May 28, 2009

An Open Letter to Forum Members

Many Forum members will be aware of articles in today’s edition of USAToday that raise concerns about the safety of study abroad programs and the need for regulation of them.  The Forum has responded and a copy of that letter to the editor is linked here.

This open letter to Forum members is intended to assist Forum members in responding to media inquiries, and provide information to the public about the Forum’s work to develop and disseminate Standards of Good Practice, and specifically developments and projects in the area of health, safety, and security.

As Forum members you know that education abroad does have a way to regulate itself. The Forum’s Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad provide voluntary parameters for self-regulation, that by definition were developed by the field, for the field, through a balanced, open, transparent, and inclusive process. The central mission of the Forum is to encourage the adoption of the Standards by all institutions and organizations involved in education abroad.  The Forum’s status as a Standards Development Organization (SDO), as recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission, provides the Forum the unique role and responsibility of disseminating Standards by which the field may judge its practices, policies and procedures. (see: Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad )

The Standards Toolbox provides examples of best practices that assist Forum member institutions seeking specific ways to meet the Standards.  These examples have been submitted by Forum members and others and are vetted by the Forum’s Standards Committee.  Supporting the Health, Safety and Security Standard are excellent resources and examples of best practices that all Forum members are encouraged to review.  The Forum welcomes additional submissions of best practice examples for the toolbox, and will in the near future be adding additional material. (see: Standards Toolbox)

Institutions and organizations are encouraged to assess how well they conform to the Standards, and how they can improve their programs, by participating in the Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) for Education Abroad.  QUIP involves a rigorous self-study and peer review that assesses how well the Standards are being applied within education abroad programs.  Successful completion of QUIP brings recognition by the Forum for meeting the Standards. (see: QUIP)

In the area of Health, Safety and Security, a number of projects and initiatives are underway as a result of the Fireside Dialogue on Risk Management that was convened in conjunction with the Forum’s Fifth Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. (see: Fireside Dialogue)  One of the outcomes of the Dialogue is the development of the first Standards of Good Practice Institute, “Beyond the Basics of Health, Safety and Security,” which will be held on March 24th in Charlotte, North Carolina in conjunction with the Sixth Annual Conference.  (see: Standards of Good Practice Institute) 

The Institute will be dedicated to the risk management issues with which we all struggle.  Risk management incidents generate specific concerns and questions that lead to broader questions, which lead to an overarching concern: What is the best way to manage risk in education abroad, and how do we make the right risk management decisions?  The practical, hands-on focus for the Institute will include multiple concurrent and plenary sessions that will allow participants to improve their institutional and organizational strategies for incident prevention and response.  The Institute will also provide an opportunity for a review and further development of the Health, Safety and Security Standard.  More details about the Institute, including a call for session proposals, will be announced soon.

Another outcome of the Fireside Dialogue involves plans to develop a pilot of a confidential, voluntary study abroad incident database.  Details about this project, along with a call for volunteer organizations to participate in the project, will be announced soon.

Forum members, the media, and anyone interested in discussing the Forum and its mission and programs, are always welcome to telephone the Forum offices. 

I encourage all Forum members to draw on the Forum and its resources for any assistance that you may need to support your education abroad programs and services.

Sincerely,

Brian Whalen, President and CEO