Traditional study abroad is a credit-bearing academic travel experience, although UI Study Abroad may also administer non-credit international travel and virtual engagement courses that support the academic mission of the University of Iowa and contribute to faculty learning goals for students. There are many ways in which UI faculty can contribute to study abroad.
Study Abroad Classroom Visits
Faculty are welcome to request a study abroad classroom presentation, which typically runs 30-60 minutes, depending on the desired topics to be covered. Study Abroad can give general information sessions, provide information specific to a major or field of study, and/or talk about global internships.
Curriculum Integration
Faculty across campus play an important role in curriculum integration and the creation of Major Advising Pages to guide the international pursuits and study abroad program choices of students. Students typically consult departmental academic advisors for assistance completing a "Credit Approval Form," a learning agreement that analyzes credit transfer from study abroad toward major, minor, or certificate program requirements.
Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs
All University units must obtain approval from International Programs prior to organizing or promoting student travel abroad for University purposes. To ensure good practice standards, including safety standards, are met by university programs abroad, it is strongly preferred that student travel abroad programs be administered and organized by International Programs. When this is not the case, University units (including colleges, departments, centers, offices, or other operational units) organizing such travel must comply with minimum requirements set by University of Iowa International Programs for the organization and promotion of student travel abroad. For further details, please refer to the International Travel Policy for Students.
Faculty members develop and lead short-term study abroad programs with support from UI Study Abroad, enriching the curricular offerings for UI students.
The success of a new study abroad program depends on many factors. Some of these include:
- Course content that is relevant and interesting to a critical mass of students
- Courses that fulfill specific UI degree requirements, e.g., a General Education Requirement, or a major, minor, or certificate program requirement
- A course location that reinforces the curricular content and makes the site a learning laboratory
- An energetic, motivated faculty director who can successfully promote the program to students
The Study Abroad office operates study abroad programs on a cost-recovery basis. Every effort is made to keep a program affordable for the broadest possible range of UI students. In general, for a new study abroad program to break even, approximately 15 participants are required. Faculty can expect to have their airfare and housing provided by the course fee. Salary is usually collected from the students as part of the course fee they are assessed, although it is occasionally provided by the provost's office.
Study Abroad staff routinely offer the following assistance: creation and processing of applications, oversight and finalization of the program budget, student billing, disbursal of program funds, guidance and training for program leaders, a general pre-departure orientation for all study abroad students, processing of grades and student program evaluations, compliance and reporting support, safety planning and oversight during crisis response. Additional support or staffing from Study Abroad may be available if prearranged.
To begin the program proposal process:
- Contact the director of study abroad health, safety, and risk management to discuss program development. If the program idea is feasible, you will be asked to submit a proposal (see step 2 below).
Complete the Faculty-led Study Abroad Program Proposal form. The proposal must be submitted online via the webform to be considered.
This worksheet was designed to help you prepare your responses: Download proposal worksheet(.docx)
Proposal Review Schedule
Proposals are reviewed twice a year as follows:
Proposal Submitted by Proposal Reviewed by If approved, earliest time the new program is offered June 1 August 1 The following summer session December 1 February 1 The following winterim session - If your Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs Proposal is approved, the director of study abroad health, safety, and risk management will appoint a program coordinator in Study Abroad to assist with overall program planning, including logistics, partner vetting, contracting, payments, promotion, and pre-departure preparations. Planning a new program usually begins at least a year prior to its first offering.
Reciprocal Exchange Agreements
Most students are not well suited for academic exchanges that require complete academic, cultural, or linguistic immersion. For this reason, proposals for new exchange agreements are considered very selectively. UI students most often enroll in study abroad programs that can facilitate foreign university course access while also providing student support tailored to learners who lack the academic, linguistic, and cultural fluency to thrive independently on a foreign campus.
On rare occasions the needs of UI students can be met through a reciprocal exchange agreement where a student from UI and a student from a foreign university essentially swap places for a set period, most often a semester. If you have an idea for a student exchange agreement with a foreign higher education institution, please contact Autumn Tallman, Director, Study Abroad Health, Safety and Risk Management (autumn-tallman@uiowa.edu) to discuss the feasibility of your idea and steps for formalizing a proposal.
Promotion of Unaffiliated Study Abroad Programs to Students
If you are contacted by an external study abroad provider asking for your help promoting their program to UI students, please refer them to UI Study Abroad for consideration and vetting. All University units must obtain approval from International Programs prior to organizing or promoting student travel abroad for university purposes. Unaffiliated study abroad program providers are expected to direct requests for affiliation and promotion of their programs to UI Study Abroad rather than directly marketing unaffiliated programs to UI academic units, faculty, or students.
2027 USAC Visiting Professor Call for Applications
International Programs’ study abroad partner, USAC, is excited to announce another round of their Visiting Professor (VP) program for Summer 2027.
USAC has expanded this program, now offering 28 Visiting Professor spots. The application deadline is April 1, 2026, and selected applicants will be notified by June 15, 2026.
USAC will award the selected VPs a flat $6,000 stipend. This stipend is compensation for teaching and may go toward related expenses (i.e. flight, housing, meals, etc.). VPs will make and pay for all their own travel and personal arrangements. USAC will assist with finding housing. USAC may be able to help with finding housing, as determined by location, but VPs will be responsible for paying housing costs. International health insurance coverage via CISI at the same level as our students will be included and paid for by USAC. (USAC Affiliate institutions are also welcome to use funds from their Internationalization Award to defray costs for VPs. If you would like to use IA funds, please let us know.)
There is a minimum requirement of at least five (5) students enrolled before the course (and thus the VP participation) will be confirmed. Faculty selected as VP are required to actively assist in student recruitment on U.S. campuses and beyond. USAC will provide recruitment materials and a workshop on best practices for reaching enrollment. USAC will announce the VP and course availability via regular USAC communication channels. However, it is incumbent upon VPs to work actively with their campus study abroad office to reach this goal.
Should you have questions, please contact USAC at visitingprofessors@usac.edu.
USAC is seeking applicants to teach the following pre-selected courses:
- Alicante, Spain - Summer Session 1 - Climate Resilience and Coastal Studies: The Mediterranean (GEOG/ANTH, 200-level)
- Bilbao, Spain - Summer Session 1 - International Marketing (MKT, 300-400-level)
- Bilbao, Spain - Summer Session 2 - Operations Management (MGT/SCM, 300-400-level)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand - Summer Session 2 - International Business Management (BUS/MGT, 300-400-level)
- Heredia, Costa Rica - Summer Session 1 - Foundations of Personal Wellness (CHS, 100-level)
- Heredia, Costa Rica - Summer Session 2 - Sports, Nutrition, Exercise, and Performance (CHS/KIN/NUTR, 400-level)
- Lyon, France - Summer Session 1 - French Arts and Architecture: Classical to Beaux Art (ART, 300-400-level)
- Lyon, France - Summer Session 2 - Words in Motion: Translating French for a Global World (FREN/WLL, 300-400-level)
- Pau, France - Summer Session 1 - Sustainability in France (GEOG/ENV/NRES, 300-400-level)
- Reggio Emilia - Summer Session 2 - Health and Wellness Communication (CHS/COM, 300-level)
- San Sebastian, Spain - Summer Session 1 - Food and Culture (ANTH/NUTR, 300-level)
- San Sebastian, Spain - Summer Session 2 - Positive Psychology (PSY, 300-level)
- Shanghai, China - Summer Session 1 - Digital Marketing (BUS/MKT, 400-level)
- Torino, Italy - International Strategic Management (BUS/MGT, 300-400-level)
- Torino, Italy - Summer Session 2 - International Sport Business (BUS/MGT, 300-400)
- Verona, Italy - Summer Session 1 - Food and Beverage Tourism (BUS/FAB/TCA, 300-400-level)
- Verona, Italy - Summer Session 2 - Luxury Brand Management (MGT, 300-400-level)
- Viterbo, Italy - Summer Session 1 - Food and Culture (ANTH/NUTR, 300-400-level)
- Viterbo, Italy - Summer Session 2 - Italian Renaissance Arts (ART/HIST, 300-level)
Open call - USAC welcomes proposals for courses in the following topics (a course blurb or a draft syllabus will need to be submitted):
- Chengdu, China – Summer Session 2 - Food and Culture or related (ANTH/NUTR, 300-400-level)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand - Summer Session 1 - Comparative Health Issues and Systems or related (CHS, 300-400-level)
- Luneburg, Germany - Summer Session 1 - Sustainability in Germany or related (GEOG,ENV,NRES, 300-400-level)
- Prague, Czechia - Summer Session 1 - Business/Economy/Marketing (200-400-level)
- Prague, Czechia - Summer Session 2 - Health/Psychology/Sport Science (200-400-level)
- Reggio Emilia, Italy - Summer Session 1 - Psychology (300-400-level)
- Santiago, Chile - Summer Session 1 or 2 - Criminology/Criminal Justice (300-400-level course)
- Santiago, Chile - Summer Session 1 or 2 - International/Cross-Cultural Journalism or Communication (300-400-level)
- Shanghai, China - Summer Session 2 - Global Economics/International Business/Cross-Cultural Management (300-400-level)
SNAPSHOT DETAILS:
- Sites already selected (see above)
- Specific courses and open call already selected
- Applicants can apply to as many courses/locations they want with a set syllabus.
- Applicants can only apply to one open proposal course/location.
- $6,000 stipend
- CISI health insurance included
- 5 student enrollment minimum
- Courses taught in English (unless otherwise noted)
Applicants are required to submit a document expressing approval from both their department chair/dean AND the education abroad office at the institution (whether you or someone else). You will be copied on acknowledgement emails and are encouraged to share any feedback you have with us. You will also be consulted before any offers are made to selected applicants. NOTE: A major consideration will be the degree to which faculty can/will recruit students for the program and demonstration of prior success in recruiting students for similar opportunities.
Please share the following link and the attachment with any faculty member for whom you think the USAC Visiting Professor program would be a good fit.
Additionally, this year, we will be offering a webinar that faculty can attend that will go over the program and application. The USAC VP Coordinator and Alyssa, USAC’s CEO/President will be there to present and answer questions. Please find the link here to register. This will also be recorded.