Program Leader

Education Abroad wants to equip you with all the tools you need to give you the best experience recruiting students to your program. Every Program Leader will be provided a Recruitment Toolkit to help recruit students for your program. The toolkit includes a program flyer, recommended class visit list, recruitment event dates and examples for your own, email templates, and more.

Program leaders are expected to engage in recruitment activities for their program since they possess the greatest expertise in articulating the details of their course, excursions, and the positive influence it will have on students' academic and career aspirations.

Top reasons students apply to programs

• Word of mouth
• Location and term
• Courses offered
• Program leader

Program fee budgets include three categories of expenses: in-country expenses, operational expenses, and program leader expenses.

In-Country Expenses

In-country expenses include:

• all housing
• entrance fees
• in-country transportation
• group meals
• any other program-related expenses that students and program leaders incur while abroad 

This does not typically include tuition & fees, meals (unless included as a group meal or with housing), student airfare, or personal expenses.

Operational Expenses

Operational expenses include:

• student health insurance 
• the risk management fee
• any operational fees necessary for the program to run (including the 3% credit card fee for payments through TouchNet)

Program Leader Expenses

Program leader expenses include:

• airfare
• per diem or stipend
• international insurance
• any in- country, program-related expenses not covered elsewhere for program leaders

All programs should include at least one pre-departure orientation meeting with students and at least one on-site orientation upon arrival to your study abroad location.

Pre-departure meetings should cover the following:

• Academic information & syllabi
• Program itinerary and any location-specific health & safety information
• Arrival plans
• How to communicate in-country (with each other and back home)
• Weather, appropriate clothing & packing information
• Rules regarding appropriate alcohol consumption (specific to your location and any cultural or safety considerations) as well as any curfews
• Cultural norms and differences from the U.S.

On-site orientations should cover the following:

• Local emergency contact information & planning, including a variety of contact methods
• The closest U.S. embassy or consulate
• An emergency meeting place within walking distance from housing
• Nearest or preferred hospitals, clinics, and/or pharmacies
• Safety information specific to the host culture (I.e. alcohol, curfew, reducing risk, transportation, etc as well as any prohibited activities)
• Buddy system requirement
• Consequences if program rules are violated (I.e. documented verbal warnings, written warnings, up to program dismissal)

More information on these topics will provided in the required program leader orientation each year.  

Policies

• Dependent & guest policy (PDF)
• International travel policy (PDF)
• Insurance Summary of Benefits (PDF)

Emergencies

• Emergency Response Protocol (PDF)
• Phone: (405) 630-5392
• Email: helpabroad@ou.edu

Emergencies Abroad