– This paper aims to discuss the use of student affairs professionals in short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs to enhance student experiences, support faculty by taking over the “student support” role, and manage risk.
– This is a conceptual paper that introduces the value that student affairs professionals can bring to the study abroad context. A short case study is embedded.
– Although conceptual, this paper identifies the benefits of a partnership between student affairs and academic affairs in the study abroad context.
– This paper is not empirical.
– The practical implications of using student affairs professionals in the study abroad context include enhanced student experiences through both pre-departure preparation and ongoing reflection, increased support for faculty which may result in less faculty burnout and stress, and additional staff to help mitigate and manage risk.
– The collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs in the study abroad context has only been addressed in one other manuscript (from 2005). There is a great potential value in developing partnerships between these two divisions with respect to study abroad.
