Scope of the Roles and Responsibilities
The Faculty Director of a study abroad program is much more than an average faculty member. Classroom teaching and research alone do not prepare a Faculty Director for successfully directing a study abroad program. The Faculty Director is not only a teacher in this situation but serves as an administrator, leader, interpreter, decision-maker and diplomat. A Faculty Director’s day does not end when class is over. A Faculty Director must be able to uphold and implement institutional policies from UI while at the same time taking advantage of the differences present in a foreign setting. But, a faculty member need not be too afraid of this large task as they can rely on the support systems present at UI which will share the burden of these responsibilities. This chapter outlines the primary responsibilities of the Faculty Director, not only with regards to student services and academics on-site, but also related to program planning, budgeting, administration, recruiting, and logistics.
