Dr. Kim GaitherCulver-Stockton CollegeCanton, Missouri

• I worked at a consulting firm so I traveled I worked at a consulting firm so I traveled weekly for about 10 years including trips weekly for about 10 years including trips to Mexico, Central America, Jamaica, to Mexico, Central America, Jamaica, Panama and ChinaPanama and China

• I have planned three study abroad trips: I have planned three study abroad trips: China, Europe and Costa RicaChina, Europe and Costa Rica

• I’ve had the opportunity to learn by I’ve had the opportunity to learn by making several mistakesmaking several mistakes

• Study Abroad is not a tourist event – it takes a lot Study Abroad is not a tourist event – it takes a lot of preparation and planning – you do not make of preparation and planning – you do not make enough money to take this on, but it can be enough money to take this on, but it can be rewardingrewarding

• Aim for true experiential learning: intention, Aim for true experiential learning: intention, preparedness and planning, authenticity, preparedness and planning, authenticity, reflection, orientation and training, monitoring and reflection, orientation and training, monitoring and continuous improvement, assessment and continuous improvement, assessment and evaluation, and acknowledgementevaluation, and acknowledgement

• Design to take full advantage of the experience: Design to take full advantage of the experience: appreciating a new culture, good group dynamics, appreciating a new culture, good group dynamics, intellectual growth, and individual responsibilityintellectual growth, and individual responsibility

• Where would students be interested in going? Where would students be interested in going? • Do you have special knowledge or a connection Do you have special knowledge or a connection

to a specific part of the world?to a specific part of the world?• Is it safe? Is it safe? • Is it reasonable to travel to your location in the Is it reasonable to travel to your location in the

time you have available?time you have available?

• Set the date and get approvals as neededSet the date and get approvals as needed• Decide expeditor or self-booked or mixedDecide expeditor or self-booked or mixed• Set a preliminary budgetSet a preliminary budget

• Shamelessly use every outlet on campusShamelessly use every outlet on campus– Campus TV, Radio, NewspaperCampus TV, Radio, Newspaper– Table toppers in dining hallsTable toppers in dining halls– Posters-get Graphics Arts assistancePosters-get Graphics Arts assistance– Bulletin boardsBulletin boards– Window paintings – see posters aboveWindow paintings – see posters above– Club or organizational meetingsClub or organizational meetings

• Hold informational meetingsHold informational meetings

• Make final decisions on all aspectsMake final decisions on all aspects– DatesDates– Day-by-day itineraryDay-by-day itinerary– CostsCosts

• Fill evenings Fill evenings – EntertainmentEntertainment– ReflectionsReflections

• Allow structured down timeAllow structured down time

• ExpeditorExpeditor– Meals included / not includedMeals included / not included– Transportation to airport of departureTransportation to airport of departure– Tips – may vary by destinationTips – may vary by destination

• Self-Structured (all of the above plus…)Self-Structured (all of the above plus…)– All transportation (to/from airport, air flights, daily All transportation (to/from airport, air flights, daily

during travel study)during travel study)– Guides / interpretersGuides / interpreters– InsuranceInsurance– HotelsHotels– Entrance feesEntrance fees– Travel costs of faculty memberTravel costs of faculty member

• Recommendation for student cash needsRecommendation for student cash needs– Break it downBreak it down

• Set a non-refundable down payment Set a non-refundable down payment ($100-$300) about 6 – 9 months ahead of ($100-$300) about 6 – 9 months ahead of the travelthe travel

• Collect a 2Collect a 2ndnd payment in the semester payment in the semester beforebefore– Fee on tuitionFee on tuition– Another $300 - $500 Another $300 - $500

• Final payments collected by start of Final payments collected by start of semester semester

• Set a refund scheduleSet a refund schedule• Work with financial aidWork with financial aid

• Biographical InformationBiographical Information• Health Statement including insuranceHealth Statement including insurance

– Includes a release for faculty member to seek Includes a release for faculty member to seek treatmenttreatment

• Travel Release Travel Release • Insurance formsInsurance forms• Endorsement by Dean of StudentsEndorsement by Dean of Students• Faculty RecommendationsFaculty Recommendations• Travel ContractTravel Contract• Copy of Passport / VisaCopy of Passport / Visa• Cell phone numbersCell phone numbers• Roommate preferences (2-3-4)Roommate preferences (2-3-4)

• One-hour prep class versus mandatory One-hour prep class versus mandatory meetingsmeetings

• Cultural reviewCultural review• Language reviewLanguage review• Itinerary stops Itinerary stops – group workgroup work

• Have students Have students determine their determine their learning objectiveslearning objectives

• Explain and review where you will go, what Explain and review where you will go, what you will see, and what to expectyou will see, and what to expect– Special attention to airport processesSpecial attention to airport processes

• Teach them how to pack – review packing Teach them how to pack – review packing limits and airport requirementslimits and airport requirements

• Remind them to weigh their packed Remind them to weigh their packed suitcasessuitcases

• Encourage sharing of items with Encourage sharing of items with roommatesroommates

• Advise students to take walks for physical Advise students to take walks for physical preparation – pack comfortable shoespreparation – pack comfortable shoes

• Review the documents needed and how to Review the documents needed and how to keep them safekeep them safe

• Have students notify their credit/debit card Have students notify their credit/debit card companiescompanies

• Cover money exchangingCover money exchanging• Cover electrical currency devices (120/220 v)Cover electrical currency devices (120/220 v)• Discuss clothing requirements – emphasize Discuss clothing requirements – emphasize

reusing clothingreusing clothing• Remind them to not bring jewelry or Remind them to not bring jewelry or

keepsakeskeepsakes• Discuss safety – many, many timesDiscuss safety – many, many times

• E-mail frequently with your host guidesE-mail frequently with your host guides– Check on best places for money exchangeCheck on best places for money exchange

• Double check with your airport Double check with your airport transportationtransportation– Give them maps, campuses can be trickyGive them maps, campuses can be tricky

• Copy all important information and leave Copy all important information and leave with campus liaisonwith campus liaison

• Secure at least one international cell Secure at least one international cell phonephone

• Copies of all passports and birth Copies of all passports and birth certificatescertificates

• Copies of spreadsheets with critical Copies of spreadsheets with critical informationinformation

• Copies of heath information and Copies of heath information and biographical informationbiographical information

• Credit card numbers and telephone Credit card numbers and telephone numbers to call in case of lossnumbers to call in case of loss

• Copies of airline tickets and drivers’ Copies of airline tickets and drivers’ licenseslicenses

• Motion sickness medicineMotion sickness medicine• Tylenol, Advil, etc.Tylenol, Advil, etc.• DecongestantsDecongestants• Copies of any prescriptionsCopies of any prescriptions• Band-aidsBand-aids• SunscreenSunscreen• Nail kitNail kit• Anti-diarrhea medicineAnti-diarrhea medicine

• Final mandatory meeting to review Final mandatory meeting to review required timesrequired times

• Discuss appropriate travel wearDiscuss appropriate travel wear• Distribute colored ribbons for bagsDistribute colored ribbons for bags• Verify students have weighed each bagVerify students have weighed each bag• Make students show you passports/visasMake students show you passports/visas

• Locate and write down all information for the Locate and write down all information for the closes U.S. Embassy for each part of the closes U.S. Embassy for each part of the traveltravel

• Locate hospitals or clinics in area you are Locate hospitals or clinics in area you are travelingtraveling– Local guides can helpLocal guides can help

• Remind students at least once time per day:Remind students at least once time per day:– No, it’s not like home, but that’s okayNo, it’s not like home, but that’s okay– No, you don’t like everybody on the trip, but that’s No, you don’t like everybody on the trip, but that’s

okayokay– Be early for everythingBe early for everything

• To get multiple quotes in one stop, go to Square Mouth To get multiple quotes in one stop, go to Square Mouth http://www.squaremouth.com/20344

• STA STA http://www.statravel.com/travel‐insurance.htmhttp://www.statravel.com/travel‐insurance.htm

• Travel Insured International Travel Insured International http://www.travelinsured.com/plan

• Seven Corners Seven Corners http://www.insubuy.com/trip‐cancellation‐http://www.insubuy.com/trip‐cancellation‐insurance/insurance/

• Travel Guard Travel Guard http://www.travelguard.com/http://www.travelguard.com/

• Insure My Trip Insure My Trip http://www.insuremytrip.com/index.html?http://www.insuremytrip.com/index.html?linkId=FR924597linkId=FR924597