Why AUIP?

American Universities International Programs (AUIP) assists institutions in providing their own short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs. The goal is to provide faculty and international office staff with everything that is needed to run successful programs (from concept development and student recruitment to faculty and student preparation and in-country logistics).

AUIP Services

Faculty and Staff Preparation

AUIP provides academic material (syllabi templates, course reading packets, field modules, and other forms of assessment) that faculty can use as a basis to develop their own curriculum. We currently have templates for curricula on the themes of sustainable development, global health and communications.

Each institution offers their own course credit but institutions may elect to work together as part of a consortium to run the program. We also help to prepare faculty and staff for administering and running programs by providing pre-departure risk assessment and health and safety training as well as policies and procedures for running programs. Materials we provide include:

Faculty Handbook
Faculty Orientation
Emergency Action Plan

Student Recruitment

AUIP recruits students through a proven marketing system that utilizes a dedicated website, high quality publicity materials (and a system for their distribution), and on-campus recruitment (including classroom visits and information sessions).

Student Preparation

AUIP helps prepare students for participating in programs by providing:

A pre-departure orientation for each program
An in-country orientation, including a health and safety briefing
Policies and procedures for program participation in-country (including a Program Handbook)

In-Country Logistics and Support

AUIP provides all in-country logistics and the delivery of services (including accommodations, transportation, field excursions and activities, and classroom and field instruction) as well as a comprehensive program evaluation.

Collaborative Research Opportunity

A study to explore the learning outcomes of the study abroad programs on global citizenship and environmental stewardship is being undertaken. Consortium institutions are invited to be part of the collaborative and longitudinal research project which will likely involve one of the largest sample sizes of study abroad students in a single-themed program.

Benefits to Faculty

AUIP provides all in-country service needs and logistics, as well as supporting student recruitment efforts. This means faculty can focus on academics and student learning outcomes, rather than logistics or marketing.
Program fees for students are minimized because fixed costs for instruction and non-instructional needs (e.g., coach transportation, classroom teaching, etc) can be spread out across a higher number of students (i.e., by working as a collective of institutions, more cost-effective student group sizes can be ensured).
The potential for long-term growth and sustainability of the programs increases, because individual institutions can continue to offer the course even during times of low enrollment.
The programs offer a conduit for institutional and faculty collaboration, including opportunities for team-teaching and research with colleagues from other consortia member institutions.
Access to an established network of in-country contacts (logistical, professional, and academic) provide opportunities to seek out partnerships and grant opportunities.
Faculty can join an inter-disciplinary research team focusing on the learning and behavioral outcomes of environmentally-oriented study abroad programs.

Benefits to the Home Institution

Institutions can offer students their own cost-effective, high quality, and academically rigorous international education programs. Faculty and institutions maintain academic control over the program.
Institutions retain credit hours and associated tuition revenue.
Institutions can promote and feature students, faculty, and programs that internationalize the campus.
Institutions do not have to create their own set of logistical and risk management procedures.
Collaborative international teaching and research opportunities are enhanced for faculty and students.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Member on the Program

Assessment and grading of students from their own institution (including field modules, exams, and/or student projects).
General welfare of students from their own institution during the program.
Active engagement in the future development and direction of syllabi and course content.

Costs

There are three costs involved:

Program fees (these are the same for all students regardless of the institution). Program fees are paid by the student to the institution, and are subsequently wired to AUIP approximately two months prior to the beginning of the program. Participating faculty/instructors pay the same program fee as students (although faculty are offered pro-rated free-of-charge places based on the number of students enrolled).
Tuition fees (set by the respective home institution). Tuition fees are retained by the institution, as for any other course (and are typically used for faculty salaries, travel, and program fees in addition to any other departmental/unit needs).
Airfare (an optional group airfare is available). These fees are paid by the student directly to the respective airline/travel agent.

Request a Custom Designed Program

If the existing syllabi and/or consortium model do not meet institutional and/or faculty needs, customized programs can be designed. With this approach, faculty can develop their course content and work with AUIP to implement their syllabus in the South Pacific region. Currently, about half-a-dozen institutions have their own customized programs with AUIP.