Roles & Responsibilities

Student Teams’ Roles & Responsibilities

University of Michigan graduate or undergraduate students registered in the semester when the research would occur may form small teams of four to six members, identify a willing faculty supervisor, and submit bids for a project.

Students are welcome to assemble a team that includes colleagues from your school or department or to form an interdisciplinary team with members from various campus units. Your team should include either graduate or undergraduate students, but not a mix of both. You should try to build a team with relevant background knowledge and research skills, but there is no expectation that all of you will have in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand.  Demonstrated interest,  general academic and professions skills, and strong team cohesion are also valued qualities.

International students: the State Department has informed WDC that it considers participation in Diplomacy Lab to be an academic or co-curricular program and not as an internship, externship or other work arrangement for purposes of student visa requirements.

Faculty Roles & Responsibilities

Faculty supervisors play an important part in Diplomacy Lab. They provide guidance and direction to student teams throughout the life of the project. Faculty supervisors also serve as the principal point of contact between the project team and the State Department unless or until the State Department officials involved agree to the designation of a student to serve as the designated point of contact. At or before the start of the term, faculty supervisors should help arrange an introductory meeting between the student team and the State Department officials involved. Faculty supervisors also should plan to attend at least one mid-term check-in meeting and the students’ final presentation, and they are responsible for soliciting feedback from the State Department at the conclusion of the project.

Faculty supervisors may opt to conduct Diplomacy Lab as an extracurricular activity or as a credit-earning independent study, subject to the applicable rules in their home schools or departments. University of Michigan faculty interested to lead a project may contact WDC for further information.

Selecting a Faculty Supervisor

All  Diplomacy  Lab projects require an active and engaged faculty supervisor.  As noted above, your faculty supervisor will provide guidance throughout the semester and will serve as the main point of contact for the  State  Department officials working with your team.  It is naturally good to select a supervisor with relevant topical expertise, but it is equally important that your supervisor be available to commit the necessary time and dedication to your project.