Advisor Packet 2012-2013

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Academic AdvisorInformation Packet

2012-2013

International PlanRebecca Bacon, Assistant Director

Office of International EducationSavant Building, Suite 211

404-894-7475 [email protected]

INTRODUCTION:The International Plan is a fairly young program and is still very dynamic.With the growth and progression of the program, keeping up with currentinformation and requirements for the International Plan can be challenging.

This packet aims to provide an overview of the past year and an update tofaculty and advisors who have been working with IP students inparticipating majors. It is also designed to help facilitate advising for the IP,

including frequently asked questions to help advisors and studentsunderstand the ins and outs of the program.

For advisors who are new to the International Plan, please feel free toreview the program goals and requirements on our website, or contactRebecca Bacon any time at the address below.

We truly appreciate your assistance in encouraging students toparticipate in and complete this nationally renowned program!

This packet can be found online at: http://www.internationalplan.gatech.edu/faculty-staff

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*In addition to the 2012 CHEA Award, Georgia Tech was recipient of the 2010 Andrew Heiskell

Award for Innovation in International Education (received Honorable Mention in 2006) and the2007 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

International Plan, Version 2.0 announced

IP wins CHEA Award for Outstanding InstitutionalPractice in Student Learning Outcomes*

66.7% IP work abroad students ranked outstanding in

overall quality of work compared to 43.5% of non-IP work

abroad students

IP graduates break 100 across 20 different majors

IP study abroad students average 15 points higher ontheir intercultural sensitivity scores then their one-semester abroad counterparts

IP Student Profile

839: Number of students currently enrolled in IP26: Participating majors, from all six colleges

11%10%

7%

17%51%

4%

IP Participation by CollegeManagement

Computing

Science

Liberal Arts

Engineering

Architecture

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Why did the International Plan change?Through a five-year longitudinal study, the Office of Assessment dataprove that the IP is achieving its learning outcomes developinginternationally knowledgeable and confident students who are capable ofpracticing their discipline in a global context. Despite the success, thenumber of students completing the program and graduating with the IPdesignator has been low in comparison with those that initially enroll.

The VP of International Initiatives assigned a task force to review theprogram and make recommendations that help to streamline InternationalPlan regulations and make the program more accessible to students ofvarying academic needs. Below is a highlight of those changes.

CHANGES TO INTERNATIONAL PLAN COMPONENTS

Version 2.0 !

For details on IP components, please visit website below:

Components Original IP IP 2.0

GPA Requirement

2.7 to join (no GPA for freshman)

Maintain a 2.7 throughout the program!

2.7 average in global courses

2.7 average in language courses

2.7 before going abroad

2.7 to graduate with IP

Language RequirementEnglish Language Track (ELT) or

Foreign Language Track (FLT)(no changing allowed)

All students take minimum through the2002 language or equivalent!

Language ProficiencyOral Proficiency exam required

for FLT only

An option for everyone! Add a

Language Proficiency designator bytaking the Oral Proficiency exam!

International Experience

Minimum 26 weeks abroad in 2

semesters; experience in one countrypreferred.

Minimum 26 weeks abroad in 2

semesters; experience in more than

one country as approved for coherenceby IP Faculty Representative!

Global Coursework Select courses from three areas. Expanded selection of courses!

Capstone Culminating course within one's major.Culminating course within ones major;

workshop component added!

November 2011 marked the roll out of thenew and improved International Plan!

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Academic AdvisorPacket 2012

International Plan Advisement Tools

IP Tracks Portal

Ever wonder what successful IP students did to be successful? Now youcan see! Starting early July, the IP Tracks Portal will showcase examplesof coursework and international experiences based on major curriculumand language of choice, to help guide students in planning theirInternational Plan.

International experience examples are realistic options for students, taking

into account what kind of coursework is available at the partnerinstitutions, or what kinds of work abroad opportunities are currentlyavailable in what majors & locations, while course examples are based onmajor requirements taking into account prerequisites and corerequirements.

Available July 1st: www.internationalplan.gatech.edu/tracks

DegreeWorks

The International Plan is slated to be added to DegreeWorks along with all

other special programs (Honors, Research Option, etc) within the nextyear. For now, any approved IP coursework petitions are being noted inthe Notes section of DegreeWorks.

Degree Petitions / IP Degree Designator

Once the IP is in DegreeWorks, it will also be added to the new OnlineApplication for Graduation. For now, students petitioning to graduatewith the IP Designator must still complete the IP Degree DesignatorForm (hard-copy; on Forms section of website).

Please note this form has changed: The Office of the Registrar hasrequested that the IP designator forms be collected and submitted bythe International Plan Assistant Director. Therefore, students willobtain academic unit signatures first, then submit the original copy tothe IP for the final approval. Thank you for your assistance with thisnew procedure!

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IP Roles and Who to Contact

IP FacultyRepresentatives

IP Assistant Director

Who: Faculty in participatingmajors who form thecommittee that

establishes academicpolicies for the IP.

Full-time employee in the Office ofInternational Education who isresponsible for the leadership and

management of the IP.

Contactfor:

Working IP into major Coherence of plan Approval of international

experiences Capstone course

options andrequirements

General IP policies, procedures,and advice

Recruitment, events, andcommunications

Petitions/appeals; suggestions Development of new study

abroad opportunities Adding the IP to a major

How: See Participating Majorslist on website.

[email protected]

There are many resources available for students and staff whowork with the International Plan. The list below helps distinguishwho best to refer to for particular concerns and questions.

Academic Advisors: Help students to plan and make strategic decisionsabout how to fulfill IP course requirements and decide when in their academiccareer is best to go abroad. www.advising.gatech.edu

Study Abroad Advisors: Guide students in researching and selecting studyabroad programs suited for their needs and academic goals. Contact forstudy abroad details, deadlines, application procedures.www.oie.gatech.edu/sa

Work Abroad Advisors: Assist students with exploring current work abroadopportunities in their major. Contact for work abroad details, visas, workpermits. www.workabroad.gatech.edu

Modern Languages: Advise students on how to best fulfill IP languagerequirement. Contact for language courses, placement tests, permits.http://www.modlangs.gatech.edu/degrees/international-plan/success

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Frequently Asked Questions

This next section covers some of the commonly asked questionsabout the IP, but we welcome you to contact the IP AssistantDirector for any clarifications or questions not addressed.

IP Interest

What is theInternational

Plan?

A challenging undergraduate degree designator program thatintegrates intercultural & language learning, and international

experience into ones major. Designed to enhance studentsability to function effectively in a global work environment.

Who is eligible? The IP is open to any Georgia Tech degree-seekingundergraduate student in a participating major. Ideally studentsshould apply within the first two semesters of their college career,although students of all years are welcome to apply!.

Have and maintain a 2.7 GPA (no requirement for first-semester freshmen)

Have a strong interest in developing global competencies Submit an online application:

http://www.internationalplan.gatech.edu/apply

Why shouldstudents join?

By participating in the program, students will gain the skillsnecessary to stand out to future employers in an increasinglycompetitive global market. Students learn to acclimate tomultinational work environments and gain the ability to facilitatecommunication between different cultures. IP graduates have anoverall better job outlook in terms of opportunities, salaries, andfuture job advancement.

The IP has helped me a develop a diverse skillset and wide range of experiencesthat go far beyond the typical college experience, thus enabling me to

competitively position myself in the workforce to leverage my background in

language and engineering at the global scale.

- John Watson, Class of 2011

B.S. Electrical Engineering International Plan

B.S. Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies International Plan

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IP Admissions

Can Dual Majors

participate?

Yes, they can even earn the International Plan designation

for both majors (assuming both are participating majors).

The only additional requirement is that both the major

advisors must approve of the students international

experiences and the capstone must be taken for both majors

(explained further down). All other requirements are only

required to be completed once.

Can international

students participate

in the IP?

Yes, but there are two stipulations:

1. They must not use their home country as their

international experience.

2. They must be working on a Georgia Tech undergraduate

degree (degree-seeking); exchange students cannot

participate.

Can transfer

students

participate?

Yes, but international experiences must be fulfilled while

enrolled at GT. If coursework taken elsewhere transfers to

GT as an equivalent course that is on the list of IP approvedcourse, then that coursework will count toward the IP.

IP Basic Requirements

After acceptance, what are the

requirements in order to

actually earn the International

Plan designation?

The International Plan requirements are:

1. Language proficiency in a language other than

English (usually related to abroad experience).2. Completion of 26 or more weeks in coherent

international experiences.

3. Completion for 3 globally-oriented courses.

4. Completion of a globally focused major capstone.

5. Must maintain an overall 2.7 GPA.


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IP Requirement Details

What does

coherent

mean and

what are the

different

types?

For the IP, coherence means that the international experiences chosen

must have a relationship of some sort, either linguistically/culturally, or

intellectually.

Linguistic/Cultural: The international experience country(ies) have

the same language and/or culture (aka, Spain and Argentina).

Intellectual: The international experiences do not share

language/culture, but do share a connection related to a certain

aspect of the students field of study (aka, ISyE student who takes

logistics coursework in Singapore and interns with logistics group of

DHL in Dubai).

If students wish to use intellectual coherence, they must make their

case through a written argument attached to their International

Experience Approval Form, and have it approved by the IP Faculty

Representative before they go abroad.

What does

the language

proficiency

entail?

The language should relate to where the student wishes to go abroad.

The typical way students attain this requirement is by taking through

the 2002 level of a language (minimum requirement). Students who

develop proficiency outside of the classroom must show their

proficiency through a language placement test, AP score, ACTFL exam

or other method as determined by the School of Modern Languages.

What do the

globally

focused

courses

entail?

Students must take one course for each of the three areas:

international relations, global economics, country/regional. A full list of

courses is on the GT course catalog. (Courses not currently listed can

be petitioned to count.) Most of the courses also count toward social

science, humanities, and global perspective overlay needed to

graduate.

http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/specialacademic/international.phpPlease note AP course credit does not count toward this requirement.


It [The IP] has given me a strong foundation of intercultural understanding on which

to base future work and life decisions. I truly feel prepared to apply myself to any

problem I encounter, in a global context.

- S. Austin Steed, Class of 2011

B.S. International Affairs and Modern Languages International Plan

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IP Requirement Details

What does

the

international

experience

entail?

Students must complete a minimum of 26 weeks abroad of study,

research, and/or work abroad. The 26 weeks should be obtained in 2

semesters (only one can be a summer program). Students are free to

go abroad more, but should pick the two most coherent experiences to

count toward the International Plan.

It is important to note that the two chosen experiences abroad must be

coherent either linguistically, culturally, or intellectually.

What can be

counted

toward the

total weeks of

international

experience?

DO:

Holidays that occur during the period abroad DO count toward the

week total.

Orientations, special sessions, and bridges connected to the

experiences DO count toward the week total (requires written

approval via International Experience Approval form).

DONT:

Weeks spent in a country before a program/work experience

officially begin or after it officially ends DONT count toward theweek total.

Weeks spent abroad for vacation DONT count toward total weeks

abroad.

What does

the globally

focused

capstone

entail?

Depending on the major, students must take their senior

capstone/design/seminar course and include an international

component into their project (such as a comparison of domestic versus

foreign use of a product, etc). This capstone is typically the same one

that other students take, but contains an added component forInternational Plan students. Students should contact their IP Faculty

Representative for details before registering for the capstone.

Approved capstone courses are listed on the IP section of the GT

course catalog: http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/specialacademic/international.php


Please contact us with your questions: 404-894-7475

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Office of International EducationSavant Buildings, Suite 211

404-894-7475

Thank you to our advisors, and congratulations to our fall 2011,spring and summer 2012 IP graduates!

Advisor Packet 2012-2013

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