If you are an O’Neill faculty member on the IU Bloomington or IUI campus, we are happy to talk with you about the possibility of creating an international, faculty-led program to call your own.
Our faculty-led programs give students the opportunity to study abroad with O’Neill faculty, on O’Neill courses, with students from across the IU campuses. We currently offer a wide range of program models, but we are also open to exploring new types of overseas experiences for students.
IU Education Abroad have created a training program to help guide new faculty leaders and program developers through the process of creating a faculty-led program. The training program is composed of short, stand-alone video modules that, in total, provide a complete overview of the process.
The Education Abroad Program Development Training is a Canvas site that can be accessed here.
Our Current Faculty-Led Program Models
Spring Break
1st 8-week spring course with 1 week overseas (during spring break) / 3 credits
2nd 8 weeks spring course with 1 week overseas (immediately after classes end in May) / 3 credits
1 week course overseas (during spring break) / 1 credit
Summer
2-week / 3-credit overseas course
3-week / 3-credit overseas cours
6-week / 6-credit overseas course
Winter Break
1st 8 weeks spring course with 1 week overseas (during winter break preceding start to semester) / 3 credits
If it works with the IU calendar: 2 week course overseas (during winter break) / 3 credits
Program Development Process
Please note - planning for a new overseas program should begin roughly 1.5 years before the intended date of launch. The proposal / approval process can take 6+ months. All programs must be approved and finalized by the time fall semester begins the year prior to running the program.
If you are thinking about proposing an international, faculty-led course - please review the steps below and email us with any questions. We take official proposals for faculty-led courses every January Our annual Call for Proposals for faculty-led programs will outline different areas of priority (geographic and academic subject) for the upcoming cycle.
Our current areas of priority for new faculty-led courses abroad are as follows:
Geographic Areas of Priority: South America; Asia; Oceania
Academic Subject Areas of Priority: Energy; Law and Public Policy; Policy Analysis; Public Financial Management, Arts Management
Program Type: In order of need – 1) Spring break, 2) Winter break, 3) Summer
*We will accept proposals that do not center on the above areas - however proposals that deal with the above areas will be prioritized.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal during this cycle, please find the "O'Neill Proposal" document in the following tab.
Proposals are due in mid-January. If accepted, courses submitted in this cycle will run in 2028.
Before submitting a program proposal, we ask that you schedule a consultation with the OIO Director of International Programs. During this meeting, we’ll discuss your program goals and vision, review the proposal process step by step, answer questions, and provide feedback on your ideas. We’ll also cover important topics such as program timelines, budgeting, risk management, academic considerations, and logistical planning to help ensure your proposal is as strong as possible before submission.
Time frame: 2-3 months
After your initial OIO meeting, you will need to submit an O'Neill Proposal (two-pages) to be formally reviewed by the O’Neill Overseas Faculty Committee. This proposal will also be reviewed by the directors of each degree program at O’Neill.
This review process will specifically consider the following:
Does the course align with the O'Neill curriculum for a variety of majors/concentrations?
Does the course fulfill an un-met need in O’Neill International programming?
Who can participate? Is it appealing to a diverse group of students?
What is your relevant experience with the topic and location?
Have you already identified a potential university / vendor to partner with overseas?
The length of this initial approval process largely depends on the timing of committee meetings.
Several outcomes are possible during this process:
Full approval (as proposed) by the O’Neill Overseas Faculty Committee and an invitation to begin work on a full OSAC proposal.
Partial approval (with modifications - generally to program timing).
You are encouraged to visit your proposed program location during the proposal writing process to enhance your knowledge. This trip could include meetings with academic partners, vendors (housing, food, transportation, etc.) and networking with potential guest lecturers and organizations you wish for the students to visit.
You will likely find this trip to be crucial to the OSAC proposal process as you work through building the syllabus / itinerary for the program.
* The proposal should be submitted about 12 months before a program would run.
The OSAC proposal writing process is extensive and time-consuming, but the reward of developing a new overseas course is worth the effort! Our office is here to guide you through this process.
An OSAC Proposal will include the following:
Basic Description of the Program
Rationale
Eligibility
Orientation Programming
Educational Program Abroad
Student Learning and Development
Support Services Abroad
Health, Safety, and Security
Supplementary Activities
Room and Board
Student Budget
Program Budget
Program Administration
In addition, OSAC will want the following supplemental materials:
Program Director CV
Full Course Syllabus
Two Letters of Support from the O'Neill Administration
Once your proposal is finalized and you have submitted all relevant supporting documents to OIO, our staff will formally submit your full OSAC proposal to the IU Overseas Study Advisory Council (OSAC).
Once the proposal and all supporting documents are submitted - we typically get a response within two months (although this timing varies throughout the year).
Time frame: 1 week
It is very common for OSAC to respond to the proposal submission with a list of questions. These are often things like: "I see you are visiting a peanut farm. How will you deal with students who have a peanut allergy?" or "You are taking the students camel riding - will the students be required to wear helmets?"
We generally try to respond to these questions within one week - however, some questions may involve more in-depth research that can take some time.
Time frame: 1 week - 1 month
If OSAC is happy with our response to the questions, we will generally receive official approve within a week or two.
With this approval comes a list of post-approval requirements - including various trainings, procedures, and ongoing update reports we must complete. Our office will work with you to confirm who holds responsibility for which items on the post-acceptance list.
It is important to note: OSAC approval does not guarantee the program will run. O’Neill has a financial responsibility to ensure the program meets its budget. When we design the budget, you will be given a minimum and maximum number of students. If you are unable to get enough student interest to reach the minimum number, the program will likely not be allowed to run.
Congratulations! With OSAC approval in place, it’s time to begin turning your proposal into a fully operational program.
During this phase, you will work closely with the O’Neill International Office to finalize all program logistics. Our team will coordinate the administrative and operational aspects of the program while partnering with you on decisions that shape the student experience.
Together, we will:
Finalize the program itinerary and schedule
Confirm housing, transportation, and vendor arrangements
Develop and monitor the program budget
Coordinate flights and travel logistics, as applicable
Finalize the syllabus and required course materials
Establish program timelines and important deadlines
Collaborate with in-country partners and service providers
Throughout the planning process, regular meetings will be scheduled to review progress, make decisions, and ensure all logistics remain on track. If significant changes are made to the approved program, the O’Neill International Office will coordinate any required updates or amendments to the OSAC proposal.
The O’Neill International Office will lead a comprehensive marketing and recruitment campaign to promote your program. Throughout the recruitment period, we will host information sessions, present in classes, share the program on social media, send targeted email campaigns, create promotional materials, feature the program on our website, and participate in campus events to generate student interest.
Faculty engagement is one of the strongest predictors of a successful recruitment cycle. We encourage program directors to actively promote their programs by talking with students in class, sharing information with colleagues, sending targeted emails to students who may be interested, and participating in recruitment events whenever possible.
The O’Neill International Office will manage the application process from start to finish, including promoting the application, collecting submissions, verifying required materials, and communicating with applicants throughout the process.
Once the application deadline has passed, you will be given access to review all completed applications for your program. As the program director, you will have the final decision on participant selection based on your program’s goals and selection criteria.
After participants have been selected, OIO will send official acceptance notifications and manage all post-acceptance requirements, including collecting passports, medical information, emergency contacts, and any other required documentation. We will also communicate next steps with students and ensure they remain on track for a successful departure.
Students who have accepted their offer should hear from you soon after acceptance. Early and consistent communication helps build excitement, fosters a sense of community, and significantly reduces the likelihood of students withdrawing before departure. We encourage program directors to communicate regularly with participants throughout the pre-departure period.
All students are required to complete OIO's online Health and Safety Course prior to departure. In addition, we will coordinate and facilitate two required pre-departure orientations:
General Pre-Departure Orientation – Covers student expectations, program costs, visa guidance, resources, and upcoming deadlines.
Program-Specific Orientation – Focuses on your individual program, including the itinerary, academic expectations, cultural considerations, housing, transportation, and other destination-specific information.
Program directors are expected to actively participate in and co-lead the program-specific orientation. Many faculty also choose to host additional meetings throughout the semester to answer questions, review course expectations, and help students prepare for their experience abroad.
The Associate Director of Operations and Compliance will partner with you to develop location-specific health and safety content and ensure students are well prepared for a successful and safe international experience.
As a program director there are a variety of trainings and meetings you are required / encouraged to attend.
Post-OSAC Approval Expectations Meeting with OIO Team (required)
O’Neill International Program Director and Staff Training (required)
Online CSA Training (required)
Pre-Departure Alignment Meeting with Associate Directors (required)
First Aid / CPR Training (optional)
Pre-Departure Final Meeting with Associate Director of International Program Development + program staff
The whole process has built up to this!
You will be supported by our office the entire time you are on the ground with students. Depending on the size of your program, you will likely receive at least one (maybe two) staff support who will live with the students and help manage the day-to-day issues so you can focus on the academic components of the course.
Within one month of the close of the program, you will be required to submit a summary report to the Educaion Abroad office that addresses the topics below. The O'Neill International Office will provide supporting documentation and guidance.
Please see here for a full detailed explanation of the post-program report and expectations.
