Faculty Handbook

Review process

Please come into the Office of Study Abroad to review files.  If you wish to set up a time in advance to come in, that is acceptable but not necessary.  Since the office is open 8 AM to 5 PM (except in the summer and during semester breaks when the office is closed from noon to 1PM), someone will always be available to collect files for your review.  Although it is preferable, it is not necessary to work with the clerical or administrative staff member who coordinates your program.  Anyone can assist you.  Do NOT request that an OSA staff member fax or send photocopied files to you. 

When you come in to review files, check with the receptionist to determine whether any non-MSU students have applied to your program.  She may have some files for such students who have not yet been issued a PID and PAN (and therefore have not been entered into our database).

You may request a program participant list (electronic or paper) from OSA at any time throughout the application process.

Review applicant files early and regularly to determine which students to accept into the program. All materials refer to the fact that applications will be reviewed on a “rolling admissions basis – that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and admitted throughout the academic year.”  Please review your applications in a timely manner and do not wait until the deadline to review all applications at one time. 

Rolling admissions does not indicate first come, first served. If you review an application but are unable to make a decision regarding that student, please let either the OSA coordinator or assistant know of this student, the reason that no action can be taken, and your estimation of when you may be able to make a final decision.  We often receive calls from students and are unable to determine whether their file has been overlooked, or reviewed and put “on hold”.

If you are expecting additional application items (such as resumes, housing forms, statements of interest, etc) and they are missing from the student file, please inform an OSA staff member and we will notify the applicant that his/her application is incomplete.
An applicant’s participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.  Participation may be denied based on prior disciplinary or criminal action.

Do not consider "wait listing" students until your enrollments have exceeded your projected number by at least 10%. Past experience shows that programs generally have about 10% fewer participants than the earlier, higher enrollments. The exception to this suggestion would be for programs that have a precise number of spots available (i.e. due to limited housing, transportation seats, etc.); for these programs only accept the exact number of students possible.
 
OSA will not waitlist or close any programs that do not have finalized budgets.  This is because we will not have the targeted enrollment number and sufficient details to take action.