We're still accepting faculty interest for BSU-in-SanJuan (Spring '26) through March 15th, and we're also now taking interest for faculty teams for Fall '26 and Spring '27 programs, including Accra, Ghana and Alcala de Henares, Spain. Faculty interested in teaching BSU courses in Puerto Rico, Ghana, or Spain: read on!
What is BSU-in?
In short, it is a Study-Abroad-Office-directed, BSU-faculty-led, semester-long study abroad program. This program emerges from a commitment to increasing student access, providing programs of the highest academic value, and keeping study abroad enrollments within the institution.
BSU students, BSU faculty, BSU courses, BSU prices -- on a host campus abroad/away. The Rinker Center for Global Affairs is hearing the message loud and clear-- students DO want to study abroad/away, and the primary barriers seem to be cost and relevance to degree plan. BSU-in addresses both of these concerns! It is priced to students at the exact same cost of a BSU on-campus semester, almost to the dollar-- it does NOT cost extra! And it features Ball State courses and Ball State faculty, with an emphasis on UCC courses and intro-level courses that might satisfy requirements for just about every BSU undergrad. It also features flexibility-- students are allowed to take an online course or two while they are abroad, which means students from many different majors may be able to study abroad for a whole semester without setting them behind on their progress toward graduation.
What about teaching at BSU-in?
Faculty for BSU-in are loaded to teach in this program according to the academic unit's needs/goals. Loadings for BSU-in courses happen within the academic unit-- so if there's a class your department offers that might be a good fit for BSU-in-SanJuan, you would be loaded to teach that course in Puerto Rico instead of in Muncie. As a rule of thumb, BSU-in offers a menu of 4-11 courses taught by a team of 2-4 faculty. The program should offer courses from a variety of disciplines, with preference given to UCC courses (from any tier/domain). We can also consider non-UCC courses on a case-by-case basis. Because we're working collaboratively with departments, we will remain flexible with the details of faculty loading, with options to incorporate short (block) calendars and or partially remote/online assignments.
Who covers travel costs for BSU-in faculty?
Housing, flights, excursions, and ground transportation are covered by Study Abroad. We will also provide a modest stipend to assist with other incidental costs. Salary compensation is through the academic unit-- this program is loaded through the academic units, so your salary should remain constant.
How can I increase my chances of being selected for a BSU-in teaching team?
Faculty for BSU-in are selected collaboratively between Study Abroad and the academic units. The most desirable BSU-in-SanJuan faculty members are those who can teach at least one UCC course-- and even better if you can offer more than one UCC course (from multiple tiers or domains). We can also consider non-UCC courses on a case-by-case basis, especially if the non-UCC course is in addition to at least one UCC course. As we move to a new core curriculum starting Fall '26, the BSU-in-Accra and BSU-in-Alcala programs will adjust as necessary. One of the most important factors in selection of the courses and faculty is the enthusiastic endorsement from your Chair. We would strongly suggest discussing with your unit leader before formally indicating interest to Study Abroad.
BSU-in-SanJuan, Spring '26
The location in San Juan, Puerto Rico is very exciting; a captivating coastal city offering a warm tropical climate and a rich cultural experience, all in a vibrant international city. We'll be hosted by Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, located in the heart of Santurce neighborhood. It's a one-of-a-kind study away destination, with part of the uniqueness being the accessibility-- students will not need a passport or student visa to participate in this program, and the currency is USD-- perhaps making this program possible for even more students.
BSU-in-TBD, Spring '26
We're still finalizing details on a second location for Spring '26 (running concurrently with BSU-in-SanJuan). The TBD location is likely to be in UK or Ireland. As soon as the firm location can be announced, it will be!
BSU-in-Accra, Fall '26
As the vibrant capital of Ghana, Accra is a dynamic city that blends rich history, diverse cultures, and a thriving arts and business scene. Home to over 2 million people, Accra offers students the opportunity to experience West African culture firsthand while engaging with a rapidly developing global city. We'll be hosted by the University of Ghana, a well-respected national public university. With a growing Ghanaian student community at BSU, this program also offers a unique opportunity to build connections between campuses and cultures—deepening global perspectives both abroad and at home.
BSU-in-Alcala, tentatively Fall '26
About 40 minutes from the center of Madrid, Alcala de Henares a buzzing international city of around 215,000 people. The city is known for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote de la Mancha, as well as for its 15th century university. The city of Alcalá combines the best of a medieval and modern city. It's an attractive and safe college town, and BSU students consistently report a desire to study in Europe.
These locations/terms aren't right for me/my department, but I'm very interested in this program. Is a different BSU-in location/term a possibility?
Yes. Locations for BSU-in will change each term (and some locations may be recurring, depending on student and faculty interest). Fall 2024 was in Puebla, Mexico. Spring 2025 is in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Fall 2025 is in Seoul, South Korea. Future locations beyond Fall 2026 have not yet been selected. You are welcome to indicate interest at any time, even if it's for a future term/location.
What next?
Interested faculty are encouraged to discuss with their Department Chairs and Ashley Coker, Director of Study Abroad (acoker@bsu.edu, 285.2652). Then please indicate your interest in teaching at BSU-in by completing this interest form. While we accept interest forms on a rolling basis for all future terms, we suggest submitting for BSU-in-SanJuan by March 15th, as our goal is to confirm the teaching team no later than June 1. For Fall '26 programs, please indicate interest by August 15th.