Resources for International Initiatives

Curriculum Internationalization:

Interested in Leading a Study abroad Program?

Short-term programs led by KU faculty or staff are called KU-Led Programs. The International Office offers training each semester for KU faculty/staff related to study abroad advising and/or leading programs. Email studyabroad@kutztown.edu if you have questions! 

KU-Led Proposal Approval Workflow:

1. The Director of the International Office conducts an initial review of the proposal, focusing on risk assessment, the budget, and a general review of documents to ensure all required forms are complete and no critical information is missing. The Director may request clarification or additional information from Program Leaders and may also recommend revisions to the proposal materials.
2. The Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies conducts a secondary review for preliminary approval of the proposal, with a primary focus on the budget. Once preliminarily approved, programs may begin recruiting students.
3. The Council of Trustees then conducts a third review for final approval of the proposal. Programs approved by the Council of Trustees may begin collecting payments from students.
4. A final review takes place between the application deadline and the deposit deadline to determine whether the program has met the minimum enrollment needed to maintain a balanced budget. Programs that do not meet enrollment requirements may be canceled at this time, and deposited students will receive refunds.

Resources:

• Sample KU-Led Poposal(Forthcoming)
• (Video) How to navigate to MyGLOBALKU and the Proposal (Updated spring 2025)
• Case Study - Education Abroad Program Design and Implementation (Free Download)
• Standards of Good Practice 6th Edition (Free Download)
• Code of Ethics for Education Abroad 3rd Edition

Students interested in study abroad have unique advising needs, as policies and requirements can vary by program, timing, and other factors. This information is intended to help you understand key academic policies, student expectations, and required forms so you can effectively advise students considering study abroad.

The Study Abroad Journey:

The International Office supports KU students throughout the Study Abroad Journey:

Advising > Application > Pre-Departure > While Abroad > Re-Entry 

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Study Abroad Advising:

Students interested in studying abroad should be referred to the International Office:
Office: International Office, Old Main 24 (East Wing)
Email: Studyabroad@kutztown.edu 
Website: MyGlobalKU

Study abroad advising centers on helping students navigate international programs that support with their academic, professional, or personal goals. This includes advising on program types, eligibility requirements, KU policies, the credit transfer process, program timelines, costs and budgeting, and pre-departure requirements. Study abroad advisors also address risk management, health and safety, immigration considerations, and compliance with both university and external policies. Study abroad advising may include discussions of the student's academic plan, however Study Abroad Advisors do NOT provide academic advising.

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Transfering Study Abroad Courses:

After a student is approved to study abroad, they can start the Study Abroad Course Approval Form. This form is signed by at least 4 different individuals so it may take up to two weeks to completely complete the form. (Here are the form instructions)

Approval Workflow
Student	Provides the list of courses to be approved, and uploads course descriptions.
International Office	Confirms the student has been approved to study abroad.
Academic Advisor	Approves the course equivalencies and how the course should be counted towards the student's degree.
Other Approvals	Some students may need additional approval from a secondary advisor, a department chair, or dean.
Registrar's Office	Approves course(s) on the form and confirms the amount of credit the student will receive.

Instructions for Academic Advisors, Department Chairs, and Deans: 

• Review the provided course descriptions or syllabi provide by the student and complete the field asking for a “KU Equivalent Course Code/Title”. 
• If there is no direct equivalent, you may provide a special topics or other similar type of course recommendation.
• Determine if the course should count as a general education, major elective or core course, or minor elective or core course, or whether the course is a free/general university elective. 
• Academic Advisors are expected to consult the student’s second major advisor or minor advisor (if applicable), department chair, or dean to determine the best equivalencies for the student. Changes can be made by the Registrar's Office after the form is signed by the advisor. 
• If courses fall outside of your department or college, Academic Advisors are encouraged to consult the appropriate department chair or dean.

Title III Grant Study Abroad/Away Goal

Increase number of faculty leading short-term study away/abroad experiences to expand equitable access to this high-impact practice. For more information, please visit the Title III Grant Webpage or the Title III Grant's Study Abroad/Away Webpage. 

HOW does the Title III grant support study abroad/away?

• By providing funding for faculty professional development training on planning and best practices.
• By providing funding for Program Director and instructor payroll for new  study abroad/away programs to lower the cost to students.
• By providing support for campus-wide awareness for all high-impact practices, including study abroad/away. 

Grant Funded Professional Development Opportunity for Faculty!

Workshop Title: Designing a Study Abroad/Away Program
Participant Eligibility:

• 5 faculty members will be selected each year between spring 2025 and spring 2028
• Have not led a trip within the past 5 years of applying
• Looking to lead a trip in the next 3 years
• Preference will be given to those interested in leading a trip within the following year and a half of participating in the workship. 

Compensation: Participants will be paid $1,000. Participants will be paid via dual comp using Title III grant funds.

• Participants must attend the full workshop and submit a draft of a Study Abroad/Away Proposal within one week of the event. There is scheduled time during the workshop to work on each section of the proposal.
• Participants will be provided with free training materials

Date and Time: Spring 2026 Dates TBD

Interested faculty should email Dr. Christina Kinney at kinney@kutztown.edu, with a brief overview of how they would like to use the workshop training/what they hope to accomplish, and/or their initial program ideas/concepts (not required).

International students have unique academic advising needs because they must meet both university academic requirements and U.S. immigration regulations. Advising that may be appropriate for a domestic student can have serious immigration consequences for an international student if not carefully considered.

The information provided here is to help you understand some basic visa and immigration regulations as you advise international students. Note: it is not your responsibility to remember or enforce these rules; however, familiarity with them will help ensure international students are referred appropriately and avoid unintended immigration issues.

Enrollment Requirements

Full-Time Enrollment
International students with an F-1 or J-1 visa are required to enroll full-time each fall and spring term. Full-time requirements for immigration purposes are at least:

• Undergraduate: 12 credits
• Graduate: 9 credits.

Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Under certain academic or medical reasons, international students on F-1 status may receive authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL), which gives them permission to enroll below full-time and still maintain valid immigration status. There are three categories of RCL are, 1) academic difficulties (during the first term), 2) illness or medical conditions, 3) completion of studies (during the last semester).

Online Courses Degree Programs
International students with an F-1 or J-1 visa are required to take most of their classes in an in-person or hybrid modality. Only 3 credits towards the minimum full time courseload is permitted. International students in other visa statutes are exempt from this restriction.

Concurrent Enrollment
International students on an F-1 visa are sometimes permitted to enroll concurrently in another school, as long as the combined enrollment amounts to full-time status. The student must get permission from you the academic advisor and the International Office before enrolling in another school.

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence
If a student decides to withdraw or take a leave of absence from Kutztown University please contact the International Office prior to withdrawing the student. The student needs to obtain immigration permission prior to withdrawal or taking a leave of absence forms with the Registrar's Office. 

Change of Major and Change of Level

Change of Major
If an international student in F-1 status changes or adds a major, the student must notify the International Office so a new Form I-20 can be issued to reflect the updated degree program. Note: students in F-1 status may only pursue majors that are approved for international students and cannot change to any major without authorization.

Change of Level
Moving Up a Degree Level: If a student is changing a degree level (ex. from bachelors to masters) the student must submit an Application for Admissions and meet all admissions requirements. Upon approval, the student will receive updated immigration documents that reflects their new level of study.

Extension of Program
A student who is unable to complete their studies by the end date indicated on theirimmigration documents must apply for an extension prior to their program end date.  Students who are ineligible for extension of stay are considered out of status and must apply for reinstatement. The student must apply for a Program Extension, and this form will require a signature of their academic advisor.

Internships

International students may participate in internships through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). When a student applies for CPT, the academic advisor must indicate whether the student’s degree program requires an internship or practicum.

• If the major does not require an internship, the student must register for a course that corresponds to the internship and earn credit. The course must take place during the same term as the internship (for example, a summer internship requires a summer course). Academic advisors have flexibility in choosing the appropriate course for the internship.

• If the major requires an internship, the student does not need to register for a course for the internship. 

Eligibility Requirements for Exchange Visitors

22 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 41.62(a)]

The exchange visitor:

• May be sponsored as a J-1 if they will be participating in a program that furthers the objectives of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
• Must possess the financial support listed on the request form and these resources must meet the requirements set by the International Office.
• Must possess sufficient English language proficiency for the proposed teaching/research activity. (Through English proficiency test or interview with sponsoring department). 
• Must have appropriate academic credentials for his/her category and position
• Must intend to return to his/her home country.
• Must be aware of the health insurance requirements and maintain health insurance which meets Federal and University requirements throughout th J-1 program.

Exchange Visitor Categories and Time Limitations

Professors and Research Scholars [22 CFR § 62.4(e) & (f)]

Professor and research scholar are two separate J-1 exchange visitor categories, but because they are related, the regulations governing them are contained in the same subsection.

• A J-1 “Professor” is defined as an individual primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting. A professor may also conduct research.
• A J-1 “Research Scholar” is defined as an individual primarily conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project. A research scholar may also teach or lecture.

An exchange visitor may participate in the Professor or Research Scholar category for a minimum program of 3 weeks to a maximum program of 5 years. The maximum of 5 years is counted from the program start date in SEVIS (the DS-2019 begin date).

Short-Term Scholars [22 CFR § 62.4(b)] 

A short-term scholar is defined as a professor, research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the U.S. on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institution. Examples include educators, scientists, research fellows, writers, and museum administrators. The short-term scholar may also engage in collaborative research.

The short-term scholar category is not subject to the three-week minimum length of program requirement. It is therefore an ideal category for programs and visits of short-term duration lasting anywhere from one day to a maximum of six months. A short-term scholar may extend his/her stay up to the six-month maximum or transfer to another J-1 program within that period, but extensions beyond 6 months are not permitted. The maximum of 6 months is counted from the start date on the Form DS-2019.

Hosting Responsibilities

The International Office will support your J-1 exchange visitor to ensure they maintain legal immigration status. However there are a number of other important details to coordinate to ensure a successful exchange visitor experience. The department sponsor is responsible for supporting the visitor in obtaining or supporting the visitors': 

• Clearances
• KU ID and email address
• Housing
• Airport Arrival / Transportation to Kutztown
• Orientation (to the project, assignment, research, etc.)
• Cultural integration