Will the program fee be reasonable? Students on UD's programs pay two separate charges: tuition (the same amount they would pay if they were to take courses in Newark) and a program fee which will differ from program to program (consisting of airfare, housing, excursions, meals [if you choose to include them], ground transportation, site-specific fees [exit tax, visa], etc.). You have no control over tuition, nor do you have much control over costs at your host site, but keep in mind that many of the choices you make about your program will impact the program fee. For example, extra travel (particularly intra-country flights) increases program costs. Not including meals or local ground transportation (subway pass) in the program fee will help keep the fee low, but students may not appreciate paying these "hidden costs" in addition to the program fee. Also keep in mind that expensive programs often do very well (Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Europe BUAD), so it's not necessary to create a bare-bones program. The bottom line is that however much students pay, they want to get their money's worth for a program.
Will other expenses be reasonable? Expenses directly related to instruction and program administration are not charged to the program fee (for example, faculty salary and expenses, on-site instruction and fees, guest lecturers, facility rental, phone calls). However, this does not mean that these expenses can go unchecked, and CFIS will provide written guidelines for you. If expenses in one of these areas is unusually high at your site, think about how you can lower costs in other areas.
What about faculty compensation? Faculty expenses are covered for lodging, per diem, ground transportation in the U.S. and abroad, excursions, and site-specific expenses such as airport tax or visas. They also receive their regular S-contract salary for any course they teach which enrolls at least five students. Finally, each program is given an administrative stipend amounting to one credit of S-contract funding. For co-directed programs this S-contract may be paid to just one of the directors, or split between both directors at their discretion.
Will the program attract the minimum number of students necessary? What happens if it doesn't? If a program's budget is in the red due to under-enrollment, we usually work with the faculty to reach a compromise on their compensation (for example a reduction or relinquishing of per diem, ground transportation, or other items.)
