Faculty-led proposals will be reviewed by a committee comprised of faculty from each college and the Office of International Studies. Proposals will be reviewed on all of the below criteria and evaluated in the context of existing MSUB Study Abroad programs and locations to ensure new programs contribute to a diverse set of program offerings.

Proposal Review Criteria:

Academic Quality

  • Does the proposal adequately address how the course will fulfill learning objectives?
  • Clear statement of how the chosen international site will extend and strengthen campus learning objectives.
  • Proposed syllabus demonstrates that the course will leverage its international location.
  • Clear indication of host cultural activities (e.g. planned interaction with local population, language training, field trips) will supplement classroom training.

Affordability & Budget

  • Program can be implemented at a reasonable and non-prohibitive cost, appropriate for MSUB student demographics.
  • Are all expenses reasonable and permissible?
  • Do program partners offer any cost-share options to lessen financial burden?
  • Are the group leader(s) expenses appropriate for the location and duration?

Marketability

  • Proposal provides a clear plan for marketing and recruitment and how much time the faculty leader plans to devote each week (on average) to continue developing and marketing the program.
  • Program can attain and accommodate the minimum enrollment.
  • Program will contribute to a balanced and diverse set of study abroad program offerings.
  • Program will utilize the location and include activities that will be of interest to students.
  • If identified in the proposal, the location will provide access to appropriate services and facilities.
  • Will the program allow for reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities?

Health and Safety

  • Location(s) has access to appropriate medical and counseling services in English.
  • Location(s) does not have any U.S. Department of State Travel Alerts that would pose an immediate risk to the health and safety of program participants.
  • Faculty has adequate knowledge and experience of the location in order to develop and safely lead the program.

Dissemination

  • How will the wider university community benefit from the program?
  • What events are planned to disseminate the learning and experiences abroad to the wider community, especially current MSUB students?
  • How can this program spread awareness to the Billings community to promote MSUB programming and global reach?
Step 2: Proposal Development

 

Step 4: Enrollment & Recruitment