Programs Abroad Office

Faculty Directorships

The Programs Abroad Office (PAO) is the academic support unit within the International Center (IC) responsible for outreach and student advising for study, volunteer, research, internship, and other educational opportunities abroad. PAO has been providing advice and information to students about study abroad since UCSD began sending students on Education Abroad Programs (EAP) in the 1960s. PAO has decades of experience assisting students find other education abroad opportunities that fit their needs through Opportunities Abroad Programs (OAP). PAO reaches out to all UCSD students in all majors and at all levels. Staff members in PAO collaborate with academic departments to determine the best programs abroad for each major, thereby integrating education abroad into the major. They also select and orient all students going abroad, and provide reintegration support and programming for over 1,000 returnees annually. Annually, undergraduate and graduate/professional school students receive approximately $500,000 in study abroad scholarships.

The Faculty Director and Associate Faculty Director of PAO, who report to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Undergraduate Education (AVCUE) and are ex-officio members of the Senate Committee on International Education (CIE), work closely with the Dean of International Education and the Director of PAO on academic, administrative, and student issues and initiatives in PAO. They provide a crucial faculty perspective and academic credibility. Their positions are funded in part by the Senior Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs (SVCAA) and in part by the Universitywide Office of EAP (UOEAP).

The Faculty Director and Associate Faculty Director are appointed by the SVCAA in consultation with the AVCUE and the Senate Committee on International Education (CIE).

Faculty Director

Administrative Responsibilities

Represent PAO office as an ex-officio member at quarterly CIE meetings.
Report to and meet quarterly with the AVCUE.
Meet weekly with the Dean of International Education.
Represent PAO’s EAP at system-wide quarterly Council of Campus Directors (CCD) meetings and the annual EAP conference.
Meet annually with PAO Director to review policy and academic issues and confer with staff as needed.
In conjunction with PAO staff, represent PAO’s EAP and OAP at undergraduate recruitment efforts (Admit Day, Transfer Students Day, Scholars Day, Fall Recruitment Fair, Freshman and Transfer Student Orientations, etc.).
Participate in quarterly campus-wide discussions of internationalization and other meetings as appropriate.
Consult on the development of budget requests for Academic Integration and review grant proposals.
Assist with workshops for departmental faculty liaisons.
Participate as needed in student recruitment, advising, selection, scholarship review, pre-departure orientation, and reentry advising sessions. Faculty will approve selection of UCSD students for the UC Education Abroad Program.

Academic Responsibilities

Act as Academic Integration Liaison with either the Social Sciences and Humanities or Science and Engineering departments as well as UCSD Colleges.
Promote the academic integration of study abroad course work into college and departmental degree programs.
Meet annually with faculty, advisers, and study abroad liaisons in social sciences and humanities or science and engineering departments and with colleges’ general education advisers regarding study abroad options, available coursework, and procedures for applying credit earned abroad to department and college degree requirements.
Collaborate on the development of new possibilities for study abroad.
Assist with the development and implementation of the new Faculty-Led Programs Abroad opportunities.
Help resolve any disciplinary and health issues.
Meet with representatives of Opportunities Abroad Programs at the request of PAO staff or the Dean.
Participate in the process of resolving academic issues related to study abroad for students, including requesting waivers, intervening with departments, intervening with UOEAP and the Study Centers.
Assist with discussions of departmentally-based exchanges.
Advocate to UOEAP on behalf of students when necessary (GPA waivers, etc.).

Associate Faculty Director

Administrative Responsibilities

Fill in for the Faculty Director as needed/appropriate.
Represent PAO office as an ex-officio member at quarterly CIE meetings.
Participate in quarterly campus-wide discussions of internationalization and other meetings as appropriate.
Assist with workshops for departmental faculty liaisons.
Participate as needed in student recruitment, advising, selection, scholarship review, pre-departure orientation, and reentry advising sessions. Faculty will approve selection of UCSD students for the UC Education Abroad Program.

Academic Responsibilities

Act as Academic Integration Liaison with Science and Engineering or Social Science and Humanities departments.
Promote the academic integration of study abroad course work into college and departmental degree programs.
Meet annually with faculty, advisers, and study abroad liaisons in social sciences and humanities or science and engineering departments and with colleges’ general education advisers regarding study abroad options, available coursework, and procedures for applying credit earned abroad to department and college degree requirements.

Student Selection Responsibilities

Interview, or arrange for other faculty to interview, relevant students.
Evaluate student files that do not require interviewing.