Advisor Resources

Advisor Resources

The information on this page is for ETSU advisors outside of the Education Abroad Office. Thank you for supporting ETSU students on their study abroad journeys! The Education Abroad Office could not send students abroad without your help. If you have any questions about the information on our website, please email studyabroad@etsu.edu. We are happy to help!

FAQs

• The student I'm advising said they are interested in studying abroad. What should I do?

  1. Encourage them! We encounter students every term that tell us that their academic advisor said they can't study abroad. Don't be part of the problem!
  2. Tell them to attend a study abroad interest session or email studyabroad@etsu.edu to learn more.
     
     
     
• Which students can study abroad?

  • Study abroad is an opportunity for EVERYONE!
  • There are programs available for students at any level, from any background, and with any major.
  • We recommend that students plan early to maximize their options.
• What are the eligibility requirements to study abroad?

  • Students must attend at least one (1) semester at ETSU before participating in a short-term study abroad program during summer break, spring break, or winter break. This semester must be immediately prior to studying abroad.
  • Students must attend at least two (2) semesters at ETSU before participating in a long-term study abroad program (semester or longer). These semesters must be immediately prior to studying abroad.
  • Students do not have to meet the semester requirement before applying as long as they will have completed the minimum number of required semesters before their study abroad program begins.
  • The Education Abroad Office does not have one set GPA requirement because we don't want to put any unnecessary roadblocks in students' way. Instead, we use the GPA requirement determined by each program. Students should check GPA requirements carefully.
  • All students must be in good academic standing in order to participate in a study abroad program. During the application process, students give permission to the University to review their disciplinary records and transcript.
  • Most programs have no minimum language requirements, although language classes may be required while abroad. Speakers of all proficiency levels are welcome to apply!
    
    
  • Eligibility requirements may vary for ETSU faculty-led programs. Please contact the program's faculty leader for more information.
• How can I support students as they plan to study abroad?

  As an academic advisor, you are the expert when it comes to students' degree plans and requirements that they must fulfill at ETSU. When a student is interested in studying abroad, you can help them determine how this opportunity fits in with their overall academic goals at ETSU.

  
  There are two forms related to study abroad that you, as an academic advisor, may be required to sign. The first form is the Study Abroad Planning Sheet. The second form is the Study Abroad Credit Approval (SACA) Form. More Information about both of these forms can be found below.

  Each student is assigned an ETSU study abroad advisor, depending on the length and timing of their study abroad program. Study abroad advisors can help match students with potential study abroad programs depending on the student's desired location, courses, and experience. We support students before, during, and after their study abroad programs.

 

Study Abroad Processes and Procedures

Program Types & Brief Descriptions

Program Type	Term Availability	Tuition & Fees	Course Credit	Travel Type	Bottom Line
ETSU Faculty-Led Programs	Summer break, spring break, winter break	Pay ETSU tuition to ETSU; may pay program fees to a third-party provider	Enroll in an ETSU course	Travel with a group of ETSU faculty, staff, and students.	Less freedom & flexibility but also less planning. Great for first-time travelers.
Direct Enroll Faculty-Led Programs	Summer break, winter break	Pay all fees to the third-party provider; pay no fees to ETSU	Transfer courses to ETSU via the SACA Form	Travel with a group of faculty & students from universities in the US	Less freedom & flexibility but also less planning. Great for first-time travelers or those who want the faculty-led experience while still being able to meet new people.
Semester Exchange	Fall/ spring semester, academic/ calendar year	Pay ETSU in-state tuition to ETSU; pay housing & other fees to your host university	Transfer courses to ETSU via the SACA Form	Travel independently	More planning but also more freedom & flexibility. Great for students who are seeking cultural immersion.
Direct Enroll Partner Universities	Fall/ spring semester, academic/ calendar year	Pay all fees to your host university; pay no fees to ETSU	Transfer courses to ETSU via the SACA Form	Travel independently	More planning but also more freedom & flexibility. Great for students who are seeking cultural immersion.
Direct Enroll Organizations	Fall/ spring semester, academic/ calendar year, summer break, winter break	Pay all fees to the third-party provider; pay no fees to ETSU	Transfer courses to ETSU via the SACA Form	Independence levels vary by program selection	Each program is unique, but the organizations we work with provide a wide variety of program types, locations, and options - there's something for everyone!

Study Abroad Planning Sheet

• What is this?

  • The goal of this sheet is to help students determine if their selected study abroad program is a good fit for them. If a student discovers that their program is not a good fit, they will have the chance to select an alternate program.
  • This sheet walks students through meetings with their academic advisor and financial aid advisor. 
  • The Study Abroad Planning Sheet is required for students participating in long-term exchange or direct enroll programs. It is optional for students participating in short-term direct enroll programs. It is not completed by students participating in ETSU faculty-led programs.
  • This sheet does not guarantee transfer credit and is for planning purposes only.
• When is it due?

  • This form is due around 1 month after the application deadline for the student's selected program. These deadlines help students know early on in the planning process if their program is feasible for them. If a student discovers that their program is not a good fit, they will have the chance to select an alternate program.
  • Deadlines 
    • Fall semester programs: February 15 (required)
      
      
    • Winter break programs: September 15 (optional)
    • Spring semester programs: August 15 (required)
      
      
    • Summer programs: February 15 (optional)
  • We encourage students to complete this sheet soon after being approved for their study abroad program. However, there are always students who wait until the last minute. We can be flexible with students who need additional time to complete this form, and we ask that you be as flexible as is reasonable.
• How do I complete this sheet?

  • Look over the students' Degree Works with them to help them see which courses they need to take for their degree. Point out any electives, as these are easier to find abroad.
  • Help the student determine if there are any restrictions on their courses. Restrictions may include:
    • Courses that are required to be taken at ETSU (not eligible for transfer credit)
    • Courses that must be taken in a sequence
    • Courses that are only available during certain semesters (i.e. every spring/fall, every other spring/fall, etc.)
    • Courses that require prerequisites that the student has not completed yet
  • Talk with the student about how their study abroad program will help them achieve their academic goals. Each student will have a different answer, but common themes include:
    • Acquiring or practicing language skills or improving communication
      
      
      
      
      
      
    • Exposure to different styles of teaching and learning
    • Experiencing new cultures and perspectives
    • Deepening the understanding of their field
  • Based on the student's degree plan, help them determine if you think this is a good time for them to study abroad or if they should wait until a future term. 
    
    
  • Please remember that this sheet does not guarantee transfer credit and is for planning purposes only.
    
    
    
    

Study Abroad Credit Approval (SACA) Form

• What is this?

  • The Study Abroad Credit Approval (SACA) Form helps students guarantee transfer credit for their study abroad programs and determine their eligibility for financial aid.
  • Without this form, students cannot guarantee transfer credit for their study abroad courses and cannot receive federal or state financial aid.
  • The SACA form is completed by students participating in exchange or direct enroll programs who wish to receive transfer credit OR financial aid.
• When is it due?

  • There is no official deadline for the SACA form, as it can be submitted any time before or during a student's study abroad program.
  • However, financial aid cannot be disbursed until the SACA form has been submitted.
  • We encourage students to begin working on their SACA forms as early as possible.
  • Recommended deadlines are approximately 1 month prior to the start of the student's study abroad program:
    
    • Fall semester: July 15
    • Winter break: November 15
    • Spring semester: November 15 
    • Summer break: April 15
• How do I complete this sheet?

  • Student: The top portion of the form is completed by the student. They will list information about their study abroad program.
  • Student: The green section of the form is completed by the student. The student will list the courses they plan to take during their study abroad program and the number of credit hours for each course. They will also provide a link to the course description. The student will also sign the SACA form on page 2.
  • ETSU Department Chairs: The blue section of the form is completed by ETSU department chairs. Department chairs can only approve courses for their department, so students may need to send the form to multiple department chairs.  Department chairs will list ETSU equivalent courses for each study abroad course (if an equivalent course is available) and will determine if the course fulfills a major, minor, gen-ed, or elective requirement. If desired by the department chair, students can provide a list of proposed ETSU equivalent courses, but the department chair is still responsible for approving or denying those equivalencies. They will sign the SACA form on page 1 next to each ETSU equivalent course. Department chairs may also opt to designate someone else in their department as the person responsible for completing the SACA forms. This information should be communicated directly to the Education Abroad Office by the department chair.
  • ETSU Academic Advisors: The purple section of the form is completed by the student's academic advisor. The advisor may choose to add notes here, but most do not add notes. Advisors will sign the SACA form on page 2.
  • Financial Aid (Lisa Baumer): The orange section of the form is completed by the Lisa Baumer (baumer@etsu.edu) in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Lisa will indicate if each course is eligible for financial aid by checking "Yes" or "No". Lisa will add additional comments, if necessary, on page 2 and will also sign the form on page 2.
  • Academic Credential Analyst (Valerie Higgins): The final signature required on the SACA form is the Academic Credential Analyst. This is Valerie Higgins (higginsv@etsu.edu). Valerie will only sign the form if all the above sections have been completed.
  • Questions: If you have questions about the SACA form, the student's study abroad program, or any other aspect of the study abroad process, please email studyabroad@etsu.edu. 

EXCH Placeholder Course

• What is this and why do students enroll?

  • EXCH 3583 is a study abroad placeholder course. 
  • All students participating in exchange or direct enrollment programs are required to enroll in EXCH 3583. Students participating in ETSU faculty-led programs will enroll in the ETSU course associated with their program.
  • This course ensures that students are still registered at ETSU even while they are abroad.
    
    
• Do students pay tuition for this course?

  • Students participating in exchange programs: Yes. Students will be charged ETSU in-state tuition for this course. They will not be charged tuition at their host university.
  • Students participating in direct enroll programs: No. Students will not pay any fees to ETSU for direct enroll programs.
• Will this course show up on students' transcripts?

  • No. When students return from their study abroad program and send their transcript to Valerie Higgins (higginsv@etsu.edu), the ETSU equivalent courses on their SACA form will replace the EXCH course.
    
    
• How do students enroll in this course?

  • Each student has their own section of EXCH 3583 for their study abroad term.
  • The students' ETSU study abroad advisor will give them the CRN for the course prior to registration.
    
    
  • Students can register for the course using the Add/Drop feature in Goldlink and searching for the CRN.
  • Students will not be able to register for the course until they have been cleared to register by their academic advisor.