Resources for Undergraduate Advisors
Study abroad is one of many advising topics that faculty may address with students over the years. This section provides helpful resources for faculty and department advisors for all stages of the study abroad experience.
Advising Resources
Advisor Guide
OIE's step-by-step study abroad advising guide will lead you through the stages of advising students from the planning and preparation phase through their return to campus.
Advising Best Practices
OIE provides tips for advising students prior to enrollment, encouraging students to think about study abroad, and resources for welcoming students back to campus.
Major-Specific Advising Sheets
OIE has worked in concert with department contacts to prepare major-specific advising materials to guide faculty and students. OIE surveys of study abroad participants indicate that 85 percent of Carnegie Mellon students plan to apply their study abroad credits directly to their major, with another 40 percent applying credits towards their minor. To assist in developing a major advising sheet, contact Chris Menand.
Transfer Credit
The assignment of transfer credit is one of the critical roles of faculty and advisors in the study abroad process. Faculty and advisors will assess content of the overseas courses and determine course equivalencies and/or whether elective credit can be given within majors, minors, and/or general education requirements.
Workshops & Events
Annual Workshop
Each year, OIE staff plan a workshop to support faculty and advisors in the study abroad process. These interactive sessions have addressed such topics as the SATC form and follow-up SATC when pre-approved courses change overseas, appropriate faculty signatures for various courses, work abroad, maximizing the study abroad experience upon return, and best practices for incoming exchange students. These workshops provide opportunities for faculty and advisors to share tips and ideas with each other and with study abroad staff from OIE.
Usually held over lunch in the spring term, this workshop is enthusiastically attended by 50 involved faculty and advisors from all colleges. For more information, contact a study abroad advisor.
Targeted Information Sessions
With advance planning, OIE study abroad staff will conduct study abroad information sessions targeted to a particular group of students. This allows the study abroad advisor to provide major-specific information for students regarding the best time for study abroad and about top overseas universities and programs for curricular fit. Several departments are active in supporting study abroad initiatives through such sessions, including architecture and art, biology, chemistry and physics, the CIT first-year seminar, among others. These sessions are most effective in conjunction with a supportive faculty member from the department and/or returned study abroad students from the same major or discipline. Sophomore seminar classes are an ideal setting for such a session.
Interested faculty and advisors should contact Chris Menand to schedule.Targeted Pre-Departure Orientations
Similar to targeted information sessions, OIE study abroad advisors can conduct targeted pre-departure orientation sessions for a specific group of students. This type of orientation is appropriate when a faculty is leading a small group abroad. Pre-departure orientation is required for every study abroad participant to ensure that all students go abroad with a common set of health and safety information, possess basic cultural and cultural sensitivity training, and complete administrative processes in a timely manner. At the same time, faculty leaders will be reminded of the various roles and duties expected of a group leader. For more information, read OIE’s Guide for Short-Term Programs (pdf).
Interested faculty and advisors should contact Chris Menand.