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COURSE SYLLABUS “MANAGING INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS”

A two-semester course offered by The University of Texas at Austin PA680PA: Policy Research Project (unique#: 63430)

Instructor: David Eaton, Ph.D. Bess Harris Jones Centennial Professor of Natural Resource Policy Studies, LBJ School of Public Affairs, P.O. Box Y, University Station, Austin, Texas, 78713-8925; telephone: 512-471-8972 (o), 512-626-0333 (c); email: eaton@austin.utexas.edu

Program Support: Moira Foreman Porter, Telephone: 512-471-7355, email: moira@austin.utexas.edu Faculty Assistant: Jayashree Vijalapuram, Telephone: 512-471-8959; email: jayashreev@austin.utexas.edu Course meetings: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 PM, SRH 3.355/314

COURSE DESCRIPTION The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (LBJ School), through its RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service (the RGK Center), seeks each year to offer an opportunity for graduate students to participate in a non-project consultancy assignment providing leadership to a non-profit organization. One type of consulting is for students to spend two to three weeks in a nonprofit consulting internship (LA/C Program), providing leadership to a nonprofit organization in pre-selected sites in Latin America and the Caribbean. This program LA/C is co-sponsored by the Curtis W. Meadows, Jr. Social Enterprise Fellows program, and the Red McCombs School of Business. Table 1 lists the sites of this year’s and previous RGK Center nonprofit consulting projects.

TABLE 1: MEADOWS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FELLOWS PROGRAMS

Chihuahua, Mexico

Monterrey, Mexico

Cuetzalan, Mexico

Irapuato, Mexico

Oaxaca, Mexico

Toluca, Mexico

Puebla, Mexico

San Ramón, Nicaragua

Quito, Ecuador

Cajamarca, Peru

Hato Nuevo, Dominican Republic

La Salvador, Brazil

Paz, Bolivia

Cordoba, Argentina

Creve, Haiti

Colón, Panama

LA/C Meadows Fellows are selected based on their relevant knowledge and skills for achieving project deliverables identified by the client NGOs. Some consideration is given to personal experience and readiness with traveling or working overseas in hardship conditions. Students should be prepared to travel to a remote area and work with people in a different culture. During the ‘Janmester’ Session of 2014 (January 2-12, 2014), the RGK Center and other units within The University of Texas at Austin (UT/Austin) will send 2 groups of 3 students (6 students in all) to pre-selected sites in Latin America. Those sites may be in Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, or Ecuador. The working assumption (as of June 15, 2013) is that the two venues will be Nicaragua and Panama. The remainder of this syllabus will assume that Nicaragua and Panama will be the chosen sites. During the Fall Semester 2013, class sessions will be used to train students for travel to Latin America to provide consulting support to nonprofit organizations. The Spring 2014 semester will be used for field reporting and paper submission, to be completed by the end of April 2014. This 2013-2014 “nonprofit consulting” opportunity allows students to improve the lives of clients through the Latin American non-profit organizations. The nonprofit organizations have been pre-selected because they are prepared to implement ideas that UT/Austin students develop. Working within an interdisciplinary team, a class member can expect to provide different management consulting services on issues of strategy, marketing, finance, human resources, and sustainability for a nonprofit organization depending upon the institutions needs selected students receive travel stipend support from the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service and the McCombs School of Business MBA+ Program to help defray the costs of international travel (transportation, food and other expenses). Outreach will occur to other UT colleges (Architecture/Planning, the Jackson School of Geosciences, etc.) to involve their students, should there be interest.

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Table 2 lists the nonprofit programs, sites for information and indicates the available positions for students in the class.

TABLE 2: 2013-2014 COURSE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. NGO: DESCRIPTION NGO Leader / Contact: Website: Facebook: Student Team:

Name Email Phone Name Email Phone Name Email Phone

2. NGO: DESCRIPTION NGO Leader / Contact: Website: Facebook: Student Team:

Name Email Phone Name Email Phone Name Email Phone

Notice of Voluntary Participation in Travel As of February 8, 2013, the International Office at the University of Texas at Austin classified Peru as Category 4 Restricted Regions. Category 4 signifies “Variable Risk” and is the lowest of four categories of Restricted Regions. For more information, visit http://world.utexas.edu/risk/restrictedregions/2013. The LBJ School has received prior approval to send student groups to Nicaragua and Panama for the 2013-14 academic year. Please note UT’s policy regarding travel to Restricted Regions: No University of Texas at Austin student, faculty, or staff can be required to travel to a Restricted Region. Any participation in travel to a Restricted Region is strictly voluntary, and the traveler assumes full responsibility for all risks associated with this travel.

2013-2014 COURSE ASSIGNMENTS & SCHEDULE

Below is a draft course schedule:

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Complete forms for travel authorization First class day: provide an individual resume Prepare a memo on proposed deliverables and outcomes Prepare a first draft plan for fieldwork

Date Due September 3, 2013 September 16, 2013 October 14, 2013 October 28, 2013

Prepare a draft pre-departure work plan for fieldwork November 11, 2013 Finalize pre-departure and fieldwork plans November 25, 2013

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Assess the field study program and experience (individual) Submit first draft of deliverable to NGO client

January 27, 2014 January 27, 2014

Submit final draft of report deliverable to NGO client March 7, 2014 Submit draft of video deliverable March 7, 2014 Submit revised, final video deliverable to NGO client April 7, 2014 Presentations to UT community and donors Date for presentation to donors outside of Austin (date kept open) Final class day and course evaluation

April 14, 2014 April 21, 2014 April 28, 2014

GRADING POLICY

Individual quality of field participation (360 assessment): 20 % Team pre-departure work plan: 15 % Team report on fieldwork: 15 % Individual assessment of fieldwork experience: 10 % Quality of team final presentation and recommendations: 20 % Quality of team video deliverable 20 %

COURSE MEETINGS

Meeting Period: Mondays, 6:00-9:00 PM Meeting Location: SRH 3.355/314

Date Topic and Speaker

16 Sept 6-7:30| Discuss initial ideas and begin development of project work plans. Discussion of course requirements 2013-14. 7:30-9| Retrospective of Meadow’s Program, 2012-13. Students will hear from last year’s Meadows Fellows and have the opportunity to ask them questions about their experience—what went well, what do they wish they had done differently, tips for client interaction, etc. 8:30 | Students receive and discuss international travel liability forms, to be completed and returned by Sept 30. Important: One of the forms requires sign-off from a physician who can attest that you are fit to travel to Latin America. It might be several weeks before a doctor’s office can find time to see you. So, please schedule your appointment ASAP.

23 Sept DUE: Class members submit one page list of program outcomes 6-7:30 | Matt Kouri, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success Topic: nonprofit client management, how to narrow the scope of consulting projects 7:30-9 | Students work in their teams on fall semester work plans

30 Sept DUE: Class members submit international travel and liability forms 6-7:30 | Kathy McCaston, LBJ School of Public Affairs, NGO consultant Topic: how organizations should design evaluations to support them in achieving goals, consulting and traveling in Latin America 7:30-9 | In-class work session

7 Oct DUE: No assignments due 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic: 7:30-9 | Teams discuss their pre-departure work plans and approaches to achieving project deliverables with the class

14 Oct

DUE: Class members submit a memo on project deliverables and outcomes, any remaining RGK Center international travel liability forms Revised draft of team pre-departure plan (fall semester work plan) 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic: 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic:

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21 Oct DUE: 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic: 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic:

28 Oct DUE: Class members submit a first draft of fieldwork plan 6-7:30 | Kerri Battles and Sean Patrick, LBJ School Dean’s Office Topic: Video 101 – tips for video production, digital media equipment and iMovie training 7:30-9 | Josh Greene, LBJ School second year student will provide a device on documentary development Topic: Practical guidance for developing video narratives and producing/shortening/editing short documentaries in Latin America.

4 Nov DUE: Discussion within groups on plan for fieldwork in-country Discussion on plans for fieldwork among groups

11 Nov DUE: Class members submit a draft of pre-departure work plan for fieldwork 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic: 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic:

18 Nov DUE: Register online with International SOS and the US State Department http://world.utexas.edu/abroad/itr/authorization and https://step.state.gov/step/ 6-7:30 | Mary Thompson, Corder/Thompson & Associates Topic: Active listening discussion and exercise 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic:

25 Nov DUE: Class members submit a final pre-departure and fieldwork plans; brief presentations (in Spanish if working with NGO in Latin America) of research conducted and in-country plans 6-7:30 | Orlando Kelm, Associate Professor of Hispanic Linguistics and Associate Director of Business Language Education at the UT Center for International Business Education & Research Agenda: Teams will give a 10-15 minute presentation on their consulting project objectives, approach, work accomplished thus far, and next steps. Dr. Kelm will provide feedback on team presentations. 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged Topic:

2 Dec DUE: Course evaluations completed in class 6-7:30 | Arelis Palacios, Study Abroad Program Coordinator, UT Austin Topic: international travel prep and risk mitigation; discussion of remaining pre-departure questions, logistics, etc. 7:30-9 | In-class work session

9 Dec 6-7:30 | Class discussion of team pre-departure plans

Dec 10-31 No class, winter break

January 2-12 In-country fieldwork in Latin America

13 Jan 6-7:30 | Day kept open, as teams may not have returned; time to be substituted by individual meetings with faculty outside of class. 7:30-9 |

20 Jan MLK Jr. Day – no class

27 Jan DUE: Class members submit individual assessments of the fieldwork experience; submit first draft of report to client 6-7:30 | Teams present their fieldwork findings and spring semester work plans 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

3 Feb 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

3 Feb tbd | Faculty to meet with each student group for 1 hour each, to discuss editing the draft

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report.

10 Feb 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

17 Feb 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

24 Feb 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

3 Mar DUE: Teams submit final drafts of project and video deliverables to clients this week (no later than Friday, March 7), request feedback from NGO by March 14 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

10 Mar SPRING BREAK

17 Mar 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

24 Mar 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

31 Mar 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

7 April DUE: Texas submit revised, final project deliverables for NGO clients; Video deliverable to NGO clients 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

14 April DUE: Final presentations to UT community and donors (time and day TBD, but it will be during this class week) 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

21 April DUE: 6-7:30 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged 7:30-9 | Teaching opportunity: to be arranged

28 April Course wrap-up Last day to turn in copy of final client deliverable and individual journal, photos/videos (graded for course). We will reserve some time at the end of class for students to complete the course instructor evaluations.

August 2014 Presentations to UT community, orientation and kick off recruitment of 2014-2015 Fellows

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ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 lists estimates of program costs Attachment 2 is the UT risk notification statement Attachment 3 is the UT risk assessment and mitigation statement Attachment 4 is a statement of risks for the LBJ School’s Latin American 2013-14 RGK Fellows Program. Attachment 5 is a schedule for the 2013-14 Meadows Program. Attachment 6 is a course summary for the Meadow’s Program course.

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ATTACHMENT 1: COURSE CREDIT & PROGRAM COSTS

In order to participate in the Meadows Fellows programs, each student is required to register for this two-semester, three-credit course. Students acknowledge that they are solely responsible for tuition and fee payments associated with this program and course. In addition to tuition, approximate program costs per student appear below. Students traveling to Latin America will be issued travel stipends to help defray the costs of participating in the program. The substantial stipends may not reimburse all costs of travel. Students should be prepared to invest from their own funds for some fieldwork expenses. Important: Travel stipends are considered additional discretionary income and may affect financial aid calculations. For additional information or questions specific to your situation, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services at (512) 475-6282. Once you receive travel award notification, track any requirements and disbursement via the CASH system https://utdirect.utexas.edu/faweb/cash/.

COST ESTIMATES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION – BY COUNTRY (this is s a list of costs; stipend information to be provided later)

Colón, Panama

Student airfare (AUS-ATL-Panama City) 600 Required UT travel insurance $19/wk/student 60 Study abroad portal fee 50 UT Student stipends

vaccines, medical appt 120 lodging & food ($150 lodging + $8-15/day food) 360 local transportation ($20/day rental car or $8/day bus) 100

1,290

San Ramón, Nicaragua

Student airfare (AUS-IAH-Nicaragua) 600 Required UT travel insurance $19/wk/student 60 Study abroad portal fee 50 UT Student stipends

vaccines, medical appt 120 lodging & food ($25/day recommended) 350 local transportation 100

1,280

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ATTACHMENT 2: UT RISK NOTIFICATION STATEMENT The University of Texas at Austin must review international travel to destinations on the UT Restricted Regions List, as determined by the International Oversight Committee. Travel to any location on the UT Restricted Regions List involves certain degrees of risk. It is important that travelers UNDERSTAND & CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RISKS: • The US Embassy nearest your destination may temporarily close or suspend public services for security reasons. • The US Embassy nearest your destination may not be able to provide emergency assistance should you require it. • If there is a need to evacuate in an emergency, flights may be suspended and other departure or shelter options

in place may be limited or non-existent. • Access to hospitals, emergency medical care and medications may be limited or non-existent. • Should you experience difficulties, the University of Texas at Austin and their contracted emergency assistance

provider, International SOS, may not be in a position to provide emergency assistance to you. • Participation in travel to a UT Restricted Region has inherent risks which may include kidnapping or death. These

risks can never be completely eliminated. • Risks of travel to your destination may include (but are not limited to) dangers to health and personal safety,

including possible death posed by natural disaster, disease, terrorism, crime, civil unrest, and/or violence. • Additional risks include (but are not limited to) minor and major physical injuries, emotional and psychological

injuries inflicted accidentally or intentionally by others, and/or catastrophic injuries, including paralysis and death.

• There may be additional health, safety, and security factors that have not been brought to your attention by the University of Texas at Austin.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS VISIT & CAREFULLY REVIEW THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: • http://world.utexas.edu/risk/travelpolicy UT International Travel Policy • http://world.utexas.edu/risk/travelresources UT Health & Safety Resources for International Travel • http://www.utexas.edu/emergency UT Emergency website • http://www.internationalsos.com International SOS website (member ID: 11BSGC000037) • http://www.travel.state.gov US Department of State website for Travel Warnings, advisories, and consular

information sheets for the intended destination • http://www.cdc.gov US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for information on health issues and

recommended vaccinations • http://www.who.int World Health Organization website for information on disease outbreaks and emergencies

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ATTACHMENT 3: RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION In consultation with the U.S. Department of State’s risk reports for Panama and Nicaragua, this faculty-led program has reviewed the most likely areas for concern and designed the program to reduce and minimize the risk to student participants as much as possible. Following is a risk assessment for fieldwork in San Ramón, Nicaragua and Colón, Panama. Key Issues:

Natural water/wind disasters

o Program travel occurs before the typical hurricane and storm season, but during Panama’s and

Nicaragua’s rainy season. Students should heed the advice of their hosts and local NGO leaders

before traveling during or after heavy rainfall

Earthquake – compromised infrastructure and socio-economic implications

o Earthquakes are not likely in San Ramón, Nicaragua or Colón, Panama.

Prior to travel students will participate in a simulation for reacting to a potential earthquake and

aftershock prior to travel. For example: Persons outside should avoid falling debris by moving to open

spaces away from walls, windows, buildings and other structures that may collapse. If indoors, take

shelter beside furniture, not underneath. Avoid damaged buildings and downed power lines. Do not

use matches, lighters, candles, or any open flame in case there are disrupted gas lines.

Personal safety and security / crime

o Students will be traveling at all times in a group with trusted people.

o Program participants will travel to their final destinations in the company of representatives from

their host organizations, reducing transit time and avoiding circumstances where they could be

targeted for theft or other crimes.

o This group will work with trusted local nationals who will manage local travel logistics on behalf

of the group.

o Members of the group include persons who are familiar with the travel logistics involved and can

advise colleagues on cultural competency and conducting activities in a way that avoids

compromising situations, such as never giving their bags to anyone at the airport who asks for

them.

Health

o Student participants will be informed in writing of all standard and recommended vaccines and medications for travel to Nicaragua and Panama (as appropriate) and provided several online travel health resources.

o Students will be covered under the 2013-2014 University of Texas System Academic HealthPlans

(“UT Academic HealthPlans”) insurance coverage, policy # GLMN04969340-12, underwritten by

ACE American Insurance Company, for any medical emergency or necessary medical care during

the program. The Academic HealthPlans policy will be purchased once upon receiving travel

authorization from the UT International Oversight Committee.

Contingency Plan

o A full contingency plan is drafted and included below. Once updated with any relevant alerts

closer to student departure dates, it will be placed on file with the LBJ School Dean’s Office, the

McCombs CIBER Program Coordinator, and the Dean’s Office of any other participating college or

school.

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o As this is an intersession Janmester program, an early emergency return will have limited

repercussions to the students’ long-semester program of study.

Professional Preparation and Risk Training

o The students will receive training sessions that address professional preparation and risk, as

indicated below:

The graduate students who participated in the 2012 and 2013 program will discuss the

outcomes of the 2012-13 program with the 2013-14 program participants, including tips

and lessons learned regarding travel in developing settings.

A training session on “working in an international context” will focus on Latin American

cultures. This will include discussion of examples from the field to help students develop

awareness of personal and cultural norms, learn how to build a rapport with others, and

gather information critical to the project goals.

A training session on essential consulting field skills, with particular emphasis on project

planning, working with translators, client and stakeholder management, will take place

at the beginning of the program.

Students will engage in a discussion of what to expect from working in poor developing

nations: how to prepare physically and emotionally; practical steps for readiness;

responding to unexpected disasters or crisis situations; review of risks, risk mitigation

strategies, risk preparedness, emergency preparation, and contingency plans.

Participant Options

o Students selected to participate in the program have the option to withdraw from the program

at any time.

o The program maintains a waitlist for extenuating circumstances that would prompt seeking

replacement participants.

o It is the University of Texas at Austin’s policy that no University of Texas at Austin student,

faculty, or staff can be required to travel to a Restricted Region. For example, Panama is

classified as a Category 4 Restricted Regions; see

http://world.utexas.edu/risk/restrictedregions/2013 for more information.) Colon, Panama is

classified as a category w restricted region. Any participation in travel to a Restricted Region is

strictly voluntary, and the traveler assumes full responsibility for all risks associated with this

travel.

Post-Field Sessions (3 meetings)

o The 2013-14 team will be expected to discuss results of the Maymester projects with UT/Austin

community during the Spring 2014.

o The team will discuss results of the Maymester projects with donors in Dallas during the spring

2014 semester.

o Close of business: final project deliverables (report plus video documentary) are due in April 2014

for grade evaluation.

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ATTACHMENT 4: RISKS FOR THE LBJ SCHOOL’S LATIN AMERICA 2013-14 RGK FELLOWS PROGRAM prepared by David J. Eaton, Ph.D., June 5, 2013

Rural Panama or Nicaragua are not particularly stable locations, as each seems to experience natural and human-mediated calamities on a regular basis. For example, Colón, Panama and San Ramón, Nicaragua have experienced major hurricanes. All sites have experienced earthquakes. As of June 2013 the U.S. State Department (US DOS) has issued no travel alerts or travel warnings for Panama or Nicaragua. Given the potential for weather- or security-related emergencies in these countries, it is appropriate that the LBJ School assess risks that 2013-14 Meadows Fellows program might pose to the LBJ School, its students, and faculty who may seek to travel. This note discusses both the risks and proposed strategies for risk mitigation. Risk Exposure and Assessment This subsection describes some of the risk exposure associated with travel and fieldwork in Ramón, Nicaragua and Colón, Panama. To understand the risk, I contacted International SOS, the UT System’s international risk mnagement provider, who referred me to their regularly-updated country risk analyses (available on the International SOS web site http://www.internationalsos.com/en/ ). The UT System member number is 11BSGC000037 and it has a dedicated website (http://www.internationalsos.com/private/utexas/index.cfm?page=3 ). International SOS’ current risk report is attached (http://www.travelsecurity.com/Country.aspx?cn=95). Table 1 indicates risks that may be relevant for LBJ School students and staff associated with a Maymester program in Latin America in 2013.

Table 1: Risk Factors for a 2013-14 Meadows Program in San Ramón, Nicaragua and Colón, Panama

Some of the risks include: volcanic eruption, hurricanes, earthquakes, random violence; kidnapping; ransom; ill health; injury; disorientation; or loss of key personal items.

Violence is a not a significant threat in Nicaragua or Panama, although there is some risk of wrong-place-wrong-time exposure to violence.

Violence in Mexico, Panama and Nicaragua does not appear to be targeted at foreigners.

The rural locations where the non-profit partner organizations are located in Nicaragua or Panama are safer relative to many other sites within their nations, as there have been few if any cases of violence in those areas.

An outbreak of disease could occur in San Ramón, Nicaragua or Colón, Panama.

Risk Mitigation Table 2 lists steps to mitigate risks. One special effort that is being made to mitigate risks for this Latin American program is that the RGK Center for Philanthropy & Community Service has organized for the 2013-14 academic year a special risk mitigation process for graduate students going to Latin America. All potential participants in the Latin American programs are required to participate in these training sessions. Some of these sessions provide detailed in-country information on risks and others feature discussions and simulations about diverse risks, facilitated by persons who can convey steps to mitigate those risks. Risk No matter what risk preparation and mitigation actions are taken, any travel to Latin America, even one of two to three weeks in length, remains a program exposed to risk. Violence can and does occur. Illnesses are widespread in many parts of Nicaragua and Panama. This section asks the question: how should the program react to risks as they occur? This question refers both to risks to individuals and program risks.

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Table 2: LBJ School Risk Mitigation Measures (A) Preparation for the Latin America 2013-14 Meadows Fellows

Membership to International SOS for advising and in case of emergency

Extensive and intensive pre-travel advising on safety procedures for participants

Targeted simulation training is required of all participants to address major risk factors: random violence; kidnapping; ransom; ill health; injury; disorientation; or loss of key personal items (required prescriptions, passport, money)

Local administration of the travel and field component by known and trusted non-profit partner organizations

Transportation support through non-profit partner organizations

Location of major program activities in communities

Travel only as a group and only to areas considered relatively safe

(B) On-Site Risk Mitigation Measures for the Latin America May 2013

Structured on-site briefing regarding travel risks and risk mitigation at the start of the program and at any time that risk problems might arise

No unauthorized participant travel independent of the group during the two-week program

Pre-arranged travel to the field venue

Pre-arranged and private travel for any travel outside of the field venue

The program will be based in small communities, where many residents know one another

Lodging will be arranged at known, trusted hotels that the partner non-profit organization frequently uses and recommends to visitors or as homestays with known, trusted members of the community who live close to the non-profit organization’s program site

A health clinic is located within 10 minutes travel of the Panama and within 30 minutes of the Nicaragua site

Students will only drink boiled or bottled water or carbonated beverages, and they will eat only food that is provided by their trusted and experienced hosts (in the case of a homestay) or by the hotel restaurant and any restaurants in the community that the non-profit organization staff recommend as a safe place to eat. In both cases, students will observe dietary guidelines provided by International SOS and international travel clinics (e.g., do not eat fruit do not need to peeled)

Risks to Individuals In every international program there is a real risk that some individual(s) will have an accident, become ill, need serious emergency intervention of a medical or psychological nature, etc. The on-site program coordinator in each location (indicated above) will be watching for indicators of risk. Her standing orders are to require participants to enter medical care/hospital care (or psychiatric treatment if conditions warrant) at the first sign of illness or injury, with no exceptions. Such a pre-emptive approach is appropriate to protect any individual from external or internal risks. This expectation of rapid response to risks also holds for requiring a participant to return home if conditions warrant. Group Risks As lead faculty, Dr. Eaton has the authority to “pull the plug” on the program before it starts or while it is in operation if the group or individuals are believed to be at risk. Dr. Eaton’s intelligence resources include both unconventional and conventional sources (see Table 3). Dr. Eaton will be in contact with these sources and prepared to initiate whatever risk mitigation or response is appropriate.

Table 3: Sources of Risk Information Conventional Sources of Risk Information:

UT – Austin and the UT System - Paul Pousson - Lee Smith - Erin Wolf

International SOS, the UT System’s risk management provider

U.S. Department of State

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AIG, the UT System’s risk insurer Unconventional Sources of Risk Information:

US Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua and Panama City, Panama

Exit Strategy The possibility always exists that an unknown event or circumstance could lead to an early cancellation of the program. There exists a finite possibility that participating graduate students might be required to exit Mexico, Nicaragua, or Panama rapidly without prior preparation. There are at least three options, each of which should be available to effectuate a rapid exit (see below).

Students could exit via the closest international airport or other airport, to depart the host nation to the US.

Students could be evacuated by International SOS or one of the other two emergency evacuation services available to UT/Austin.

Students could exit by truck from the host village and then proceed to a nearby port, with travel by boat onward towards the US.

Steps Students Should Take Prior to Travel to Ensure as Safe and Low-Risk Travel as Possible

It is a REQUIREMENT that all UT students, faculty, and staff traveling abroad must register their travel details with International SOS, UT’s emergency assistance provider, prior to travel. You may register with International SOS, http://www.internationalsos.com/, using UT’s Member Login: 11BSGC000037. Follow the directions on the main page under “Mandatory Registration,” choose “Add Trip,” and complete travel registration.

The University of Texas at Austin is a member of International SOS, an international emergency assistance service. International SOS does not provide insurance; rather it provides a global 24-hour help line that that can offer assistance in the event of a medical or security emergency. For more information about International SOS, visit http://world.utexas.edu/risk/travelresources/sos. The International SOS smartphone app can be downloaded at http://www.internationalsos.com/en/membership-app.htm. If you find yourself in need of immediate assistance while abroad, contact International SOS anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-215-952-8226 (main line) or 1-215-942-8478 (dedicated scholastic hotline), or call UTPD at 512-471-4441.

Students should register with the US State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), http://step.state.gov/step/. STEP allows travelers to enter information about an upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist in an emergency. STEP also enables Americans residing abroad to get routine information from the nearest US embassy or consulate. Non-US citizens are encouraged to follow any similar guidance provided by their country of citizenship.

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ATTACHMENT 5: 2013-2014 Meadows Fellows Application and Selection Timeline

April-May Recruit NGO projects

June 15 Deadline for finalizing NGO projects

July 29 Moira to touch base with Amy and last year’s fellows to try to schedule an info session for week of August 12

th

Aug 5 Announce the PRP via student listservs (McCombs, LBJ – and others?)

Aug 12 Send reminder about the PRP offering and NGO projects

Aug 19 Student applications due

Aug 22-30 NGOs interview applicants

Aug 28 First day of Fall semester classes

Sept 1 IOC/Study Abroad approval requests due - complete as much of the proposal paperwork as possible, leaving placeholders for student-specific information and letting the IOC know that we will submit those outstanding details by X date.

Sept 4 NGOs notify RGK Center of their top choices (+ 1-2 back-ups?)

Sept 5 Students receive project offers

Sept 9 Deadline for students to notify RGK Center of decision to participate and identify a course to drop (if necessary)

Sept 10 Students identify course to drop, RGK submits names of 15 selected students to Lucy for course registration

Sept 13 Last day of add/drop (12th

class day)

Sept 16 First PRP class meeting

Sept 25 Students receive travel liability forms

Oct 14 Deadline for students to submit RGK Center’s travel liability forms

Nov 18 Deadline for students to book travel, complete UT’s travel authorization forms, register with International SOS, and register with State Department; stipends issued

Dec 6 Last day of fall semester classes

Jan 2-11 Students conduct fieldwork

Jan 13 First day of 2014 Spring semester

March 10-14 Spring Break

May 2 Last day of spring semester

Check in late summer/early fall for relevant workshops students might benefit from:

Workshop Host Topic(s) More Info

Greenlights for Nonprofit Success

workshops on financial management, board essentials, planning for program evaluation and grant reporting, grant-writing, social media 2.0

http://greenlights.force.com

UT Office of Survey Research

survey questionnaire design http://communication.utexas.edu/strauss/osr

Lights.Camera.Help. basics of DIY filmmaking and editing http://lightscamerahelp.org/learn-with-lch-in-person

Division of Statistics & Scientific Computation

software “shortcourses” on Microsoft Access, SAS, etc.

http://ssc.utexas.edu/courses/short

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ATTACHMENT 6: MEADOWS FELLOWS PROGRAM COURSE SUMMARY

Curtis W. Meadows, Jr. Social Enterprise Fellows Program The University of Texas at Austin - RGK Center for Philanthropy & Community Service The Meadows Fellows program offers non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America an opportunity to receive small teams of skilled graduate students to complete consulting projects on high-priority management and capacity-building challenges facing their organizations. Since the program began in 2006, 61 Meadows Fellows have supported the mission and work of 20 NGOs in ten countries. Teams of two or three students collaborate closely with NGO leadership to accomplish a specific project. NGO leaders identify in advance projects that will most help their organization improve internal operations. Past projects include:

- analyze competitive environments and develop strategic plans - conduct cost/benefit, return-on-investment or other financial analyses - conduct program evaluations, needs assessments, and focus groups - review media materials and develop new communications plans - review fundraising materials and develop strategies for new development opportunities - research organizational governance models and propose a board development plan - develop or update human resources policies and manuals - assess and prioritize community needs

Student consultants conduct most of their work remotely at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, communicating with the client organization via email and Skype. During the winter session (January 2-12, 2014), they travel to their NGO client site to work in country. Students are provided with modest stipends to help defray travel costs. During the spring semester, student consultants complete work products and submit them to the client organizations. Meadows Fellows 2013-2014 Program Timeline

June 1-15 Prospective NGOs submit project proposals

June 15-30 RGK Center selects NGO clients, works with them to refine project details

Early August Students apply to the Meadows Fellows program, RGK Center reviews applications and sends the materials of qualified applicants to NGOs

Aug 22-30 NGOs interview applicants

Sept 4 NGOs notify RGK Center of their top choices, RGK Center notifies students

Sept-Dec Students participate in the first semester of the NGO consulting course led by LBJ School faculty member Dr. David Eaton. This semester focuses on preparing students with topic-specific project information and developing skills needed for effective fieldwork. Students consult remotely with NGOs via Skype and email.

Jan 2-12

In-country fieldwork: Fellows work in-country with their NGO client, produce and present preliminary findings and next steps to NGO

Jan-March Students continue developing their project deliverables during the second semester of the NGO consulting course, submit project deliverables to NGO in mid-March

April/Early May Students refine deliverables based on NGO feedback, complete any additional work products

To ensure a successful consulting engagement, NGO clients work with the RGK Center and students to ensure a clear understanding of the organization and project objectives. The NGO is expected to provide the RGK Center with an estimate of housing, food, and in-country transit costs and guidance on where to locate safe, affordable housing. NGOs are encouraged to interview (via phone or Skype) student candidates and identify their top choices. NGO participation in the interview and selection process helps confirm appropriate language ability and desired skills of team members. Once the projects are underway, NGOs should expect to conduct approximately 2-3 Skype calls in the fall semester to answer questions about the project and provide important background information

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about the organization and its work. NGOs and students also communicate via email as needed. NGOs interested in applying to host a team of Meadows Fellows students may download the one-page application HERE. Please contact Moira Porter if you would like to discuss proposal ideas, see examples of past proposals, or ask questions about the program.