Skip to main content
Education Abroad
Program Search Login Advising Request

Faculty Leader Duties & Responsibilities

 
Global Affairs - Education Abroad offers support, guidance, and resources throughout the entirety of your international experience (planning, execution, and evaluation). It is important to understand your responsibilities as a faculty leader to lead an effective and efficient program. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the WVU Education Abroad staff listed below:

BEFORE DEPARTURE

  • Proposal: Complete the online proposal.
  • Course Creation: Work with your Global Affairs Faculty-Led Program Specialist, Amanda Morgan or Brian Ricketts, to add your WVU Course Abroad to the BANNER schedule.
  • Recruiting: Recruiting students is essential for a successful program. Education Abroad can offer assistance through classroom presentations and our bi-annual education abroad fairs, which reach thousands of students annually.
  • Student Selection: Faculty must review all student application materials. These are available online via educationabroad.wvu.edu. Faculty should work in collaboration with their regional education abroad coordinator to evaluate student documentation, including confidential health forms and student conduct records.
  • Pre-Departure: All programs must complete a pre-departure orientation prior to departing the United States. Please work with Education Abroad staff to schedule this meeting.
  • Program Finance & Budgeting: Faculty leaders are responsible for completing all necessary documentation  involved with their program’s finance and budgeting.
    • You must complete all necessary documentation and training pertaining to your WVU P-Card and cash advance card. All documentation must be completed promptly, and failure to do so can and will likely result in a delay receiving your cards. 
    • You must attend all budgets meetings prior to program departure.
    • All salary (special pay) documentation must be turned in to the Global Affairs - Education Abroad office 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so may result in your salary payments being delayed.

WHILE ABROAD

  • Student Well-Being: It is the faculty leader’s responsibility to monitor student health and safety while abroad. Unfortunately, unplanned events can occur. Faculty should ensure that all students receive adequate medical attention if needed abroad. It is the faculty leader’s responsibility to know and understand how to access WVU’s emergency management provider, InternationalSOS, and the services that they provide. Please consult the WVU Travel Information.
  • Budget Management: Faculty are responsible for remaining within budget limits. All program deficits will be reviewed with the Education Abroad office and your departmental business office upon completion of your program.
    • It is imperative that receipts for all purchases and payments must be kept for reconciliation. If receipts are unattainable, expenses can be recorded on a log sheet.
  • Troubleshooting: Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected events happen during international travel. These can be as common as flight delays or as rare as government shutdowns. We ask that in these situations faculty keep Education Abroad informed, but actively work to create alternate plans if issues arise. Education Abroad will be in contact if specific information is required.
    • For health and safety emergencies, start with our emergency assistance provider, ISOS at +1 215 942 8478
    • WVU offers a 24/7 emergency line in case of emergencies or unforeseen events. In case of such an event, please contact 304-293-9456.
  • Student Behavior: Students are expected to abide by the WVU Student Conduct Code at all times. Students are also expected to abide by the laws of their host country. Please use your best judgement and discretion when dealing with behavioral issues abroad; if the behavior becomes disruptive to the group, or presents a health and safety concern you may work with Education Abroad to return the student to the United States immediately. In the event that a student is returned home, the WVU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities will be contacted.
  • Keeping WVU Informed: While you’re abroad we ask that you keep us informed and aware of any issues that may arise. Please use your discretion to evaluate the urgency of any issue, and use email for non-urgent issues. We require that you provide us with a method of contact so that we can reach you while you are abroad.

UPON RETURN

  • Follow-Up Meeting: Once your program has concluded we will schedule a meeting to review and discuss your program. This will include any student issues that arose, lessons learned, and future programming possibilities.
  • Financial Reconciliation: All receipts and documentation will be collected at the follow-up meeting. At this time we will review all outstanding balances from vendors and begin the reimbursement process, if needed. 
  • Evaluation: After your return, we will email you a link to complete an online evaluation of your program, from start to finish. This will include your insights of the entire program process, and your feedback will be used to reevaluate processes and procedures, as well as to demonstrate success stories to the university community.