For Faculty

A Guide for Advising Students Through the Study Abroad Process

Goucher-Sponsored Programs

Intensive Courses Abroad (ICAs) and Short-Term Programs
A student planning to participate in a Goucher Intensive Course Abroad (ICA) for three weeks in January or in the summer should speak with you 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. 

Non-Goucher-Sponsored Programs
If your advisee is interested in a non-Goucher-sponsored program, please refer them to Your Guide to Selecting a Study Abroad Program and encourage the student to meet with OIS staff for approval. 

Keep in mind, non-Goucher programs often require more work for students and academic advisers as signatures are necessary from you and from designated department chairs, and because OIS is not responsible for application submission or other necessary paperwork.   

Language Majors or Minors
Language majors are required to attend designated Goucher semester programs: University of Salamanca for Spanish, Eberhard Karls Universitat for German (for German minors), and the Paris Program for French. Language minors are strongly encouraged to attend these programs as well. 

If a student wishes to study abroad in a location where courses are taught in the target language, they must meet appropriate requirements. For semester programs, students should be enrolled in the foreign language the semester before departing and meet program-specific requirements.  Typically, students must have at least four college semesters or the equivalent to participate in a foreign language program.

If a student studies on a Goucher program in a country where English is not the national language, then the student must take a course in the language (but can do so on a pass/fail basis).

General Information

• Familiarize yourself with deadlines and upcoming events in OIS. 
• Encourage students to attend the fall or spring Study Abroad Fair to meet with representatives from specific programs and talk to students returning from abroad.
• Once a student has a clear sense of where they want to study abroad, they should meet with OIS and you to discuss what courses they will take and how they will transfer back into Goucher. 
• Your advisees will ask you to approve the applicability of the courses abroad to the major graduation requirements. 
• Courses taken through Goucher-sponsored semester programs count as resident credit and factor into the student’s GPA; courses taken through non-Goucher-sponsored programs must be approved by the academic departments, but do not count towards the GPA. 
• If students have questions about financial aid, please refer them to our Financial Aid and Costs page for more information or to OIS and the Office of Student Financial Aid if they have specific concerns or challenges.
• Encourage your students to look for scholarships and remind them that they can always apply for scholarships through OIS by selecting “Yes, I’d like to be considered for a scholarship” on the Study Abroad Application.
• In order to go abroad, a student must:
  • have declared a major and spent at least three semesters on campus;
  • have a GPA (2.75 of higher in most cases), and
  • Verify acceptance of abroad credits with OIS.

Working With Students Who Are Currently Studying Abroad
Once a student is abroad, be prepared that he/she may contact you regarding course registration for the next semester and/or change of courses abroad. (If a student takes a course not previously approved by the academic adviser [via OIS paperwork], the student must e-mail the new course name, level, and description to the adviser for approval and forward a copy of the new approval to OIS for our records.) 

Working With Students Who Have Recently Returned From Study Abroad
Reentry often presents intellectual and emotional challenges; students returning from abroad may need some individualized attention from you. 

If your advisee is struggling with coming back to campus, please direct them to the many reentry resources at Goucher and in the community, including the following: 

Some students may seek additional academic challenges and ways to continue their language and cultural study—please direct them to appropriate coursework or co-curricular opportunities.  Community service or community-based learning may be an appropriate option, as many of our community-based partners work with an international population.  You may even encourage them to seek minors in academic areas related to the nature of their study abroad experiences. 

One of the best things you can do is listen to the students’ stories.  Please make time to invite your returning students to talk about their time abroad.

For a full list of policies and procedures for participating in a Goucher- or non-Goucher-sponsored program, please download this form.

Visit this link to read about students’ experiences abroad via our student bloggers. 

If you would like to participate in a site visit or lead an ICA please visit this link for more information.