Definition: Short-term visits are not-for-credit international experiences lasting less than one month that are NOT formal or recurring StudyAway programs. Expenses for short-term visits are handled by students themselves outside of student accounts. Examples may include international performances, academic conferences, meetings, competitions and service trips among others. Short-term visits may either be offered by a university or operated by international education organizations. Some short-term trips may occur during breaks in the academic year or academic terms.

For short-term study away visits, faculty/staff should advise students to:

Definition: A StudyAway program is an approved, credit-bearing study away experience that results in progress toward an academic degree at UGA. Such experiences are typically overseen or administered by the UGA Office of Global Engagement. UGA Faculty-Led Programs/UGA International Centers are OGE-approved programs where students can study with UGA faculty and other UGA students. Students can earn UGA resident credit, register through Athena, and pay UGA tuition/fees at an in-state rate. While faculty-led programs mostly take place during Maymester/summer with a planned schedule and planned activities, students may also participate in semester-long options at UGA residential centers. UGA Faculty-Led Programs have a variety of housing and classroom spaces. The three UGA International Centers, based in Oxford, England, and Cortona, Italy, offer their own housing and facilities.

Proposing a New Program
When wishing to propose a new study away program, faculty/staff should follow these steps:
Planning an Existing Program
In order to continue to offer an existing study away program, the program director should follow these steps in advance of every term the program intends to run:

Definition: Internships abroad are programs that provide students with temporary on-the-job training abroad in a certain industry. Students typically complete these programs for academic credit and, in some cases, may be paid for their work. Fieldwork involves quantitative and/or qualitative research and instructional hours that, while supervised and initiated by an instructor, feature independent work and self-direction outside of a laboratory, library, or classroom setting.

Prior to recommending any internships or fieldwork abroad, faculty should complete the online form.

Students traveling for internships arranged or facilitated by faculty/staff must be advised by the same faculty/staff to take the following steps:

Internships may or may not be conducted for academic credit.

For Academic Credit

Department Steps:
Department must complete an Independent Experience Planning submission for each study away term.

• Step 1: Schedule a meeting with the Director of StudyAway by contacting studyaway@uga.edu or 706-542-2900
• Step 2: Obtain official approval from the Academic Unit (department/college) administration
• Step 3: Submit required documentation via an Independent Experience Planning submission in the UGA StudyAway Portal.
• Step 4: Upon receiving OGE approval - start program marketing and organization of logistics and advise student to complete next steps with the OGE.

Specific processes govern the establishment of new study away programs.

Student Steps for Academic Credit

• Step 1: Register via an Independent Experience Application with OGE. Travel Advisory Level 3/4 locations may require additional steps.
• Step 2: Obtain adequate insurance.
• Step 3: Register their trip with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
• Step 4: Participate in an OGE pre-departure orientation

Not For Credit

Department Steps

• Non-credit activities must follow the Pre-Departure Procedures for Non-credit Student Mobility Activities.
• If the student will be interning with an study away partner, then other documentation may be required. Please consult the International Partnerships Unit for more information.

Student Steps for Not-for-Credit Independent Experiences

• Step 1: Register with OGE. Travel Advisory Level 3/4 locations may require additional steps.
• Step 2: Obtain adequate insurance.
• Step 3: Register their trip with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
• Non-credit activities must follow the Pre-Departure Procedures for Non-credit Student Mobility Activities.

Definition: UGA Exchanges are programs in which UGA students attend a partner institution overseas for either a semester or an academic year. UGA students can take courses at partner institutions for credits that can be applied towards their UGA degree. Participants pay UGA at in-state tuition rates, as well as study away living costs.

When wishing to propose a new student exchange, faculty/staff should follow these steps:

Definition: Non-UGA Programs are programs that are either provided by another institution or by a study away provider. The length of external programs and costs may vary, but there may be many options to choose from in terms of location and courses. These programs are typically the best way to arrange internships, service-learning, and teaching abroad opportunities.

For Non-UGA Programs:

Definition: Student organization activities are study away trips organized by and for student organizations that fall within the official scope of activity of the student organization. Examples of relevant student organization study away activities include: international organization conferences or other organization meetings; international civic and community engagement projects; group internships or research; or organizationally-sponsored site visits or events.

For student organization activities, faculty/staff should advise students to:
For full details, please see the Pre-Departure Procedures for Non-credit Student Mobility Activities.

Policy on the Requirement for Faculty and Staff to Submit Study Away Activity that is Recommended to Students for Review by the Office of Global Engagement

The University of Georgia is subject to specific responsibilities for the safety and well-being of students who participate in UGA study away programs, including certain responsibilities under Title IX of the United States Education Amendments of 1972. While students can and do travel independently, it is important to keep in mind that efforts to assist students in planning international travel can give rise to institutional responsibilities even if such travel takes place outside of a UGA faculty-led study away, exchange or residential center program.

Responsibility to Seek Approval for Study Away Activities

Before recommending any study away activity to students, UGA faculty or staff must submit a description of the activity to the UGA Office of Global Engagement for review. Depending on the type of study away activity, additional approval and partnership documentation steps may be required by OGE as part of the review process. For a complete explanation of the submission process, including definitions of the types of study away activity and step-by-step instructions for faculty and staff, please visit the Office of Global Engagement website or contact studyaway@uga.edu.

Study away activities requiring review include, but are not limited to, faculty-led study away, exchange and residential center programs as well as any instance where a UGA employee facilitates international student travel or recommends a particular international activity to a UGA student.

A non-exhaustive list of faculty and staff interactions that may give rise to institutional responsibility for student safety and which require review of the particular study away activity include instances when a faculty or staff member does any of the following:

• Makes logistical or academic arrangements on behalf of the student with respect to a particular study away activity;
• Facilitates financial support for a particular study away activity;
• Reviews or approves the study away activity in advance as satisfying UGA credit hour or credential requirements;
• Approves the study away activity as part of an organized student experience associated with the University;
• Maintains a list of “approved” or “recommended” study away activities; or
• Recommends a particular study away activity to a student, or otherwise makes statements that would lead a reasonable student or parent to believe that a particular study away activity is sponsored, supported or recommended by the University of Georgia.

The following faculty and staff efforts would not normally require OGE review because the University of Georgia is not recommending, providing advice for, or funding a specific identifiable study away activity, thereby leaving it up to the students’ discretion whether to participate in study away activities, and which activity to choose:

• Advising a student to participate in study away activities generally, provided the choice of destination is left to the discretion of the student and students are advised of their responsibilities, as described below;
• Establishing academic or enrichment programs that permit or require international travel, including international internship or fieldwork programs, provided the choice of destination is left to the discretion of the student and the student is properly advised, as described below;
• Identifying general funding sources to facilitate international student travel, as long as funds are not directed to a specific identifiable study away activity;
• Discussing general transfer credit policy or procedures for international study;
• Hosting events where students discuss prior international experiences generally; or
• Discussion of safety and security matters related to international travel and study away.

This policy recognizes that the University’s involvement in various types of study away activities exists on a spectrum, and this document does not address every possible manner of University involvement in study away. In the event faculty or staff have questions about whether a student study away activity requires documentation or approval, please contact OGE at studyaway@uga.edu or 706-542-2900) for guidance.

Responsibility to Advise Students

In addition to submitting study away activities for review by the Office of Global Engagement, and regardless of whether approval by OGE is required in a particular instance, faculty and staff must advise students traveling internationally for study away, inclusive of internship or research fieldwork activities, to register their travel with the UGA Office of Global Engagement, obtain suitable insurance and attend a safety orientation prior to departure. Additional details regarding these obligations can be found at the Office of Global Engagement website.

Non-credit/non-study away international activity is considered UGA-sponsored if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

• Funded, in full or in part, by/through UGA and regardless of purpose (conference, research, field studies, performance, competition, service learning, etc.) and funding source (foundation, grant, etc.);
• Reviewed and approved the activity as satisfying UGA non-credit credential requirements
• Undertaken by a registered student organization representing University of Georgia or otherwise using the name or branded as associated with “University of Georgia”;
• Actively arranged or advised by UGA faculty or staff (examples include: signing off on university documents or agreements associated with the travel, accessing funds from a student organization account; facilitating overseas placement in lab/other setting; arranging overseas logistics (e.g., housing); facilitating Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, etc.);
• Accompanied by a UGA faculty or staff member in the capacity of his/her employment;