Skip to content

Proposing a New Program

Starting a Program Abroad

The Office of Global Engagement (OGE) is always open to exploring the development of new faculty-led programs. Proposing a new program is a process requiring the involvement of OGE, relevant department administration/staff, the Office of Curriculum Systems, and the Dean(s) of the appropriate college(s). To allow sufficient planning time for a new study away program, it is best to start the process at least 18 months prior to the estimated program departure date.

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS

An overview of the program proposal process can be found below.

Study Abroad Program Development Grants: UGA Office of Global Engagement is inviting proposals from faculty to develop and lead UGA study abroad programs for undergraduate students. Successfully approved study abroad program proposals will be considered for Study Abroad Program Development Grant funding at the October and March meetings of the Study Abroad Program Proposal Committee. The purpose of the Grant is to assist faculty in finalizing the planning of the approved study abroad program proposal. Successful program proposals selected for an exploratory travel grant will receive funding covering the expenses of a site visit for up to $4,000 per program. A maximum of seven approved proposals will be supported in 2023-24. Please see Study Abroad Program Development and Grants for more information.


ProposingaNewProgramRev. 10/10/2019
 

Step 1: Complete the Background Questionnaire 

For faculty considering creating a study away program, the first step is to complete a background questionnaire.

This form is intended to prompt faculty to begin thinking through the academic, financial, and risk management components of the planning process. It is also created to help guide the conversation between the faculty member and Dr. Yana Cornish, Director of Global Education, as outlined in Step 2.

Once the questionnaire has been submitted, OGE will reach out to the faculty member listed and set up a meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the faculty member should:  

Step 2: Schedule a Meeting with the Director of Global Education

The purpose of this meeting is to: 
  • Discuss rationale for the program and its benefits to the academic unit and UGA
  • Evaluate the viability of the proposed program and how it will fit among existing program offerings at UGA
  • Discuss the academic and financial management of the proposed program
  • Discuss the long-term sustainability of the program
  • Discuss safety and stability of the area in which the proposed program will be located

Step 3: Complete a Faculty-led Program Proposal in the StudyAway Portal

OGE will create a Faculty-led Program Proposal in the StudyAway Portal for the Program Director(s) or a designee for semester and year that they intend for their program to run.

They should complete the following information:
 
Questionnaires
Program Rationale Health and Safety
Program Leadership Risk Management
Academic Information Orientation
General Program Information Consular/ Emergency Service Information
Financial Information Global Experiential Learning
Travel, Facilities, Housing/Meals  
 
Material Uploads
Document Form/Template Instructions
Academic Information - Short-Term Study Abroad Program Information and Itinerary Template
- Semester Study Abroad Program Information Template
- Internship, Practicum, or Student Teaching Program Information Template
- Short Term Instructions
- Semester Instructions
- Internship/Practicum Instructions
Syllabi    
Budget Budget Template - section 2.5 of the Study Away Financial Manual N/A
Initial Program Travel Itinerary N/A N/A
Supporting Signatures of
Unit/ College Heads
New Study Away Program Proposal Supporting Signatures N/A
Please note that students are attracted to programs with clearly defined instructional expectations and syllabi. “Directed Readings” courses are strongly discouraged. Instead, Directors should consider offering existing departmental courses or creating new courses designed specifically for the study away program.
 

New Study Abroad Program Proposal Submission Deadlines

Calendar Year 2024 Spring 2024 Maymester 2024 Summer 2024 Fall 2024
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 1, 2023 Before Feb 1, 2023 Before Feb 1, 2023 Before Sept 1, 2023
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2023 Before Mar 1, 2023 Before Mar 1, 2023 Before Sept 15, 2023
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2023 Mar 1, 2023 Mar 1, 2023 Sept 15, 2023
OGE final approval April 30, 2023 April 30, 2023 April 30, 2023 Nov 30, 2023
 
Calendar Year 2023 Spring 2023 Maymester 2023 Summer 2023 Fall 2023
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 1, 2022 Before Feb 1, 2022 Before Feb 1, 2022 Before Sept 1, 2022
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2022 Before Mar 1, 2022 Before Mar 1, 2022 Before Sept 15, 2022
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2022 Mar 1, 2022 Mar 1, 2022 Sept 15, 2022
OGE final approval April 30, 2022 April 30, 2022 April 30, 2022 Nov 30, 2022
 
Previous Deadlines
For reference purposes, these are deadlines for past terms.
 
Calendar Year 2022 Spring 2022 Maymester 2022 Summer 2022 Fall 2022
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 22, 2021 Before Feb 22, 2021 Before Feb 22, 2021 Before Sep 28, 2021
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2021 Before Mar 1, 2021 Before Mar 1, 2021 Before Oct 30, 2021
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2021 Mar 1, 2021 Mar 1, 2021 Oct 30, 2021
OGE final approval April 30, 2021 April 30, 2021 April 30, 2021 Nov 29, 2021
SABD course update in Athena Oct 31, 2021 Oct 31, 2021 Oct 31, 2021 Feb 24, 2022
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 13, 2021 Mar 1, 2022 Mar 1, 2022 Jun 3, 2022
No academic course additions after this date Nov 13, 2021 Mar 1, 2022 Mar 1, 2022 Jun 3, 2022
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 13, 2021 Mar 1, 2022 Mar 1, 2022 Jun 3, 2022
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in the StudyAway Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 
Calendar Year 2021 Spring 2021 Maymester 2021 Summer 2021 Fall 2021
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 22, 2020 Before Feb 22, 2020 Before Feb 22, 2020 Before Sep 28, 2020
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2020 Before Mar 1, 2020 Before Mar 1, 2020 Before Oct 30, 2020
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2020 Mar 1, 2020 Mar 1, 2020 Oct 30, 2020
OGE final approval April 30, 2020 April 30, 2020 April 30, 2020 Nov 29, 2020
SABD course update in Athena Oct 31, 2020 Oct 31, 2020 Oct 31, 2020 Feb 24, 2021
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 13, 2020 Mar 1, 2021 Mar 1, 2021 Jun 3, 2021
No academic course additions after this date Nov 13, 2020 Mar 1, 2021 Mar 1, 2021 Jun 3, 2021
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 13, 2020 Mar 1, 2021 Mar 1, 2021 Jun 3, 2021
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in the StudyAway Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 
Calendar Year 2020 Spring 2020 Maymester 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 22, 2019 Before Feb 22, 2019 Before Feb 22, 2019 Before Sep 28, 2019
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2019 Before Mar 1, 2019 Before Mar 1, 2019 Before Oct 30, 2019
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 Oct 30, 2019
OGE final approval April 30, 2019 April 30, 2019 April 30, 2019 Nov 29, 2019
SABD course update in Athena Oct 31, 2019 Oct 31, 2019 Oct 31, 2019 Feb 24, 2020
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 13, 2019 Mar 1, 2020 Mar 1, 2020 Jun 3, 2020
No academic course additions after this date Nov 13, 2019 Mar 1, 2020 Mar 1, 2020 Jun 3, 2020
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 13, 2019 Mar 1, 2020 Mar 1, 2020 Jun 3, 2020
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in the StudyAway Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 
Calendar Year 2019 Spring 2019 Maymester 2019 Summer 2019 Fall 2019
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 9, 2018 Before Feb 9, 2018 Before Feb 9, 2018 Before Sep 28, 2018
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2018 Before Mar 1, 2018 Before Mar 1, 2018 Before Oct 30, 2018
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2018 Mar 1, 2018 Mar 1, 2018 Oct 30, 2018
OGE final approval April 30, 2018 April 30, 2018 April 30, 2018 Nov 30, 2018
SABD course update in Athena Oct 31, 2018 Oct 31, 2018 Oct 31, 2018 Feb 25, 2019
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 14, 2018 Mar 1, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 Jun 3, 2019
No academic course additions after this date Nov 14, 2018 Mar 1, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 Jun 3, 2019
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 14, 2018 Mar 1, 2019 Mar 1, 2019 Jun 3, 2019
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in the StudyAway Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 
Calendar Year 2018 Spring 2018 Maymester 2018 Summer 2018 Fall 2018
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Feb 10, 2017 Before Feb 10, 2017 Before Feb 10, 2017 Before Sep 29, 2017
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Mar 1, 2017 Before Mar 1, 2017 Before Mar 1, 2017 Before Oct 31, 2017
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Mar 1, 2017 Mar 1, 2017 Mar 1, 2017 Oct 31, 2017
OGE final approval May 1, 2017 May 1, 2017 May 1, 2017 Dec 1, 2017
SABD course update in Athena Nov 1, 2017 Nov 1, 2017 Nov 1, 2017 Feb 26, 2018
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 15, 2017 Mar 1, 2018 Mar 1, 2018 Jun 1, 2018
No academic course additions after this date Nov 15, 2017 Mar 1, 2018 Mar 1, 2018 Jun 1, 2018
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 15, 2017 Mar 1, 2018 Mar 1, 2018 Jun 1, 2018
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in the StudyAway Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 
Calendar Year 2017 Spring 2017 Maymester 2017 Summer 2017 Fall 2017
Program Directors plan program, submit Background Information Form & meet with director of StudyAway Before Jun 17 2016 Before Aug 29 2016 Before Sep 26 2016 Before Nov 7 2016
Review/approve program proposal within academic unit/college Before Jun 17 2016 Before Aug 29 2016 Before Sep 26 2016 Before Nov 7 2016
Program Directors, with pre-approval from academic units/college, submit documents in the StudyAway Portal Jun 17 2016 Aug 29 2016 Sep 26 2016 Nov 7 2016
OGE final approval Aug 8 2016 Nov 4 2016 Nov 21 2016 Jan 20 2017
SABD course update in Athena Sep 30 2016 Nov 11 2016 Dec 2 2016 Feb 27 2017
Program cancellation for low enrollment reasons Nov 15 2016 Mar 1 2017 Mar 1 2017 Jun 9 2017
No academic course additions after this date Nov 15 2016 Mar 1 2017 Mar 1 2017 Jun 9 2017
No changes to approved budgets after this date Nov 15 2016 Mar 1 2017 Mar 1 2017 Jun 9 2017
Final program itinerary is to be uploaded in Portal At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start At least 30 days prior to program start
 

Step 4: Committee Reviews the Proposal

Each semester, representatives from OGE, the Office of Curriculum Systems, UGA's Office of Emergency Preparedness, and faculty representatives meet to review and discuss each proposal. The review process will include a review of the academic, financial, and risk management components of the proposal. Each member of the committee will need to give their approval of the proposals. In most cases, the committee will ask for additional documentation before approving programs.

OGE will indicate final approval of program proposals by sending a letter to the proposing faculty member's Unit Head/Director, and the Dean of their college.

Step 5: Proposal is Approved

Once a program is approved, the faculty Program Director (or a designee) should:
If you are experiencing any technical issues, please contact StudyAway Help at studyawayhelp@uga.edu.