Gen Ed Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad & Study Away Programs

Student studying abroad

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is committed to providing students with varied and enriched educational experiences. One such opportunity is through faculty-led short-term programs. General Education plays a pivotal role in preparing students with the breadth in knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking they will need as citizens and stewards in an ever-changing world. As we look ahead to a century of accelerated pace of innovation and major societal changes, the role of General Education in preparing students for a dynamic global society is all the more critical.

Integrating faculty-led short-term study abroad/away programs into the General Education curriculum at Illinois allow faculty to provide students with valuable global experiences that enhance their academic and personal development. These programs are Illinois courses that meet either part-of-term or full-term and include an experiential travel component, and they have been approved by the Gen Ed Board to be offered one or more times as a Gen Ed.

This process is only for sections of courses that are unable to go through the regular Gen Ed Certification process.

Background & Gen Ed Board Approval

A proposal to provide a pathway to approve Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad & Study Away Programs as Gen Ed categories was discussed and approved by the Gen Ed Board in Spring 2025 for courses effective Summer 2025.

The proposal aimed to integrate faculty-led short-term programs into the General Education curriculum, allowing students to earn General Education credits while participating in these transformative experiences. Integrating faculty-led short-term study abroad and study away programs into the General Education curriculum at Illinois will allow faculty to provide students with valuable global experiences that enhance their academic and personal development. This proposal aligns with the university’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment and preparing students for success in a globalized world. The proposal was submitted by Melissa Steinkoenig, Director for General Education, and Joy Phaphouvaninh, Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange, following discussions and interest from faculty, academic departments, and colleges.

Read the full “Gen Ed Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad & Study Away Programs” approved proposal

Program Structure

The proposed faculty-led short-term programs must be designed to meet the following criteria:

  • Duration: Each program will be connected to a campus course that will last a minimum of eight weeks. The abroad/away component will typically last between 7 to 14 days (may be shorter or longer), with options for summer, fall break, winter, and spring break sessions.
  • Course Integration: Each program must be linked to a course or specific course section if a “topics” course. Courses must be introductory and broad, available to all majors, listed at the 100- or 200-level (unless special approval provided for faculty-led rubrics) and follow Gen Ed Criteria and the Gen Ed Policy (EP.17.74). Courses will be approved for one or more Gen Ed categories and must ensure the academic content aligns with the Gen Ed Category as well as the Gen Ed Learning Outcomes (also view learning objectives of the General Education curriculum), and include campus-level learning outcomes. Learning outcomes must be included in the course syllabus. If the study abroad or study away component of the course is cancelled or a student is unable to participate in this portion of the course, an alternative experiential option should be provided that would meet similar learning outcomes.
  • Pre-Departure and Post-Travel Components: Beyond class sessions covering the academic component of the course, each program must include pre-departure course meetings and orientation sessions, as well as post-travel reflection activities to maximize learning outcomes.

Proposal and Review

Proposals may be submitted at any time, but they will only be reviewed during the Fall and Spring semesters while the Gen Ed Board is active.

Course Development

Faculty members should work with their college/school study abroad office or their Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange contact to develop proposals for faculty-led programs. Faculty should consult the Illinois International Safety and Security: Planning Short-Term Programs website and work with Melissa Steinkoenig, Director for General Education, and Joy Phaphouvaninh, Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange. It is recommended that faculty also consult with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) on course development.

Units are encouraged to offer the same Gen Ed study abroad program on a regular and consistent basis (such as every year), but they may submit a proposal for a one-time offering for one-time approval.

Proposal

Gen Ed Faculty-Led Abroad/Away Proposal

Course proposals need to include the following:

  1. Gen Ed Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad & Study Away Program Proposal
    • All General Education Courses section (first section): Respond to all questions
      • Sponsor Information
      • Course Information
      • Course Learning Outcomes & Assessment Plan
        • Student learning should be assessed through a combination of assignments, projects, and reflective essays, ensuring the academic rigor of Gen Ed courses is maintained. Since these courses are provided with temporary Gen Ed approval and will not be part of regular Gen Ed Assessment activities, please provide information on how student learning towards the Gen Ed criteria will be assessed.
        • Resources: Gen Ed Learning Outcomes for Courses & Assessment & Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
      • Study Abroad/Away Information
    • Gen Ed Category/ies section: Respond to questions for the appropriate category/ies selected under “General Education Category Information” (delete other categories)
  2. Syllabus & Course Materials

Submittal

The proposal and all materials should be submitted to the Office of the Provost General Education Program (genedboard@illinois.edu) for review.

Review and Approval

The Director for General Education will work with the Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange to review proposals to ensure they meet the main requirements to be a Gen Ed Study Abroad course. The Director of General Education will then work with a small sub-group of the Gen Ed Board to review the course following the same criteria and similar process to review all Gen Ed courses.

Collaboration

The unit’s International Programs office, or a liaison from Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange will work closely with faculty to coordinate logistics, ensure safety, and provide support throughout the program. The Director for General Education and the Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange will work with the unit to ensure the course is properly recorded as Gen Ed and will assist with promotions.

Assessment

Student learning should be assessed through a combination of assignments, projects, and reflective essays, ensuring the academic rigor of Gen Ed courses is maintained.

Resources

Questions & Assistance

Melissa Steinkoenig, Director for General Education

Joy Phaphouvaninh, Director of Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange

General Education @ Illinois
Office of the Provost
Undergraduate Education
Email: gen-ed@illinois.edu
Office of the Provost