Academic Advisor Information Packet 2012-2013

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 current information and requirements for the International Plan can be challenging. This packet aims to provide an overview of the past year and an update to faculty and advisors who have been working with IP students in participating majors. It is also designed to help facilitate advising for the IP, including frequently asked questions to help advisors and students understand the ins and outs of the program. For advisors who are new to the International Plan, please feel free to review the program goals and requirements on our website, or contact Rebecca Bacon any time at the address below. We truly appreciate your assistance in encouraging students to participate in and complete this nationally renowned program!

International Plan Rebecca Bacon, Assistant Director Office of International Education Savant Building, Suite 211 404-894-7475 internationalplan@oie.gatech.edu
This packet can be found online at: http://www.internationalplan.gatech.edu/faculty-staff

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International Plan, Version 2.0 announced IP wins CHEA Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice 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 on their intercultural sensitivity scores then their onesemester abroad counterparts

IP Student Profile
839: Number of students currently enrolled in IP 26: Participating majors, from all six colleges

IP Participation by College 11% 4% 10% 7%

Management Computing Science Liberal Arts Engineering Architecture

51%

17%

*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 the 2007 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

Version 2.0 !
November 2011 marked the roll out of the new and improved International Plan!
Why did the International Plan change?
Through a five-year longitudinal study, the Office of Assessment data prove that the IP is achieving its learning outcomes developing internationally knowledgeable and confident students who are capable of practicing their discipline in a global context. Despite the success, the number of students completing the program and graduating with the IP designator has been low in comparison with those that initially enroll. The VP of International Initiatives assigned a task force to review the program and make recommendations that help to streamline International Plan regulations and make the program more accessible to students of varying academic needs. Below is a highlight of those changes.

CHANGES TO INTERNATIONAL PLAN COMPONENTS Components Original IP

2.7 to join (no GPA for freshman) 2.7 average in global courses

IP 2.0

GPA Requirement

2.7 average in language courses 2.7 before going abroad 2.7 to graduate with IP English Language Track (ELT) or Foreign Language Track (FLT) (no changing allowed) Oral Proficiency exam required for FLT only

Maintain a 2.7 throughout the program!

Language Requirement

All students take minimum through the 2002 language or equivalent! An option for everyone! Add a Language Proficiency designator by taking the Oral Proficiency exam!

Language Proficiency

Minimum 26 weeks abroad in 2 Minimum 26 weeks abroad in 2 semesters; experience in more than International Experience semesters; experience in one country one country as approved for coherence preferred. by IP Faculty Representative!

Global Coursework Capstone

Select courses from three areas. Culminating course within one's major.

Expanded selection of courses! Culminating course within ones major; workshop component added!

For details on IP components, please visit website below:

Academic Advisor Packet 2012

International Plan Advisement Tools

IP Tracks Portal
Ever wonder what successful IP students did to be successful? Now you can see! Starting early July, the IP Tracks Portal will showcase examples of coursework and international experiences based on major curriculum and language of choice, to help guide students in planning their International Plan. International experience examples are realistic options for students, taking into account what kind of coursework is available at the partner institutions, or what kinds of work abroad opportunities are currently available in what majors & locations, while course examples are based on major requirements taking into account prerequisites and core requirements. 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 next year. For now, any approved IP coursework petitions are being noted in the Notes section of DegreeWorks.

Degree Petitions / IP Degree Designator

Once the IP is in DegreeWorks, it will also be added to the new Online Application for Graduation. For now, students petitioning to graduate with the IP Designator must still complete the IP Degree Designator Form (hard-copy; on Forms section of website). Please note this form has changed: The Office of the Registrar has requested that the IP designator forms be collected and submitted by the International Plan Assistant Director. Therefore, students will obtain academic unit signatures first, then submit the original copy to the IP for the final approval. Thank you for your assistance with this new procedure!

Academic Advisor Packet 2012

IP Roles and Who to Contact

There are many resources available for students and staff who work with the International Plan. The list below helps distinguish who best to refer to for particular concerns and questions.
IP Faculty Representatives Who:
Faculty in participating majors who form the committee that establishes academic policies for the IP. Working IP into major Coherence of plan Approval of international experiences Capstone course options and requirements See Participating Majors list on website.

IP Assistant Director
Full-time employee in the Office of International Education who is responsible for the leadership and management of the IP. General IP policies, procedures, and advice Recruitment, events, and communications Petitions/appeals; suggestions Development of new study abroad opportunities Adding the IP to a major internationalplan@oie.gatech.edu 404.894.7475

Contact for:

How:

Academic Advisors: Help students to plan and make strategic decisions about how to fulfill IP course requirements and decide when in their academic career is best to go abroad. www.advising.gatech.edu Study Abroad Advisors: Guide students in researching and selecting study abroad programs suited for their needs and academic goals. Contact for study abroad details, deadlines, application procedures. www.oie.gatech.edu/sa Work Abroad Advisors: Assist students with exploring current work abroad opportunities in their major. Contact for work abroad details, visas, work permits. www.workabroad.gatech.edu Modern Languages: Advise students on how to best fulfill IP language requirement. 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 questions about the IP, but we welcome you to contact the IP Assistant Director for any clarifications or questions not addressed. IP Interest
What is the International Plan? A challenging undergraduate degree designator program that integrates intercultural & language learning, and international experience into ones major. Designed to enhance students ability to function effectively in a global work environment.

Who is eligible? The IP is open to any Georgia Tech degree-seeking undergraduate student in a participating major. Ideally students should 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 firstsemester freshmen) Have a strong interest in developing global competencies Submit an online application: http://www.internationalplan.gatech.edu/apply Why should students join? By participating in the program, students will gain the skills necessary to stand out to future employers in an increasingly competitive global market. Students learn to acclimate to multinational work environments and gain the ability to facilitate communication between different cultures. IP graduates have an overall better job outlook in terms of opportunities, salaries, and future job advancement.

The IP has helped me a develop a diverse skillset and wide range of experiences that 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

Academic Advisor Packet 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

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. 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. 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 approved course, then that coursework will count toward the IP.

Can international students participate in the IP?

Can transfer students participate?

IP Basic Requirements
After acceptance, what are the The International Plan requirements are: requirements in order to actually earn the International 1. Language proficiency in a language other than Plan designation? 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.

Academic Advisor Packet 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

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. 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.php Please note AP course credit does not count toward this requirement.

What do the globally focused courses entail?

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

Academic Advisor Packet 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

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 DO: counted Holidays that occur during the period abroad DO count toward the toward the week total. total weeks of Orientations, special sessions, and bridges connected to the international experiences DO count toward the week total (requires written experience? 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 the week 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 for International 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

Office of International Education Savant Buildings, Suite 211 404-894-7475

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