D07.0 Foreign Travel Programs

As a university with a global reach and vision, RIT encourages international travel for the unique learning and career benefits an international experience can provide to all students, staff, and faculty. The purpose of this policy is to outline expectations and procedures for the development, management, and execution of RIT-sponsored international travel with an educational component. These activities may include:

1. Research and teaching,

2. Learning abroad including coursework at an RIT location or other universities or affiliate partners providers, and

3. International internships and cooperative education.

This policy does not cover international travel for personal reasons, RIT administrative business travel, or the detailed issues of risk management for international travel. All of the following policy sections assume knowledge and adherence to the international travel policies established by the RIT Controller and Global Risk Management for the various campuses.

Expectations for international travel are established by individual colleges and global locations. All academic programs are expected to either provide, or make available to their students the opportunity for study abroad and design their curricula to accommodate such. It is expected that individuals and academic/research units will work within the framework set by administrative units charged with managing such programs.

1. Research or teaching abroad
   Faculty and staff undertaking international travel for research or teaching abroad, whether funded externally or internally, and with or without accompanying staff and students, must seek prior approval for their travel as outlined in the RIT Travel Policies & Procedures Manual.

2. Learning Abroad

   Credit and non-credit bearing learning abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are created by RIT faculty or offered by other universities or affiliate partners providers. All learning abroad activities are managed through the Office of the International Education and Global Programs (RIT Global). This office relies on coordination with academic programs and other co-curricular support units for managing all aspects of learning abroad activities as described below.

   1. Undergraduate degree programs are expected to create and maintain opportunities for international experiential learning in their degree timelines and share those timelines with RIT Global.
   2. Graduate programs are also encouraged to create and maintain opportunities for international experiential learning in their degree timelines and share those timelines with RIT Global.
   3. The process for developing and approving learning abroad programs is the purview of RIT Global.
      1. RIT credit or non-credit bearing international experiences are created in collaboration with RIT Global, where the activity will be managed.
      2. ​​​​Faculty creating an international program will consult with RIT Global, their immediate supervisor, and college administration in developing the activity.
      3. The faculty developing the program must first attain department and college level approval before submitting a program to RIT Global.
      4. New courses developed for learning abroad purposes must follow the established course approval process within each college. Once approved, the college-level representative will notify RIT Global with final course approval from the college.

   4. To ensure program and course level quality, degree program curriculum committees will periodically review course offerings as appropriate for the degree.

   5. RIT Global reviews and maintains oversight of external study abroad offerings from other universities or affiliate partners. RIT Global will vet the academic aspects of study abroad offerings (additions or removals) by consulting with schools/departments/programs for possible review by degree program curriculum committees. RIT faculty may propose and recommend appropriate review of specific study abroad offerings with recommendations forwarded to RIT Global.

      1. RIT Global, in consultation with colleges and programs, and in conjunction with the Registrar’s Office, will maintain a data base of articulated courses.

   6. All students, staff, and faculty participating in learning abroad activities must register with RIT Global and participate in all required training activities.

3. International internships and cooperative education
   International internships and cooperative education are managed by the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education (hereby referred to as “The Co-op Office”. The Co-op Office maintains relationships with approved providers of services for international internships and cooperative education. The Co-op Office also provides assistance to students who find their own international opportunities. The Co-op Office will share data for each semester and summer term on the specifics of international placements for students from each college and degree program with RIT Global and RIT Colleges. Faculty can recommend international internship and cooperative education opportunities by contacting the Co-op Office directly.

Courses may be cancelled for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to unacceptable risk or low enrollment. The learning abroad experience may be cancelled prior to departure or while the students (faculty and/or staff) are abroad. The final decision to cancel a learning abroad experience will be the responsibility of RIT Global and the Provost.

In event of a course cancellation, RIT Global will return unspent program fees to participating students.

Responsible Office: RIT Global

Effective Date:
Approved September 9, 1970

Policy History: 
Edited August 2010
Revised, December 10, 2020