Planning an International Field Trip
What is an International Field Trip?
An international field trip is a short program abroad conducted by Texas A&M University faculty/staff/student leader(s) who are accompanied by a group of students (graduate/undergraduate). A field trip can be part of a credit-bearing course, or a non-credit bearing trip of its own. If a field trip is part of a credit-bearing course, more than half of the course must be taught on the TAMU campus. Several examples of field trips include but are not limited to the following:
- A trip abroad led by a TAMU faculty that is part of a credit-bearing course
- A student organization trip abroad led by a TAMU employee or student
- A research trip abroad led by a TAMU faculty and accompanied by a student/students
How to plan an International Field Trip.
STEP #1 - Meeting: If you have an interest in planning an international field trip for your course, the first step would be to meet with Dr. Julian Gaspar in the Center for International Business Studies to discuss program types and options.
STEP #2 - Curriculum/Goals: After the discussion with Dr. Gaspar, you will be ready to determine the appropriate curricula framework (such as course number), and should then finalize the field trip's goals.
STEP #3 - Students/Itinerary: Next, identify "how many" students (maximum number) that your program will take. Then, develop a tentative itinerary (possible corporate visits, cultural visits, etc.) and total program budget.
STEP #4 - Budget: At this point, you are ready to create a tentative 'per participant' budget. Consider the following expenses in the example below when you prepare your budget:
| EXAMPLE: | |
|
EXPENSE CATEGORY (may include some or all) |
APPROXIMATE COST in USD |
| Airfare (RT from Houston to 'destination') |
1000.00 |
| Lodging (based on double occupancy) |
2000.00 |
|
Ground Transportation (to corporate visits, cultural visits, |
750.00 |
| Meal Allowance |
550.00 |
| Cultural Excursions |
250.00 |
| Pre-departure Activities |
50.00 |
| Fixed costs for classroom/email facilities |
75.00 |
| Communications (disposable cell phone) |
50.00 |
| Welcome and Farewell Dinners |
50.00 |
| Guest Speakers |
50.00 |
| Emergency fund |
100.00 |
|
Miscellaneous expenses: (fax and phone costs to make program arrangements, bank wire |
50.00 |
| ** Student contribution towards faculty travel expenses. |
300.00 |
|
** TAMU Administrative Fee (charged by Study Abroad Office - This fee |
45.00 |
|
TOTAL PROJECTED PARTICIPANT COST |
$5,320.00 |
Before a department can 'charge' a student's account for a new participant's program fee, the faculty/instructor shall initiate a "Request for Approval of Course Field Trip and Fee Form" to be approved. This form must be submitted for approvals to the department head, dean, Study Abroad Office, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics and the Student Fee Committee. NOTE: You will download this form during the SAPO online program application process. Specific guidelines on this process may be found in the Procedures for Field Trip Fee Approval and Collection at SAP 26.01.01.M0.01 .
STEP #5 - Study Abroad Office: For all international field trips, the TAMU Study Abroad Programs Office has specific procedures that must be followed in accordance with the TAMU Standard Administrative Procedure 13.04.99.M1.01 . Plan your field trip early, click on the REVIEW Registration Process button below for an overview of the online SAPO field trip registration/application process. Then, when you are ready, click BEGIN the International Field Trip Online Registration Process button to begin.
 |
 |
If you have any questions during the online application process, please contact Lisa Tauferner at ltauferner@tamu.edu .
STEP #6 - Procedure/Financial Overview: Meet with Claudia Orum for an overview of the TAMU University Rules on Student Travel and the TAMU financial aspects of your field trip.