1. CLICK TO ADD TITLE
Educating students to shape their lives, their
professions, and their societies.
An exploratory study about the creation,
administration, and evaluation of study
abroad courses at one regional university in
the Midwest
U.S.A
Heather Carpenter, PhD
Grand Valley State University

2. Background
• Grand Valley State University
– 24,662 students / 3,426 grad students
– Many study abroad opportunities
– 28 faculty led study abroad courses
• Study abroad programs increase students’
– Global awareness
– GPAs
– Philanthropic efforts

3. Research Questions
• What study abroad courses are currently being offered at Grand Valley State
University?
• How are these study abroad courses being created (or adapted from current
courses), administered, and evaluated in various units across the university?
• To what extent are study abroad courses offered for graduate students?
• What best practices can be shared across study abroad courses and utilized in
graduate education?
• What similarities and differences exist in study abroad course offerings across
the university?
• How do faculty members create meaningful study abroad experiences for
students?
• How do faculty members evaluate knowledge and skills received in such
programs

4. Research Questions
• What study abroad courses are currently being offered at Grand Valley State
University?
• How are these study abroad courses being created (or adapted from current
courses), administered, and evaluated in various units across the university?
• To what extent are study abroad courses offered for graduate students?
• What best practices can be shared across study abroad courses and utilized
in graduate education?
• What similarities and differences exist in study abroad course offerings across
the university?
• How do faculty members create meaningful study abroad experiences for
students?
• How do faculty members evaluate knowledge and skills received in such
programs

5. Methods
• Analysis of study abroad offerings
– Service-learning component
– Offered to graduate students
• Interviews with five courses / one director for
faculty-led study abroad programs

6. Discipline, Course
Name, Number
Country Duration Number of Students Number of Years
Offered
Offering –
Undergraduates,
Graduates or Both
(Social Work) BSW
356, MSW 630
El Salvador 2 Weeks 10 to 15
undergraduates or
graduates
15 Both
(Honors College)
HNR 281: Honors
Social Science
“Cultural Exchange
and Service -
Learning in Ghana
HNR 399:
Independent Study
(substitute for Jr
Seminar) or HNR
499 Senior Project
Ghana 7 Weeks up to 15, all majors
across the campus.,
both undergraduate
and graduate
2 Undergraduates
(Education) EDG
601, Jamaican
culture and
education.
Jamaica 15 days, plus one
week of pre-trip
orientation and
learning the history
of Jamaica.
12 students: 10
graduates, and 2
undergraduates
First-time Both
(Public
Administration) PA
390 Special Topics
Tanzania, Africa 2 Weeks 5 undergraduates 1 Undergraduates
(Public
Administration) PA
380 or PA 620
Urbanization
London and Australia 5 Weeks 19-27 undergraduates
or graduates
London - 3
Australia – 9
Both
Study Abroad
Office
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

7. Findings
• Course Creation
– Reasons for Course Creation
– Creation Process
– Local Connections in Host Country
– Marketing the Course

8. Administration
• Administration Issues
– Hiring drivers to transport the students and staff
– Adapting to the flexible time issue in certain countries
– Health issues that occur during the trip
• Learning Activities and Assignments
– Service-learning

9. Evaluation
• Formal Evaluation Mechanisms
– Student course evaluation
– Study abroad reports
• Informal Evaluation Mechanisms
– Group discussions
– Individual reflections
– Debriefings

10. Summary of Best Practices
1. Passion and interest in study abroad country
2. Personal connections and relationships in
study abroad country
-service-learning component
3. Marketing course to students