UM faculty members interested in developing or renewing an existing faculty directed or affiliated study abroad program should consult the following checklist and then arrange a meeting with Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry in International Programs by phone at 243-2296 or email at marjac@mso.umt.edu. International Programs looks forward to supporting faculty members' efforts.
Program Directors can design their programs to offer credit through their home department. If a sponsoring agency is providing support, a credit option may be available through UM's Continuing Education. For more information on offering credit through Continuing Education, please contact Candice Merrill at 243-6431 or candi.merrill@umontana.edu.
Health Insurance
UM has specific minimum health insurance requirements for students, faculty, and staff traveling abroad. The Program Director should review what those requirements are and how to meet them from the links below.
Foreign Travel Safety Policy
Be aware of UM's Foreign Travel Safety Policy. The Foreign Travel Review Committee will review UM-related travel to countries with U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings. This committee will consist of representatives from the offices of International Programs and Environmental Health and Risk Management in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel. This committee shall determine what steps are necessary to address risks associated with travel to countries under a Travel Warning and, in some cases, limit or preclude travel. If the committee determines that travel will be permitted and there is a Travel Warning for that country, the traveler will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form. Faculty Directed and Affiliated Study Abroad Program Directors are also required to register program participants in the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Clery Act Reporting
As a faculty member directing foreign travel and study with students, you may have a legal responsibility to report crimes occurring in facilities you and your students use for classrooms or housing in foreign countries. If the University of Montana has a written rental or lease agreement (no matter how informal) for foreign facilities used for teaching or housing, then the faculty member has a responsibility to report crime statistics using the Crime Statistic Report Form for crimes taking place in the rented facilities for the times and dates specified in the rental agreement to Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry, marjac@mso.umt.edu, in the UM International Programs office. Marja will then forward the incident reports on to the UM Public Safety Department for inclusion in the University's annual security report required under the Clery Act. Clery reportable crimes include: murder, negligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses (rape), non-forcible sex offenses (incest and statutory rape), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, arson, and hate crimes.
The Program Director should provide IP with program information by downloading this form, completing the details and submitting it to Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry at marjac@mso.umt.edu. IP will create a flyer to post on its website. While IP will advertise the program on its website, the Program Director should take the lead in promoting his/her own program on campus. Program Directors are also encouraged to participate in IP sponsored study abroad fairs held annually in early September and late January.
Students can use many forms of financial aid for study abroad, such as scholarships and loans. Students can use their aid to cover "reasonable" costs for study abroad, including round-trip airfare, tuition and fees for the program, living costs, passport and visa fees, health insurance, etc.
If academic credit is offered directly through UM's academic departments, the Program Director must submit a letter to Carol Durnford in UM's Financial Aid Office (243-5510, or cdurnford@mso.umt.edu) detailing the expenses along with a list of the program participants' names and social security numbers. It is very important that the Financial Aid Office knows about the program as early as possible.
If academic credit for the program is offered through Continuing Education, the Program Director must contact Kent McGowan in UM's Financial Aid Office (243-5504, or kent.mcgowan@mso.umt.edu) to establish if students participating in the program will be eligible for financial aid.
Program Directors should offer an orientation for program participants. This orientation can be offered as part of a regular academic class during the semester preceding the departure, through a series of pre-trip meetings, or through a one-time workshop. The suggested topics to be covered include:
Program Directors may request IP's assistance in conducting student pre-departure orientations or students may participate in IP orientations held annually early April and early October (notify IP one month in advance at goabroad@mso.umt.edu).
Program Directors will need to obtain the students' signature for the following forms and submit them to IP:
Program Directors and all other UM faculty/staff traveling with students will be required to submit a student roster 30 days before departure. Program Directors will download the Student Roster form here and submit the completed roster to Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry electronically at marjac@mso.umt.edu or by campus mail. Program Directors who wish to enroll their students in the HTH Worldwide Insurance Services Comprehensive and/or Supplemental Plan should download and complete the appropriate form(s) below.
Program Directors should register program participants in the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Below is a list of UM faculty members who are former study abroad Program Directors and are willing to provide advice:
International Programs
International Center
Phone:+ 1 406 243 2288
Fax:+ 1 406 243 6194