Institutional Audit: Study Abroad Policies, Procedures and Services

(C) 2007, Dr. Sandi M. Smith, Director of Institutional(study abroad, field research, internships, etc.)?
Relations, Global Learning Semesters14) Who/what office is responsible for signing
In this decade, internationalization is the hype andinternational agreements, exchange agreements?
dogma of many U.S. colleges and universities. This15) Does your school currently have any exchange
generation of "millennial" students has challenged U.S.agreements and/or international agreements?
higher education to make globalization more relevant16) Does your school have any affiliations or
and meaningful in the curriculum and learningpartnerships with study abroad consortia or program
experiences. However, so many institutions do notproviders?
really know where to start and what direction to17) Are there any faculty involved in international
take.research projects and/or cooperation agreements
Before any college or university can proceed with anwith any foreign institutions?
institutional strategy to develop study abroad18) Who/what office has authority to approve
opportunities, it is essential that the institutiontransfer of credit?
conduct an internal audit to better understand the19) What are the criteria and standards for approving
institutional strengths and obstacles relevant to studytransfer credit?
abroad. Since the administration of study abroad20) Who/what office processes transfer of credit?
programs is actually a microcosm of an entire21) Who/what office handles admissions of
university, it is very relevant to understand theinternational students?
parallel policies, procedures and services that will22) Is there anyone in your financial aid office who is
serve as the foundation of the institutionalfamiliar with / experienced processing financial aid for
framework for administering study abroad programsstudy abroad?
and services.23) Who/what office is responsible for maintaining
The following institutional audit process was designedrecords of student academic status?
by Dr. Sandi M. Smith for the administrative24) Who/what office is responsible for maintaining
professional development workshop for the Hispanicrecords of student disciplinary status?
Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)25) Who/what office is responsible for determining
entitled "Developing an Institutional Framework forand enforcing student conduct polices?
Maximizing Study Abroad".26) What is the contact information for the
Use the questions below as a checklist to keep trackRegistrar’s Office?
of the audit items you have completed. Collect as27) Who/what office is responsible for risk
much information related to the particular questionsmanagement and/or legal decisions for your
as possible. Take notes in the column as needed, andinstitution?
keep a file of all the material, documents, examples,28) Does your school have a student counseling
and contact information you collect during thiscenter and access to personal counseling services
process.(not academic advising)?
1) Does your school have a Dean or VP responsible29) Do you have any counselors experienced with
for internationalization and/or international education?cross-cultural counseling?
2) Does your school have a faculty committee30) What type of major medical and/or health
charged with internationalization and/or internationalinsurance do students at your institution carry?
issues?31) Does your school have 24/7 campus police
3) Does your school have at least one person who issecurity?
designated director, coordinator or advisor for study32) Does your school have residential facilities and
abroad in his/her job description?services?
4) Does your school already have an established33) Who/what office is responsible for adding to and
study abroad office?maintaining websites on your institutional homepage?
5) Does your school have written policies and34) Who/what office is responsible for developing
procedures for study abroad?and maintaining institutional budgets?
6) Does anyone at your institution collect data on35) Does your school have a foreign language
your students who study abroad each year?requirement?
7) Does anyone at your institution submit the IIE36) What foreign languages are taught at your
Open Doors Data Collection Survey?school?
8) Does your institutional mission statement mention37) Are your foreign language classes under-enrolled
study abroad, internationalization, preparing citizensor wait-listed?
for a global society, etc.?38) Are there any departments that currently require
9) What committee is responsible for reviewing andstudy abroad or internship as a graduation
approving academic policies and procedures?requirement?
10) Who does this committee report to?39) List any complaints, concerns, questions you have
11) Who is currently chair of this committee?heard from students, administrators, and/or faculty
12) Does anyone at your institution have membershipabout promoting study abroad to your students.
in NAFSA, AIEA, The Forum on Education Abroad,Each of these questions explores crucial information
IIE, or other international-related professionalrelated to administering study abroad. After collecting
organizations?this data, a SWOT analysis is recommended to
13) Are there any faculty at your institution whodetermine how the institution will start, change
take students outside the U.S. for academic tripsdirection, or enhance study abroad.