FAQ
• Who has responsibility for developing a new program?
An individual faculty member and the Global Education Office for Undergraduates (GEO-U), formerly known as the Office of Study Abroad, generally have responsibility for developing a new Duke-administered domestic or study abroad program. In developing the program, the faculty member and GEO-U-U staff will work in consultation with the academic department head of the sponsoring unit, the faculty-led Duke Global Education Committee, the Dean of Trinity College, and other appropriate Duke departments.
• How does a potential program director get started?
The interested faculty member(s) contacts the GEO-U and meets with the Director/Associate Dean and appropriate staff to discuss the program proposal. The GEO-U has checklists and suggested timelines available for faculty to use as they develop new programs. Following this meeting, the interested faculty member(s) should complete a ‘Request for Approval’ form found on our website: http://studyabroad.duke.edu/home/For_Faculty_Staff/Program_Development/Proposal_Packet
• Who initiates the approval process?
The individual faculty member initiates the approval process by obtaining permission to proceed from his/her academic department head.
• Why is program approval necessary?
All study abroad and domestic programs sponsored by Duke University must be approved by the appropriate officials at Duke to ensure that the program adheres to university policies and procedures, as well as those of the NAFSA Association of International Educators (for study abroad programs. See http://www.nafsa.org/). The approval process also serves as a “checks and balances” to ensure that appropriate provisions were made for the program’s implementation. New programs should not be publicized until approval has been secured.
Consult the GEO-U and complete the "Request for Approval". Before a new Duke study abroad/study away program can be approved, the faculty member must complete the "Request for Approval”.
• How will approval notification take place?
After review and approval by the Dean of Trinity College and the faculty-led Global Education Committee, the GEO-U will be responsible for notifying the faculty member and department head that the program proposal has received final approval. The original “Request for Approval” will be filed in the GEO-U.
• How will assessment and evaluation be handled for a new study abroad/domestic program?
Programs that have been approved to run will be evaluated by students, and assessed by the GEO-U and the Duke Assessment Office through the use of program and course evaluations.
