STUDY ABROAD GREECESJR STATE A HANDS ON APPROACH

STUDY ABROAD GREECE-SJR STATE A HANDS ON APPROACH TO STUDY ABROADADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY AS ONE TEAM

ADMINISTRATION & FACULTY AS ONE TEAM! Dr. Krista Ubbels, Humanities & Art Professor, Coordinator of Study Abroad Dr. Laura Boilini, Dean of Arts & Sciences Mr. Kirk Kemmish, Chaperone/Husband! St. Johns River State College Campuses: Palatka Orange Park St. Augustine

ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE IS…… *Located on three campuses in northern Florida in the towns of Palatka, Orange Park, and St. Augustine and was founded in 1958 as a public institution. *Offering AA and AS degrees and now three baccalaureate degrees: BAS in Organizational Management, BS in Early Childhood Education, and a BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing *Serving students seeking the AA at a level of 61%, 31% seek the AS, 5% BS degree, 3% College Credit Certificates, Vocational, and EPI. * Serving an enrollment of- annual unduplicated headcount 10, 926; Dual Enrollment is significant with almost 2000 students enrolled in this program either on campus or at the high school sites. *Serving 69% of our students who are part-time, 31% who attend full-time. *Serving an array of ages and we find our faculty enjoy this diversity in their classrooms which leads to richer discussions and furthers understanding of concepts.

SESSION GOALS FOR OUR Hear our perspectives on WHY TEAM UP? Hear our personal reasons for participating in Study Abroad. Learn how we chose our roles as Study Abroad Leaders. Learn strategies of “getting to know before you go!” Hear about our pitfalls and joys! Hear about what has happened since our return……

FIRST, A LITTLE INFO ABOUT OUR TRIP! *Aligned to, ARH 2050 , taught by Dr. Krista Ubbels, on the ground and on line. *Twelve students, from three campuses representing ages from 18 -50! *Three Co- Leaders: Dr. Ubbels, Dr. Boilini, and Mr. Kemmish *Study Experience-April/May 2014, 10 day on site excursion held between the spring and summer terms followed by the online course Study Location-GREECE!

OUR INTERNARY

ADMINISTRATO R’S VIEW WHY TEAM UP? WALK IN FACULTY SHOES! BLEND THE LINE! GET TO KNOW STUDENTS, AGAIN!!

GOALS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OK, Greece is spectacular and on my GO SEE list! So, I went!! But, my main goal for my participation on this trip for me was to assist Dr. Ubbels so that she could concentrate, as much as possible, on the educational aspects of our journey, provide the knowledge, stir the imaginations, inspire through her own enthusiasm, and truly be able to DIRECT the trip in alignment with the learning. And, learning happened everywhere!!!!!

FACULTY/STUD Y ABROAD COORDINATOR' S VIEW WHY TEAM UP? Teaming up with administration gives faculty a chance to share international visions with one’s Dean. Teaming up enables faculty visions of the significance of internationalization on campus and within curriculum to align with administrator perspective on global issues. Teaming up helps build trust that our faculty visions become one with all administration, and not just the Co. Leader.

GOALS OF THE FACULTY LEADER/STUDY ABROAD COORDINATOR As one team, my main goal was to share the real rewards of short term study abroad with my Dean. Everyone knows a vacation is fun, and travel is inspiring, but not everyone knows about the real changes that are made in the lives and perspectives of students until one witnesses those cherished moments in action.

NAOMI ALEXANDER Student and Participant Study Abroad Greece, 2014.

OUR ROLES AS COLEADERS Dr. Ubbels-Faculty Leader: Instructor, Guide, Coordinator of trip details too numerous to mention…. !! In charge of knowledge and inspiration and how to avoid perspiration, exasperation, etc. !! Able to channel a positive attitude in the face of change, so very important! Dr. Boilini-Administrator-Dean of Arts & Sciences-Social Chairman, On the trip “Mom? ”-Pre-trip get to know organizer, and the occasional cook! Mr. Kemmish-Husband of Administrator-From finances to how to fold clothes in a suitcase so one can avoid wrinkles…! People counter-are we all here was a common refrain!

BEFORE YOU G 0 -PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL! Co-Leaders-Determined responsibilities and shared planning!! KEY!! Before we traveled, we met frequently to: Prepare the schedule, and tweak it!! Many times…! We called this the “Needs of the Day” and considered three main areas. PEOPLE NEEDS STUDY NEEDS FINANCIAL NEEDS We knew the needs could change but we wanted to be prepared! We also reviewed the pre-trip needs of our students and planned on how to communicate with them about these needs. Lots of pre-trip COMMUNICATION!!

PEOPLE NEEDS, STUDY NEEDS, FINANCIAL NEEDS People Needs-From when to leave, where to leave, what to wear, what to bring, what not to bring to how is everyone today? !! (Dr. Boilini) Study Needs-From what we would see, how we would get there, how it aligned to the course, how to include lectures on site, to are you all with me? (Dr. Ubbels) Financial Needs-From hotel to bus to ferry to plane costs, to lunch, dinner, museum fees, to getting accurate receipts to helping students shop. . fun (Mr. Kemmish)

WORKING AS CO-LEADERS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRES: *Frequent Meetings!! Before and during the trip! *Attention to the Schedule, the “Needs of the Day” *Attention to not only what needs to be done during the trip but who is going to do it! *Flexibility * The ability to ask one another before and during the trip, what if, what about, what do you think……!! *Ability to remain calm (when you may not really be feeling it!) *Ability to laugh together!

BEFORE YOU GO……SOCIAL EVENTS!! More than getting to know! How to pack! What to bring! What to expect Where to store your money How much money needed and conversions How to communicate back home Athena Restaurant, St. Augustine, FL

PRE-TRIP SOCIAL EVENTS WE ENDEAVORED! One- We met first as a group at the college for “Wraps” and conversation! Two-We followed this with a dinner at the home of Dr. Boilini and Mr. Kemmish! Three-Off to an authentic Greek restaurant in St. Augustine! Finally, we know one another and are ready to depart!!

GREECE A TASTE OF We dined at my home where we served: SAGANKI (FLAMING GREEK CHEESE-WHAT AN EVENT THAT WAS TO START THE NIGHT! GREEK CARROT SOUP WITH YOGURT AND MINT-SURPRISINGLY GOOD! GREEK SALAD (LATER DETERMINED TO TASTE SOOO MUCH BETTER IN GREECE!) GREEK KABOBS (STUDENTS COULD NOT GET ENOUGH OF THE MEAT, THE MEAT!) CLASSIC GREEK SPINACH GYROS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCH

AH…THE TRIP BEGINS…THE PITFALLS & JOYS What we didn’t expect…. DONKEYS! (sorry, no photographs permitted ; -)

THE JOYS OF DISCOVERY-CHANGE!

WHEN WE RETURNED WE…. HAD WAFFLES!! From Santorini to St. Augustine! Let the chocolate flow!!!

WHEN WE RETURNED WE… *Realized how authentic yogurt, honey, olives, and capers of Greece were NO WHERE to be found in Florida!! *Wished we had purchased just a few more souvenirs…! *Found we a zillion photos on our cameras and we did not want to delete any of them, nope, not a one! *Missed the hectic but rich pace of the days spent in seeing new sights! *Were ready to complete the course of study with new eyes! *Had 14 more friends than we had before and that we would feel connected to these Greece travelers, adventurers, for ALWAYS!!!!

STUDY ABROAD CHANGES YOU…. An Administrator’s Perspective: *So many benefits…getting to know one another, faculty, students, travelers. *A better understanding on my part of what it takes to launch a successful trip! *A more thorough perspective of the totality of Study Abroad. *A view of how Study Abroad, visiting the sites of the study, enrich the overall course beyond what I had imagined. Seeing, smelling, tasting, experiencing the country of Greece-truly a life time memory for all! *I have embarked upon on a new master’s program in what else, HUMANITIES! And, I am enjoying being a student, once more, myself, again.

OUR NEW FRIENDS, BONDED THROUGH STUDY, BONDED THROUGH TRAVELGREECE 2014!

OUR CONTACT INFORMATION Dr. Laura Boilini, Dean of Arts & Sciences lauraboilini@sjrstate. edu Office Phone: 386 -312 -4299 or 386 -312 -4067 Dr. Krista Ubbels, Art History & Humanities Professor & Study Abroad Coordinator kristaubbels@sjrstate. edu Office Phone: 904 -808 -7428