The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center (UHMSAC) offers summer, semester, and year-long programs in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Pacific, and South America. During the 2008-09 academic year, 433 students studied abroad and enrolled in 289 courses. Twenty-eight of these courses were taught by nine UHM faculty members in semester/year-long programs and eight faculty in summer programs. A total of 28 instructional faculty taught and/or conducted research abroad through the UHM Study Abroad Center.
An advisory council, appointed by the UHM Faculty Senate Executive Committee, provides oversight and guidance with regard to key policy, curricula and governance issues.
UHMSAC programs are distinguished by its ability to: a) include all interested faculty members from the campus to teach and/or lead study abroad programs, b) provide the opportunity for faculty to continue teaching while overseas without jeopardizing their benefits, tenure, promotion, and retirement schemes, c) enable faculty to teach classes in SAC programs that count as part of their regular teaching responsibilities, and d) provide an environment for research and professional development without burdening faculty with administrative and logistical responsibilities.
UHMSAC is distinctive, in that it does not use third-party providers; rather, UHMSAC develops its own programs in partnership with overseas institutions of higher education.
UHMSAC students earn UHM resident credits for their coursework completed overseas. There is no break in enrollment at UHM. Students are therefore able to graduate on schedule.
Students may fulfill general education, major and elective requirements for graduation on UHMSAC programs. UHMSAC courses may also be used for “focus exemption.”
Eligible students may apply their financial aid and scholarship awards towards UHMSAC study abroad programs.
In addition to current UHMSAC programs, UHM students may choose to design an independent, self-designed study abroad program almost anywhere in the world.
A faculty review panel selects students based on their GPA (3.0), academic reference letters, and program study statement.
Both students and faculty receive 12 hours of pre-departure cross-cultural sensitivity and academic training. In addition, the standard of care includes providing training/workshops to program faculty resident directors in risk management areas such as health, safety, risk and liability, crises, and emergency procedures and protocols.
UHMSAC develops programs to respond to changing needs and are constantly updating program locations and curriculum based on demand. Past programs include: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cook Islands; French Polynesia; Indonesia; Kenya; Mongolia; Philippines; Thailand; Tonga; and Vietnam.
