The Faculty of Arts having received a generous gift from donors who wish to remain anonymous, the Dean of Arts is pleased to announce the “Arts Research Course Abroad Award Program” (ARCAAP), a new program supporting Group Study Programs Abroad and International Service Learning (ISL). Funded by this gift, and by Go-Global and Arts, this exciting new program sponsors two types of courses:
Option 1: Advanced Research Course (for group study of 15-20 students). The course must be designated as an Advanced Research Course for the major. The course is open to majors and honours students in the discipline. The travel is essential to the research and learning.
Option 2: Advanced research international-service-learning courses (15-20 students) open to majors and honours students in the discipline. The research and service aspects of the course are closely linked, academic preparation being essential to the international service.
Advanced research courses, for this program, are defined as allowing for student engagement with current research positions resulting in a contribution to the current conversation in the discipline. That is, the defining criterion is not that students go abroad and conduct research but that the students’ inquiries in their discipline result in new knowledge that could be shared with other scholars in the field. For example, students’ papers could potentially result in presentations at conferences; students may participate in material-practice or professional-immersion courses, fieldwork, practicum, or performance projects, for other examples.
In consultation with their Department Heads, faculty members will submit course proposals to ARCAAP’s multi-disciplinary adjudication committee. The proposals will include course syllabus, including description of students’ research and/or service activities abroad; course pre-requisites; rationale for the travel; budget, including itinerary, arrangements for accommodation, local liaison, etc. We anticipate that the fund will support seven courses each year.
Funding:
- base-funding: All eligible students have 70% of approved programs costs and airfare covered.
- additional needs-based funding: An additional 30% of funding (to cover 100% of approved programs costs and airfare) is available to students who are identified by Student Financial Assistance & Awards as being in financial need. This funding will be allocated to students following recruitment and selection into the course and will not be part of your budget proposal. The number of students supported for the additional 30% will depend on the number of students with assessed need who are accepted into your program.
Deadline:
In its first year, ARCAAP will fund one trip to Hebrew University, which is ready to offer accommodation and collaborative opportunities. Accordingly, ARCAPP especially invites proposals for group study at Hebrew University.
- The deadline for proposals for courses and travel taking place between January 2012 and December 2012 is June 15, 2011.
- The deadline for proposals for courses and travel taking place between January 2013 and December 2013 is June 15, 2012.
Program Planning
As you begin to conceptualize your proposed course we recommend that you be in touch with Go Global to collaboratively begin building your program. They have experience working with faculty to facilitate both International Service Learning and Group Study programs.
If your proposal is approved for ARCAAP funding, you will then work more closely with Go Global staff to further plan your proposed program, recruit students, manage your budget, and implement your program plan.
- If you are planning an International Service Learning course please contact Kristin Patten (kristin.patten@ubc.ca) to begin the planning process.
- If you are planning a Group Study course please contact Tlell Elviss (tlell.elviss@ubc.ca) to begin the planning process.
Preparing an ARCAAP Proposal
An ARCAAP Proposal contains the following documents:
- Application Form (Word Doc below): Complete the application form and attach to the top of your application package. Be prepared to outline as part of the application form the following information:
- Travel arrangements including proposed student accommodation, local travel, local group with whom you will be connecting, and other logistical information.
- An explanation of how this course meets the requirements of either (a) Advanced Research Group Study Course or (b) Advanced Research International Service Learning Course.
- Explain why travel is necessary and why travel to this particular city/country will best meet the research needs or CSL requirements for the course.
- Annually, an ARCAAP reception will showcase students’ research and service experience. Please describe, as best you can at this stage, how students in your course might contribute to this event: what course activities might be eligible for public presentation?
- Nomination letter from your Department Head: Include confirmation that the course is designated as an Advanced Research course and faculty are available to instruct the courses as part of their annual course assignment
- Extensive course outline and syllabus.
- Please include a detailed description of the students’ research activities and the academic preparation necessary (including course pre-requisites).
- Please outline how the achievement and assessment of specific learning outcomes will be made possible through teaching this course abroad.
- For courses involving international service learning, include a detailed description of the student's international service activities, the academic preparation necessary to undertake this service (including course pre-requisites) and the link between the research and service components of the course.
- Student Trip Itinerary: Outline the students’ rough itinerary including desired field visits, teaching locations and duration of stay in various locations, and any other important elements of the travel plan.
- Budget Template: For a copy of the budget template please contact Tlell Elviss at tlell.elviss@ubc.ca. Please ensure you use the correct budgeting template as the budgeting process will be different for a Group Study Program and an International Service Learning Placement.
- Safety Planning Record (Word doc below): Please use this template to document how you will take appropriate measures to mitigate risks and ensure student safety throughout the program.
Templates for Completing Your Proposal
Further aids to preparing the proposal and its budget can be found at
For further information on ARCAAP, contact Janet Giltrow or Lois Nightingale in the office of the Associate Dean, Students.
