Administers academic programs for U.S. students in Germany. For undergraduate programs, the Director Abroad works with the Office of Off-Campus Study (OCS) in consultation with the appropriate Middlebury faculty, programs, departments and the DLS. For graduate programs, the Director Abroad works with the DLS, Associate Dean of Language Schools and the director of the appropriate Language School (LS).
Administers/develops courses, together with DLS, Associate Dean of Faculty, OCS, director of appropriate LS and relevant Middlebury faculty, programs and departments to meet students' curricular needs.
Oversees the implementation of undergraduate and graduate programs by U.S. and host-country resident staff and local host institutions, including visits at least once a semester to satellite programs (where they exist).
Works closely with host country faculty, monitoring teaching effectiveness and encouraging modification, as necessary, either through regular individual meetings (where employed by a host-country university) or a regular program of class visitations (where employed directly or indirectly by Middlebury College).
Develops and manages, with OCS and DLS and the appropriate Middlebury College faculty, programs and departments, programs of faculty and student interchange between host country institutions and Middlebury College.
Oversees and is ultimately responsible for:
On-site course selection and registration, maintaining academic records, collecting student course and program evaluations.
Provides Middlebury with on-site registration information (including course numbers, course titles, academic discipline) for each student by the end of the registration period; provides timely submission of final course grades from all instructors and institutions.
Oversees student discipline, student advising/counseling (academic, personal, medical, career, etc.); facilitates student housing arrangements (apartments, home stays, dorms) as available or necessary by site.
Designs and implements on-site orientations that cover all academic, social, safety and health issues, student excursions, and encourages extracurricular activities.
Advises students on keeping itineraries and contact information for independent, overnight, student travel and all security, safety, health, discrimination and harassment issues.
Helps develop and oversee credit and non-credit internship opportunities in the host country.
Provides regular updates on the undergraduate and graduate programs to the Director of OCS and DLS, as well as end-of-semester and end-of-year reports.
Visits Middlebury as necessary to meet with DLS, Director of OCS and the director of the appropriate LS as well as the relevant language and area studies faculty to review the academic program at host institutions and, when appropriate, to plan curricular and programmatic adjustments. During such visits, depending on timing, Director will participate in pre-departure student orientations or information sessions.
Coordinates all on-site arrangements (housing, local transportation, meetings) for visiting delegations, whether by Middlebury personnel or personnel from other institutions whose students attend (or plan to attend) the school abroad.
In accordance with individual contracts, in addition to monitoring the academic offerings at each site, the Director may be required to teach one course per year and/or lecture for short periods at one or more of the host country institutions with which the College has relations.
In conjunction with the DLS and the OCS, makes and implements short and long-range financial, staff and programmatic plans for the programs in Germany.
Manages the U.S. and foreign staff on site. Interviews and assists in the hiring of new staff where possible.
Hires, trains, retires and dismisses program faculty; prepares and supervises faculty contracts.
Coordinates activities of the central office abroad with partner university offices and acts as liaison between Middlebury and partner universities.
Oversees rental/purchase/maintenance of all premises, as necessary, in conjunction with DLS and Director of OCS.
Assures that the School Abroad is in full compliance with all local legal, banking, insurance and other requirements incumbent on a representative office of a foreign, non-profit institution.
Pays all bills, salaries, social benefits and taxes etc., in a timely fashion, with assistance of local accountant.
Oversees timely purchase and maintenance of all necessary office furniture and equipment, including Internet equipment and contracts.
Provides information for update of OCS and LS publication.
Serves as primary liaison with academic institutions, ministries of education, U.S. embassies, NGOs, local visa/residence permit issuing agencies and similar bodies, local police and all other institutions/agencies.
Administers and updates agreements with host institutions and universities.
Oversees annual budgets and proposes new budget for the subsequent academic year, in conjunction with Director of OCS and DLS.
Maintains full decision-making authority on local issues. Coordinates and consults with DLS, Director of OCS, Associate Dean of LS, and the appropriate LS director on substantive program content and administrative issues that have a long-term significance. (Ultimate decision-making responsibility lies with DLS.)