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Study Abroad

Group Programs Reviews and Assessment

The Study Abroad Office completes an annual and ongoing assessment of all programs, with the goal of enhancing their success and ensuring that programs support strategic goals.

Program Assessments Include:

  • a debrief with the program director/personnel and study abroad staff
  • student program evaluations (program evaluations complement course evaluations, focusing on programmatic support, global competencies, health and safety)
  • program budget review
  • feedback from department heads
  • risk management
  • student interest and program enrollments

The primary goal is to work with program personnel and corresponding academic units to improve programs and address any issues; however, the Study Abroad Office reserves the right to cancel programs should it determine that strategic goals for effective program delivery are not being met and high-quality programming cannot be maintained.

The Study Abroad Office, as well as the appropriate department and/or college, reserves the right to cancel or not approve an application to renew a study abroad program if any of the following occur:

  • Health/Safety: events at the study abroad site(s) indicate that the security of students cannot be reasonably protected
  • Enrollments: the minimum number of students (12 participants for first-year programs/15 participants in subsequent years) has not been met
    • programs should primarily serve NC State students
    • after two years, if a program cannot meet minimum enrollment, the program will not be recommended for renewal
  • Administration: the program director and associated program personnel do not fulfill programmatic responsibilities as defined in the program director’s roles and responsibilities and the on-site program-director handbook. Examples include, but are not limited to the following situations:
    • program personnel do not meet proposal/renewal deadlines or information is insufficient to assess program viability
    • program personnel do not complete necessary health/safety or logistical requirements in support of the program
    • program personnel are not responsive to requests and communications from the Study Abroad Office
    • program personnel not actively engaged in the program budgeting process or do not fulfill financial obligations based on Study Abroad Office procedures and University policies
  • Financial: the Study Abroad staff determines that the program is no longer feasible for financial, organizational, or other reasons
  • Program Evaluations contain consistent negative feedback from students and changes to the program have not led to improved feedback
    • programs will be evaluated regularly by participants, program administrators, instructors, and the appropriate college-based liaison to determine the extent to which program objectives are being met. If necessary, changes or adjustments will be made in light of the findings. If after changes have been implemented and program evaluations have not shown improvement, the program may be recommended for cancellation.
  • The program no longer meets the definition of a study abroad short-term group program