs: $0 Temporary Salaries (Temp Service) $0 Student Employment (Student Temp Service) $0 Other Than Personnel Costs (OTPS) and Campus Recharges: Materials & Supplies $0 Travel (not related to Professional Development) $0 Contractual Services $0 Student Scholarships $13,000 $13,000 $13,000 $39,000 Professional Development $0 General Equipment $0 Contracts related to Equipment Maintenance $0 Campus Storehouse $0 Campus Telephone $0 Campus Mail $0 Campus Print Shop $0 Capital Costs -- renovation $0 Capital Costs -- new construction $0 Total Positions & Costs: 0.00 $13,000 $13,000 $13,000 $39,000 Other Funding Sources Intended to Reduce Total Costs Shown Above: New Funds (i.e. projected revenue generation) Projected Amount Available: Reallocation of funds from existing resources (include account number, funding source) Global Connectedness Fund - Available to the OIE through the College Foundation $15,000 Distributed over 3 academic years Total Projected Other Funding Sources, Offsetting Total Costs: $15,000 Total support from OIE over 3 years