Faculty/ Program Directors

Intro

As SBCC faculty, you're the building block of the Study Abroad Program — a chance to create life-changing learning experiences for students while gaining a new perspective on your own teaching.

SBCC's program is one of the top community-college study abroad programs in the nation. Because programs are faculty-led, they span a wide range of destinations and course offerings each year. Past program directors have led trips to Australia, Rwanda, Turkey, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Cuba, New Zealand, Bali, Japan, Russia, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, England, Argentina, Bolivia, Thailand, South Africa, and more.

Program lengths:

• Short programs (summer, winter, or spring break): 10 days–4 weeks
• Semester programs (spring or fall): up to 89 days

Why lead a program abroad?

For your students: lifelong friendships, self-confidence, a global perspective, and stronger interpersonal skills — plus transferable units that make them more competitive for jobs and 4-year transfer.

For you: small class sizes (20–40 students), the chance to teach on-site using the host country as a living classroom, a break from routine, and real personal and professional growth. You'll join a list of highly regarded faculty who've directed programs worldwide.

Eligibility

• Full-time faculty may apply to lead any program type.
• Part-time faculty may apply to lead short programs and embedded programs.
• Want a co-director? You can submit as a team — if you don't have a partner in mind, note that on your proposal.

The Process

1. Watch for the call. Proposals for the upcoming school year are accepted every spring; an all-campus email goes out in mid-spring as a reminder.
2. Meet with the Director of International Programs. Contact Jing Liu — (805) 730-4325 or jliu27@pipeline.sbcc.edu — at least two weeks before the application deadline to discuss your destination and idea and get formatting guidance.
3. Submit your application. Complete the online proposal form. A signature page will be attached and routed to your department chair, dean, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs — give your chair and dean a heads-up before it reaches them.
4. Interview. Once signed proposals are received by the deadline, the International Education Committee reviews them and schedules interviews for both new and returning directors.
5. Selection & development. The committee selects programs for the new academic year. Over the summer, the Study Abroad office develops your program with your input — stay available, since recruiting begins right at the start of fall term.

Program Director Responsibilities

In brief, program directors:

• Help build the program and lead recruitment
• Interview applicants before departure
• Teach courses and handle some counseling/admin duties while abroad
• Submit grades and reports upon return

Full details: Program Director Responsibilities (PDF)

Program Director Workshop

If selected, you'll attend a workshop in early fall to (re)acquaint yourself with procedures and responsibilities, including tips for conducting student interviews. Studying abroad can be demanding for students, so part of your role is assessing whether an applicant is likely to have a successful, enjoyable experience.