Faculty-Led Programs

The Umbra Institute continually seeks opportunities to host faculty-led programs for visiting professors and their students. Professors chaperone a minimum of eight participants from their home university. Faculty-led models vary with some institutions choosing to open their course to other Umbra students, while others choose to enroll only students from their home institution. Some models even allow students to enroll in Umbra courses on a variety of topics, including Italian language, history of art, food studies, history, etc. Umbra is well-equipped to host professors according to the faculty-led model required or preferred by their university. Summer courses at Umbra are normally 3 credits with 45 contact hours. If your faculty-led will not follow the Umbra summer calendar, please contact us for program availability.

Perugia and a Real Italian Experience
Perugia serves as the ideal backdrop for study abroad in Italy and a great home base for your faculty-led course. An ancient hilltop town that has preserved its medieval and Renaissance character, Perugia is located in the heartland of Italy, halfway between Rome and Florence. The city is home to nearly 160,000 residents and more than 35,000 students who study at its world-renowned Italian universities and studio arts schools. Not too big, not too small, not too expensive, and well-connected to the rest of the country: Perugia is an excellent place to teach but also an easy point-of-departure for both co-curricular and extracurricular travel. The Umbra Institute’s many community partnerships make it an ideal place for your students to discover the real Italy—and Italians.

Faculty-Led Made Easy
The Umbra Institute offers a different, simpler model from the standard faculty-led program. Too often the professor becomes a travel agent, tour guide, and emergency contact. At Umbra, all transport to and from the Rome airport, orientation, travel questions, student health emergencies, and housing issues are handled by our experienced staff. Professors are only responsible for their classroom time and possible field trips, all of which are organized with Umbra’s assistance. Classes meet twice a week and professors are free to travel, research, meet with students, or do what they please outside of those meetings.

Recruitment of Students
The Umbra Institute will assist the visiting lecturer in recruitment. This assistance ranges from a personalized page on our website, to custom printable posters provided, online advertising, and replying to students inquiries and questions. All costs for this assistance will be borne by the Umbra Institute and further outline in an electronic promotion guide, provided via email.

Developing a Faculty-Led Abroad Course
Umbra can help you find the right topic for your course. The Institute will also aid in developing the curriculum and syllabus, refining logistics, and choosing field trips that will enrich the student experience.

Visiting Professor Housing and Compensation
Total compensation depends on the number of students the professor brings to the program, the housing desired by the professor, and the relationship between the Umbra Institute and the professor’s institution. In certain cases professors are compensated by their own institutions; if not, they will be paid by the Institute. Compensation estimates can be provided upon request. The Institute has a range of housing solutions for professors in Perugia’s historic center.

For more information on teaching at Umbra, please email [email protected] or proceed below to submit your proposal.

Faculty-Led Proposal Request Form

Interested in leading your students to study abroad in Perugia, Italy? Umbra is ready to work with you to design the ideal summer or semester-long study abroad experience. Please complete the form below to let us know the course and field trips you would like to propose using our facilities and support services. 

Please click here to read our Summer Faculty-Led Program Support Guide, which outlines Umbra field trip options and resources. Fall and Spring semester faculty-led opportunities are also available. 

Complete the form below and our staff will contact you to draft an initial proposal together.