To:      College Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads

           (please distribute to all faculty)

From: Miguel Rosales, Coordinator - Summer Session & Winter Courses

Re:     SUMMER SESSION (2013) Call for Innovative

       Course Proposals

Date:  February 9, 2012

The Office of Summer Session & Winter Courses would like to invite submissions of proposals for Summer Session 2013 innovative course subsidies. 

For the 2013 Summer Session, the selection committee has been charged to place emphasis on the following for consideration of submitted proposals: 

1.       Field courses that take advantage of Wyoming’s unique culture, history, or geographic / geologic settings

2.       International (i.e. study abroad) courses

3.       Domestic travel courses that expose UW students to specific topics, issues, policies, etc that apply to their field of study or department

1. Field Courses

The goal of this initiative is to generate a greater number of field courses that take advantage of the unique cultural, historic, and/or geographic / geologic setting(s) that can be found in Wyoming.   The field course may be an existing UW course not previously offered in the summer or a newly developed course.  Preference will be given to upper division, undergraduate, field courses.   Please demonstrate in the proposal how and why this course will meet students’ course needs in the summer.

2.  International Curriculum – Faculty Led Study Abroad Opportunities

The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of summer courses in international education – both on-campus and abroad.  The goal is to enhance international curricula in accordance with the objectives set forth in Academic Plan II and University Plan III.  Program requirements include the following: 

1)      The course may be a current UW course not previously offered in the summer; a new, innovative course; or a continuing, successful study abroad course.

2)      The course must last for a minimum of one week for each credit hour earned.

3)      If the course involves a study abroad component:

a.       The course should be partially taught in the U.S. prior to and/or after an international component is completed.

b.      Faculty members are encouraged to use the resources of the host entity in-country for additional instruction and for course, travel, and residential logistics.

c.       In creating a study abroad course, faculty members are encouraged to utilize established relationships with colleagues and institutions overseas.  If you do not have connections already established, then you should turn to International Programs and colleagues in your department or college to initiate a dialogue with a partner institution where on-going relations suggest a possibility of collaboration. However, you may also consider not working with a partner institution or entity overseas, and run your course’s operations independently.

d.      We strongly encourage you to consult with the International Programs Office before submitting your proposal (studyabd@uwyo.edu). (See attachment for crucial details pertaining to student study abroad.)

3.  Domestic Travel Courses that expose UW students to specific topics, issues, policies, etc, that applies to their field of study or department

The goal of this initiative is to expose UW students to and facilitate their greater understanding of specific topics, issues, policies, etc, that pertain to their area of study or to the department offering the course that would be enhanced by domestic travel to areas of the United States.  Recent examples include Urban Criminology in Chicago (Criminal Justice) and a Cultural Tour of NYC (Music).

ALL PROPOSALS SHOULD INCLUDE (maximum 2 pages):

1)      Title of proposal/course and a course number (if known);

2)      Name of applicant, department, college, phone number, and email;

3)      Names of faculty contact and other faculty members involved;

4)      Program description, goals addressed, target audience, demonstrated or estimated demand/need for course, length of course, dates/times offered and number of credits offered, as well as marketing plans for the course.  A syllabus should be attached. (If this is a continuing study abroad course, provide evidence of the success and viability of the course – i.e. previous course enrollment numbers to demonstrate the popularity of the course.);

5)      Comprehensive budget – Total request can range between $1,000 and $5,000. Include all program costs, as well as financial contributions other than from this RFP (outside matches of funds are viewed favorably). Budget may include requests for faculty salary (must include employee paid benefits calculated at 45.5%), faculty travel expenses, insurance, faculty per diem, and course materials; and

6)      Department head and Dean of your School/College approval in writing.

Please submit well-written and persuasively argued proposals in accordance with the following procedures:

1)      Before Friday, March 9, 2012, faculty members should submit the application via email to his/her department head/chair/director, who will prioritize the department’s applications and forward them TO THE APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC DEAN – BEFORE Friday, March 16, 2012. Please package the application, attachments, and prioritization in one *.doc or *.PDF file.

2)      Each dean prioritizes the college’s applications and sends them via email to Miguel Rosales (mrosales@uwyo.edu) on or before 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: It may not be possible to fund all proposals, and in some cases the subsidy may be less than that requested.   Late proposals will be considered as funds are available.

The funds for approved proposals will be transferred to the appropriate dean’s Office, which will distribute the funds to the involved departments.

For additional information please contact Miguel Rosales at (307/ 766-6559) or mrosales@uwyo.edu.

Study Abroad Information Sheet

Plans for a summer 2013 subsidized study abroad course should be completed with your partner institution (if applicable) during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 terms.  Student recruitment should also be conducted during the spring and fall of 2012, and can continue into the spring term 2013. 

There are critical logistical issues to be dealt with when students go abroad.  Consequently, it is crucial that faculty members proposing summer study abroad courses work directly with Ruth Shepherd, the Study Abroad/Exchange Coordinator in the Office of International Programs, to ensure that essential planning components of a faculty-led course abroad are attended to.  Logistics and UW requirements for faculty-led courses can be overwhelming when a faculty member is also trying to focus on preparing the course itself.  International Programs will assist with advice and coordination with appropriate UW offices on marketing, recruiting, coordinating and collecting payments, arranging travel to the host country and in-country travel, meeting passport and visa requirements, insurance requirements, housing and hotel needs, and cash advances.   Early and frequent collaboration with International Programs will ensure faculty and students are able to get the most they can out of the Summer Session study abroad course.

Budget for Summer Session 2013 Innovative Course Proposals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The total request should range between $1,000 and $5,000. The budget may include requests for faculty salary (must include employee paid benefits calculated at 45.5%), faculty travel expenses, faculty per diem, and course materials.