Roles and Responsibilities of the Principia Abroad Advisory Committee (PAAC)
The purpose of PAAC is to discuss, explore, debate, offer insights, and learn together to advise and make meaningful recommendations to the Study Abroad Office Director, as well as contribute to the advocacy and promotion of the Study Abroad Office programming. Committee meetings and information is confidential, unless otherwise noted.
The function of PAAC membership will include the following:
- Mentor faculty in development for study abroad pre-proposals and final proposals. Coordinate this with Study Abroad Office’s mentoring.
- Review program pre-proposals forwarded by the Dean of Academics.
- Dean of Academics approve/sign which pre-proposals are to go to the committee for consideration, development, and mentoring.
- PAAC reviews pre-proposals based on selection criteria / learning outcomes.
- PAAC representatives may be asked to accompany the Study Abroad Director in providing verbal feedback to proposing faculty or be paired in direct mentorship with proposing faculty within their Division.
- Recommend final program proposals to the Study Abroad Director and the Dean of Academics.
- PAAC reviews final proposals and recommends program line-up based on selection criteria / study abroad learning outcomes & developments.
- PAAC mentor may continue to work with faculty on academic side of program as Study Abroad Program Managers work with them on other programmatic aspects.
- Mentor faculty (mainly within Division) in curriculum development for approved study abroad program, field program, and/or international field experiences (IFEs).
- Make recommendations concerning study abroad policies and resource allocation.
- Review key policies governing study abroad and make recommendations.
- Study Abroad Director will take PAAC policy recommendations to the Dean of Academics.
- Participate in considering holistic, annual budgets available for study abroad programming and make recommendations as to the number of viable programs within an academic year.
- Review the quality of study abroad programming through assessments.
- Review final program summaries/assessment reports.
- Incorporate feedback and learnings into future study abroad policy and program selection considerations.
- Advocacy for study abroad programs and program resources.
PAAC Member Guidelines
- Committee representation includes, at a minimum:
- Study Abroad Office Director (chair)
- Representation from each of the 4 academic divisions
- Representation by the Study Abroad Office staff
- Representation by Student Life
- Additional representation may include At Large members:
International/Global Perspective Faculty
- Members of the committee have often served previously as study abroad faculty and/or staff, or have had other international programmatic experience, but this is not a pre-requisite. The rigor and integrity of our academic programs is, however, guided by members (faculty, staff, and administration) vested in the field of tertiary international education.
- Membership of the committee will rotate in staggered, 4-year terms.
- Membership of the committee will be coordinated by the Study Abroad Office Director and the Committee on Committees.
- All committee members will be voting members.
- In reviewing program pre-proposals or final proposals, if any member of PAAC has a conflict of interest, they must recuse themselves from the discussion and decision-making.
The current committee members (AY 2024-2025) and representations include:
| Stephanie Lovseth (Fall Sabbatical) | Study Abroad Director (Chair) |
| Open | At-Large, International Focus |
| Sarah Andrews | SSCI Representative |
| Chrissy McAllister | MNS Representative |
| Kim Davis (Fall Sabbatical) | HUM Representative |
| Sara Borja (Spring Study Abroad) | CAC Representative |
| Allison Terry | Study Abroad Program Manager |
| Mary Jane Hoff | Study Abroad Program Manager |
| Mark Hagenlocher | Dean of Students, Student Life |