Frequently Asked Questions
About Travel

No. Each course is dependent upon chair approval and student enrollment. For courses with 1 instructor, faculty need a minimum of 10 students at the time of application and 8 by registration. Double those numbers for 2 instructors.

Info sessions, recorded videos, posters, this website, and listserv emails.

All students across Taubman College programs receive the same communications.

Once courses are announced, Taubman College administration will work with Global Engagement to share course materials with other units across campus. If students from other departments apply, we will ask their administration to match Taubman College’s travel offset for their students. While in the past other departments have provided this funding, it is not guaranteed.

If you prefer students from select units or years of study, please indicate this in your course proposal. We will forward this information to Global Engagement when promoting courses across campus.

Schedule your sessions when students are not in class/studio — for example noon or 6PM, or on weekends. Prepare to tell them about yourself and your background, recap the details of your trip with slides, and be prepared to answer any questions they may have regarding cost, course structure and travel details. Be sure to refer them to this FAQ, as many of their questions can probably be answered here.

All credit bearing planning needs to be coordinated with the program chair, as a three credit course has contact hours requirements.

Courses run for the duration of 7 weeks during the Spring and Summer semesters through a combination of travel, in person and online contact hours. Please review your individual plan, contingent on the number of days reasonably budgeted for travel.

Faculty should develop courses with clear themes, research methods and outcomes. Topical alignments with college and university-wide initiatives are encouraged.

Spring courses are an opportunity for students to explore methods of research and communication typically omitted from studio learning. Please include clear learning objectives in your syllabi.

Have a look at past course offerings for additional guidance.

• Register your international travel with the U-M:
  • Travel registration is required for faculty, staff, and students on U-M Related Travel and is optional for those traveling for personal reasons.
  • Travel registration is used to quickly and accurately locate U-M travelers abroad in case of an emergency.
• Ensure you are covered by GeoBlue, U-M’s Travel Abroad Health Insurance:
  • Students, faculty, and staff traveling internationally for personal reasons can purchase GeoBlue (Leisure Plan) for ~$1.50 a day.
  • Students on international U-M Related Travel are required to have GeoBlue while abroad. For details, see UHS Travel Abroad Health Insurance.
  • Faculty and staff on international U-M Related Travel are automatically covered under the GeoBlue (Business Plan) and can access an insurance card in the Travel Registry. For details, see UHS Travel Abroad Health Insurance.
• Review the Additional Considerations for International Travel document:
  • Verify entry and exit requirements for travel destination/s and for returning to the U.S. (Requirements may vary for U.S. citizens / permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens).
  • Plan for travel logistics and contingencies.
• Global Michigan is an excellent resource for faculty traveling internationally.
• Review this document developed by the Global Engagement office at the University of Michigan, which assists in developing a short-term international group travel program.
• Create a Group Safety Plan.  Here’s an example plan.  Please be aware that this plan should be submitted online here well in advance of travel.  For some restricted destinations, 8 weeks prior to departure.
• Review and schedule your students to go through the Safety Abroad Orientation.
• Connect with the Overseas Travel Clinic to make sure you and your students are up on all vaccinations.

It’s preferable (and simplest) if faculty book group flights through Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP), UM’s travel agent.  Detailed information and instructions can be found here.  The booking fee will be covered centrally by Taubman college and will not count against your budget. Using a preferred vendor keeps the costs controlled should unexpected changes need to be made.

If students want to book their own accommodations, that’s fine – there is no precise protocol.  From past experience, students have been allowed to book their own accommodation with faculty permission and in close proximity (short walking distance) to the collective housing option. You should avoid students creating more logistical challenges for you by adding multiple travel points at long distances from each other, as it adds time to day. You should also make clear that you are not responsible for any hidden costs (travel, fees, etc) associated with their own booking option. Also be aware that you will need to know that address of the BnB in advance to file your UM travel registration forms and emergency plan.

You need to develop a detailed budget for student and faculty costs.  Be sure to take into account the cost of flights, site visits, and ground transportation.  For the student portion of the budget, be sure to differentiate between that which Taubman College will cover versus out-of-pocket costs.

Should your course move forward, you are required to schedule an appointment with the Taubman Financial Team to review your budget, provide guidelines and recommendations, and help plan the expenditures for maximum efficiency.

Communicating the costs to students is vital at the time of balloting, and again before the add/drop period.

Costs that exceed the budget must be covered by the faculty member.

Course budgets must be provided to Student Affairs so their team can coordinate federal financial aid resources for eligible students.

Once the course and budget are approved by the department chair and finance team, students taking international trips will receive $1,500, and students taking domestic trips receive $1,000 in Taubman funds.

Funds are typically transferred to an account with a shortcode that the faculty taps to order airline tickets in bulk through Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP), UM’s preferred travel agent. Additional lab fees can be collected to cover collective expenses.  It is VERY difficult to transfer funds directly to students, but reimbursement is possible if necessary.

Taubman Funds are not likely to cover 100% of student expenses, and it is your responsibility to ensure that students understand this.  Should a student approach you with concerns, please speak to your program chair immediately.

See the “Travel Cost & Financial Aid” section in the student FAQ above.

Yes.  For more information about PCards, see this link.

No.