Opportunities & Conferences

Smith’s goal is to prepare students to live in a global society by offering a rich array of international and intercultural opportunities for all students, from the first year to their culminating year on campus. All students have the opportunity to study, work, participate in research or travel abroad or have an internationally oriented experience in the United States.

Global Faculty-Led Experiences (FLEX)

The Lewis Global Studies Center's FLEX programming initiative offers faculty opportunities to design and lead short-term global learning travel programs (1–3 weeks) to either enhance an existing course or as a newly credited course offered during winter, spring or summer breaks. This initiative replaces the former Global Engagement Seminars. The goal is to build a range of global experiential learning activities that can be readily adapted to departmental and faculty interests. Programs may be outside of the United States or have a global theme within the United States.

Please direct any questions about the Global FLEX program or the process to Lewis Global Studies Center.

Barbados: Caribbean Popular Culture: History, Performance and the Museum

Interterm 2025
Cost $2,400

This short-term, faculty-led program will examine the public display of culture in the Caribbean. It introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of the Caribbean, with specific attention to the historical, environmental, socio-cultural features of modern existence that have come to constitute Caribbean experience, and are evidenced in its popular culture.

Arizona: American Indians, Tribes, and Environmental Issues in the American Southwest

Interterm 2025
Application deadline: Monday, September 30
Cost: $4,500
Info Session: Thursday, September 12 at 12:15 p.m. in the Lewis Global Studies Center
 
This short-term, faculty-led program will provide the opportunity to learn about American Indian tribes and their relationship to nature in Tucson, Arizona. The program will bring into focus the lives of American Indians and the environment at different scales by visiting communities and exploring the political, cultural, economic, and social activities from American Indian perspectives. Field trips will visit Indian tribes and other communities in the region while seminars will take place with academics at the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. 

Greece: Archaeology of Greek Mythologies

May 2025
Application deadline: Monday, December 2
Cost: $4,850
Info Session: Wednesday, October 2 at 12:15 p.m. in the Lewis Global Studies Center
 
This short-term, faculty-led program will introduce students to the many mythologies of Greece, from the Homeric heroes to Athenian democracy to the Greek Revolution of 1821. Through encounters with archaeological sites and the modern cities of Athens and Nafplio, students will explore how the Greek past is conceptualized and narrativized at various stages in history, from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1600-1100 BCE) to the modern period.

Students may apply for a Global FLEX program online using Smith International Travel Experiences System (SITES). Guest students can create a profile and log into SITES here. Once in SITES, go to Search Programs and use the keyword ‘FLEX’ to locate the current programs.

  1. An initial site visit to plan the program and select local program providers, usually the year prior to the planned program. Faculty may be asked to seek additional support from CFCD or departmental funds.
  2. A one-time program development stipend of $1,500 is available for new programs.
  3. A faculty stipend of $2,000/week, for a maximum program length of three weeks, for planning, designing, leading and reporting on the travel program.
  4. Flight, accommodations and meals for the traveling faculty member.
  5. Partial coverage of student expenses based on financial need status. Students will be expected to pay for some portion of their program fees, and any related visa, immunization or other travel expenses.

  1. Priority funding is for programs intended to be offered on at least two occasions, with calendar year timing dependent on the number of trips offered each year. Funding beyond two trips will need to be supported from other sources.
  2. Faculty are required to participate in a risk management workshop and training offered annually.  Additional pre-departure risk assessment meetings will also be required.
  3. In most cases, logistics will be supported by a local contractor or institution. A services contract and/or MOU will be prepared by the faculty member and local contractor in coordination with the Lewis Center.
  4. Programs are required to include professional student affairs support to assist with logistics and handle student health and safety issues during the program.
  5. Faculty will write a short report with documentation (such as photos and student assignments) for donor reports, to be submitted within 90 days of the end of the program.
  6. Students will complete evaluations and submit thank you letters to the donor(s) at the end of the program.

Course enhancement proposals will require Lewis Global Studies Center and Committee on Study Abroad (CSA) approval; proposals requesting a new course designation and credit will also need to be submitted to the Committee on Academic Priorities (CAP). This process can take 6—10 weeks depending on when the initial proposal is received.

  1. Proposal is initially submitted to the Lewis Center directors for review and determination of viability.
  2. Based on initial review and requests for additional information, proposals are subsequently forwarded to CSA for study abroad approval.
  3. Proposals that request a new credited course (typically 2 credits), and supported by the Lewis Center and CSA, are submitted to CAP for final consideration and course approval.

Conferences & Events

Celebrating Collaborations

The annual Celebrating Collaborations: Students and Faculty Working Together conference showcases and celebrates the scholarly work of Smith College students. Students present the results of their senior theses, independent study projects, research seminars and other creative work as part of oral sessions, panels, poster sessions, exhibits and performances. Projects are developed as a result of associations with the Kahn Liberal Arts Institute or Praxis, for example, and fall into categories ranging from science and technology, social, cultural and literary studies to the performing arts.

Smith in the World Conference

The annual Smith in the World Conference celebrates the incredible off-campus work students achieve through internships, community service, study abroad, and research. The conference features presentations by student panelists who reflect on their experiences and the impact those experiences have had on their academic work and future plans.

Projects for Peace

Smith College undergraduate students are invited to participate in the United World College Scholars Program's Projects for Peace. The project encourages student initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship focusing on conflict prevention, resolution and reconciliation for a sustainable peace. The program is intended to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere, including in the United States. The most promising project will be awarded $10,000 for implementation.

See past projects and proposals.

About the Fund

Projects for Peace is funded by the Davis family to honor Kathryn W. Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist who died in April 2013 at the age of 106. Kathryn Davis believed that today's youth—tomorrow's leaders—ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

Eligibility

All Smith undergraduates are eligible to apply for this award. Students may apply individually or in groups. Seniors who complete the program over the summer after graduation are eligible for the award. Projects must be undertaken during the summer of the awarded grant.

Final Proposal Deadline
Friday, December 9, 2024

Final Proposal Decision
Mid-March, 2025

Proposal Requirements
Please see the Guidance webpage for proposal requirements and instructions. 

Submit
All submissions must be sent electronically to global@36837a.com, to the attention of:

Smith College 100 Projects for Peace Committee 
Lewis Global Studies Center

Notifications
Final decisions on all winning proposals will be announced in March. Acceptances are due shortly thereafter. Grant payments will be made shortly after all agreements have been received. 

Final Reports
Due: September 9, 2023 to the LGSC office.

Each funded project must submit a final report. Please see the Final Reflection section of the Guidance webpage for requirements. 

Funding Global Experiences

The Fellowships Office, the Office for International Study and the Lazarus Center for Career Development advise students and alumnae applying for international fellowships (such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Fulbright, Luce and NSEP) and for international internships and jobs. Also, the Office for International Study allocates funds for international experiences.

Academic departments typically provide links to opportunities for research and grants for funding; be sure to check the department's website and connect with your academic adviser to see what's available.

International Experience Funding Fellowships Praxis Other Funding Sources