Aja'nae Hall-Callaway '24 studied abroad on the Cornell in Cambodia winter program.
Cornell faculty and staff can collaborate with our office to develop high-impact study abroad experiences focused around breaks in the academic calendar. These unique undergraduate courses are part of a diverse portfolio of winter, spring break, and summer short-term programs for students in all majors.
Many colleges and academic units across Cornell also sponsor short-term international experiences. We encourage you to connect with the Office of Global Learning (OGL) to explore the best way to move forward with your program.
Short-term study abroad programs take time to develop! Proposals must be submitted more than a year ahead of the program's launch. The development timelineensures your program's year-to-year sustainability, from travel logistics to agreements, budgets, courses, and faculty assignments—all the way to student recruitment and departure.
Explore Resources
We encourage you to explore these helpful resources as you develop your short-term program in partnership with OGL or within your own unit.
Cornell and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cornell’s Global Hubs partner in Ecuador, are collaborating in the classroom and in the field. A 2024 bilateral exchange course offered hands-on learning opportunities for students from Ithaca and Quito, Ecuador.
Short-Term Program Types
The first step toward becoming a program leader is understanding how short-term international experiences can be structured at Cornell. Faculty and academic units can work with us to develop short-term programs that may include one or more Cornell courses or learning materials before and after the trip. Many short-term programs incorporate hands-on learning with local partners. The international experience can be as short as one week or span a summer.
We recommend consulting Cornell's Courses of Study (international programs and studies) to browse current international experiences courses and student finances for questions around student financial aid. Consider the following course models:
Stand-Alone Summer or Winter Course
Stand-alone courses are developed and led by one or more Cornell faculty and taught entirely in international locations over the summer or winter session. This course model offers a longer international experience that doesn't conflict with Cornell academic semesters and allows non-Cornell students to participate. Other benefits of a stand-alone program include a design that fits well with international hosting partners, students, and academic or cultural goals.
Credits and Details
Credits: 2–7 (may include multiple courses) Travel Timing: Summer or winter Length of Travel: One to eight weeks Student Expenses:Tuition, program fee, airfare, and additional budgeted expenses Faculty Expenses:Allowable expenses built into the program budget Faculty Compensation:Compensation set by the Provost's Faculty Policy
Multiterm Course with Winter Travel
The multiterm model is structured around winter break travel, paired with a course sequence that includes instruction in the fall, spring, or both semesters. The course is developed and led by faculty who teach during one or more semesters and travel with students to an international location during winter session. This model offers students a guided short-term international experience with time for campus-based learning and planning. Students must complete the full sequence (two to three modules) to receive a final grade.
Credits and Details
Credits: 3–5 Travel Timing: Winter Length of Travel:Approximately two weeks Student Expenses:Program fee, airfare, and additional expenses as budgeted Faculty Expenses:Allowable expenses built into the program budget Faculty Compensation:Compensation may fit into the faculty's teaching load, or the college may agree to pay an overload. Alternately, the faculty may absorb the overload without course compensation.
Spring Course with Spring Break Travel
A spring semester course can embed an international spring break experience. (Spring break travel does not qualify for academic credit on its own.) This course model offers students a guided short-term international experience integrated into a broader academic context. These courses usually have some instruction delivered before and after departure. The international experience may be required as part of the spring course or optional for an additional credit.
Credits and Details
Credits: 3–5 Travel Timing: Spring break Length of Travel:Approximately one week Student Expenses:Program fee, airfare, and additional expenses as budgeted Faculty Expenses:Allowable expenses built into the program budget Faculty Compensation:Compensation may fit into the faculty's teaching load, or the college may agree to pay an overload. Alternately, the faculty may absorb the overload without course compensation.
Students enrolled in Cornell Winter Program in Mexico explore Oaxaca's natural areas and archeological sites through experiential writing.
Program Development Timeline
Program development requires planning more than a year in advance of your program's launch. Be sure you meet with us early to discuss all that goes into developing a successful program so that you can align with the timeline below. A consultation with our short-term and experiential program manager is required before you submit a proposal for an OGL-managed short-term program.
First Wednesday after October break (1 year prior)
Decision
November 15 (1 year prior)
Final Approvals Deadline
January 15 (1 year prior)
Promotion
Begins February (6 months prior)
Applications Open
July 1
Winter Application Deadline
Last Friday in September
Spring Break Application Deadline
October 15
Summer Programs
Required Consultation
November to January (1.5 years prior)
Proposal Deadline
First Wednesday after February break (1 year prior)
Decision
March 15 (1 year prior)
Final Approvals Deadline
May 15 (1 year prior)
Promotion
Begins June (6 months prior)
Applications Open
November 1
Application Deadline
Last Friday in February
Propose Your Program
Our goal for all short-term programs is to build sustainable models that provide unique opportunities for Cornell students. The proposal process starts with a required meeting with OGL's short-term and experiential program manager. Your consultation will help you plan an effective short-term program and prepare your proposal materials.
Prepare Your Proposal
You'll need the following information to submit your online proposal.
Proposal Preview
Leader and Location: Faculty rank and background, administrative support, and proposed location
Policy Acknowledgments: Attestations for short-term program policies, leader responsibilities, departmental and unit agreements, and location risk assessments (based on documents reviewed during your consultation)
Program Design: Program model, academic and intercultural course information, partners and providers, and planned launch term
Additional Documents: Syllabus of record, draft itinerary, budget, and marketing plan
Funding and Sustainability: Plans for long-term financial and academic sustainability
