FACULTY

Challenge

At some schools, students will find resistance to the idea of studying abroad from their faculty members. Professors may feel that students will be better prepared if they complete their major coursework at the home institution and may be resistant to the idea of accepting course credit from abroad to fill required coursework at home. Depending on the amount of support available at a student's home institution from the administration or study abroad advisers, it may be difficult to overcome these objections.

Overcoming

The easiest place to gain support at your institution is your school's study abroad office, if there is one. Go and talk to an adviser about the program you're interested in, and the adviser should be able to work with you and the faculty members involved to deal with potential issues. If your school doesn't have a study abroad office, the professors in the language department are most likely to support your efforts.

However, if you cannot find a faculty member at your own school to champion your cause of studying abroad, don't despair. If you have already selected a program you are interested in, contact your adviser or admissions counselor at that program or university. Explain to them the difficulties you are having obtaining permission to study abroad and ask that person to contact your academic adviser.

Study abroad programs are used to working with other schools to transfer credits and will know how to address some of the issues that may be causing the resistance in the faculty at your home institution. The important thing to keep in mind throughout this process is the need for open and respectful discussion as you communicate the value of studying abroad to your academic experience. Knowing and understanding the benefits of studying abroad can provide a firm foundation for your discussion with faculty and administrators.

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