For Academic Advisors

OIS appreciates the roles of academic advisors in the study abroad process here at Goucher.  We hope that you find the information on this page helpful, and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about international studies. 

The Role of Academic Advisors in the Study Abroad Process

Working With: Students Planning to Study Abroad

Fliers and word of mouth help inform some students about study-abroad opportunities, but many students hear of opportunities after it is too late to pursue them.  You should talk to first-year students about their plans to study abroad.  First-year students can participate in Summer Intensive Courses Abroad, for which they apply in the Fall semester (their first semester on campus).  It may be helpful to make yourself aware of any ICAs that your department plans to sponsor academically. 

The start of the second year is an ideal time for students to begin researching study abroad opportunities (three-week intensive courses abroad, semester programs, and yearlong programs) and explore other relevant information such as requirements, deadlines, and costs of these programs.  Students should be discussing study abroad options with both OIS and the academic advisor.  

Scholarships are available for many of these programs, and application information can also be found at OIS.  The study abroad voucher ($1,200 for most students; $3,000 for ISP students, who must study abroad for at least a semester) can apply to any Goucher or non-Goucher approved study abroad program.  Please feel free to contact OIS about non-Goucher study abroad programs you would like to recommend to your students. 

In order to go abroad for a semester or academic year,

OIS encourages students to be in touch with academic advisors about when, where, and what they would like to study abroad.  A student planning to participate in a Goucher Intensive Course Abroad (ICA) for three weeks in January or in the Summer should speak with his academic advisor about how the course may fulfill the graduation requirement.  (ICAs are resident credit.)  Students may also participate in Summer programs through partner programs, for which they will receive Goucher credits.  Language majors are required to attend designated Goucher semester programs ( Salamanca for Spanish majors; Paris for French majors; etc.), and language minors are strongly encouraged to attend those programs. 

Non-language majors who hope to study abroad for the semester can choose from Goucher or non-Goucher approved programs.  If a student studies on a Goucher program in a country where English is not a national language, then the student must take a course in the language, but can do so on a Pass/Fail basis.  Goucher offers semester programs that accommodate all majors; each academic department has, or soon will have, an information sheet regarding the study abroad programs that offer courses counting for credit in that specific department.  Courses taken through Goucher-sponsored semester programs count as resident credit and factor into the student’s GPA; courses taken through non-Goucher approved programs must be approved by the academic departments, but do not count towards the GPA. 

Students may ask their academic advisors for help in selecting courses for Goucher and non-Goucher programs.  The academic advisor will be asked to approve the applicability of the courses abroad to the major graduation requirements.  Academic advisors are encouraged to contact the OIS to find out about Goucher and non-Goucher programs that accommodate students in that department; advisors are also encouraged to suggest study abroad programs to students and to OIS for approval.

Working With: Students Who are Currently Abroad

Once a student is abroad, he/she may contact the academic advisor regarding the following issues:

Change of courses abroad: If a student takes a course not previously approved by the academic advisor (via OIS paperwork), then OIS necessitates the student to e mail the new course name, level, and description to the advisor for approval.  The student is then asked to forward a copy of the new approval to OIS for our records. 

Course registration for the next semester: A student abroad may contact you to inquire about courses for the following semester. 

We encourage you to read about students' experiences abroad via our student bloggers. 

Working With: Students Who Have Recently Returned from Study Abroad

You should pay particular attention to the needs of students who have recently returned from study abroad.  Reentry often presents both intellectual and emotional challenges.  The list of reentry challenges below may prove helpful as you work with these students.  You may also wish to make a copy to give to the student so that they can see that their struggles are normal.

As the list of reentry challenges suggests, one of the best things you can do is to make time to listen to the student’s stories.  OIS works with other regional institutions to host an annual Reentry Conference for study abroad returnees that addresses emotional, practical, and academic reentry issues.  If you feel that the student needs additional emotional support, refer them to Cynthia Terry, chaplain (ex. 6048), or Gayle Davis, therapist (ex. 6563), who are running a support group for students facing reentry issues.  Individual counseling with Cynthia, Gayle, or one of the other therapists in the Student Health and Counseling Center (ex. 6050) may also be appropriate.

Be aware that some students may be seeking additional academic challenges and ways to continue their language and cultural study upon return from study abroad.  Please try to direct them to appropriate coursework or co-curricular opportunities.  You may even encourage them to seek minors in academic areas related to the nature of their study abroad experiences.  If you are unsure of how to further direct them regarding these opportunities, contact the Office of International Studies at ex. 6455.