Community Engagement and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Issues in the Peruvian Andes

Summer 2010

May 24 – August 10, 2010

Sponsored by the Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arts & Letters, Engineering, Social Science, the Residential College in Arts & Humanities, and James Madison College

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

At its core, this program offers opportunities for small interdisciplinary teams of MSU students to engage in community-based applied research and development projects for five weeks under the guidance of appropriate MSU faculty and the supervision of local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and municipal entities sensitive to the needs of underserved communities in the Andean highlands of Peru. 

To adequately prepare students for their community engagement projects and to become agents of development in complex intercultural environments, students will complete: 1) a series of pre-departure academic, orientation, and planning activities on the MSU campus during the spring semester and the first week of the summer semester; 2) a course on Andean history, culture, social structure and community development taught for one week at MSU followed by five weeks in Cusco, the ancient and modern cultural heart of Peru, and 3) an intensive Spanish language course in Cusco combined with homestays.

Marginally spanning Spring and the Summer semesters, this program therefore consists of three interrelated core components:

1. Pre-departure academic, project planning, and orientation activities
2. Intensive Spanish language and social science instruction combined with an immersion experience in Cusco
3. Community engagement internship and field research project in the city of Huamachuco, Peru. 

Pre-departure work is designed to connect students to MSU faculty mentors to begin preparations for community engagement projects in Peru, while the immersion experiences in Cusco and Huamachuco are designed to enable students to cultivate Spanish language competencies and to acquire the knowledge and understanding of Andean culture and society to effectively function in the Andean communities where they will complete field experiences. 

The community engagement projects provide a context for students to address complex social, economic, environmental, and health and nutrition challenges facing Andean communities and to apply their academic and cultural knowledge, plus their language and professional skills in partnership with local community organizations to advance outcomes in development. 

SCHEDULE:

Spring Semester: 

Students assigned to small teams and begin work on community development projects under the mentorship of MSU professors.

Summer:

What can I study?

All students will be required to enroll for a minimum of 13 credits in the following coursework:

• Intensive Spanish (SPN, 6 credits)
• Interdisciplinary Study in Social Science with a focus on Andean culture, society, and community engagement (ISS 330C, 4 credits, pending approval)
• International Field Experience, Internship or Field Research with public or private organizations involved in community development (3-6 credits in one of six co-sponsoring colleges)

The three core components of this program are as follows:

1. Pre-program team preparation and planning of projects for implementation in Peru 

Spring semester prior to study abroad program (approximately 12 hrs): Faculty with the appropriate expertise will be recruited from the co-sponsoring colleges to advise and provide technical guidance to the individual teams of students in defining the development problems, seeking relevant information, designing applied field research and development projects to be conducted in Peru, and acquiring the needed resources to implement the projects.  Group meetings of all participants will be convened throughout the spring semester to discuss such issues as methods for conducting field research, community development challenges and strategies in cross-cultural settings, and orientations on safety, health and living conditions in Peru.

One week prior to study abroad program: Students will complete 15-20 hours of instruction in social capital, plus social, economic environmental, health and political challenges facing highland Andean communities and their relevance to implementation of community engagement projects in Peru.

2. Immersion Experience in Cusco

Spanish language acquisition: The goal is to enable each student to develop adequate Spanish proficiency to effectively complete their field experience/field research/internship within a highland Andean community.  During the initial four-and-a-half weeks that students are in Peru, they will receive 80 hours of intensive formal Spanish instruction (over a five-week period) at a certified Spanish language institute, Academia Latinoamericana de Español in Cusco.  Spanish language acquisition will continue through lectures in Spanish, home stays with Spanish speaking families, completion of reports in Spanish, and the use of Spanish while working on the community development projects in the Andean communities.

Andean culture and society: The first week of the course will be taught on the MSU campus (20 hours of instruction) followed by 45-60 hours of instruction in Peru.  The thematic foci of the course will be on origin and history of Andean cultures, social and political organization, impact of the La Conquista Espanola on Andean societies, literature, Andean traditions and religious practice, impact of globalization on modern day communities, challenges to social and economic development of present day Andean communities, etc.
 

3. Community Engagement Projects in Northern and Southern Peru

Small teams of two to three students will complete a five-week internship/field experience under the supervision of NGOs and municipal leaders active in community development work within specific communities in the Andes of Peru.  Concurrently, students will complete community engagement projects which involve applied research and/or training activities that contribute to developmental outcomes.  MSU students will live in communities either with host families or in housing facilities arranged by a host NGO.  Students will be assigned to an organization staff person who will provide direct oversight, facilitation and coordination of project activities in the target community(ies).  MSU faculty will be on-site to mentor the students on the implementation of community development projects, to provide technical consultations to the NGOs, and to assist with field research as needed.  MSU faculty will be viewed as a resource to the partner NGOs in areas where they have expertise.

Current plans for 2010 are to assign students to community development projects within the highland city of Huamachuco and surrounding communities in the Provincia de Sanchez Carrion, La Libertad, in Northern Peru.

Teams of students will complete projects under the supervision of Casa Marcelino/Proyecto Amigo, the municipal offices of Huamachuco, the Colegio San Jose (a private school for special needs children and offices of various government ministries (e.g., agriculture, education, health, women), all of which are actively involved in providing services to the poor within the community.  Examples of possible community development/field research projects include: providing educational programs to poor child laborers within Huamachuco; design and construction of affordable solar technologies; assessment and promotion of tourism; development of nutritious foods and nutrition education programs to address child malnutrition; enhancing productivity and markets for native potato and horticulture crops; improving social services for abused and abandoned women; and genetic improvement of alpaca for wool production.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.  A minimum of two years of college-level Spanish or the equivalent is desirable.

Applicants are also required to prepare a brief proposal of a community engagement/field research project which they desire to complete in Peru.  Discussion of student academic interests and preparedness as related to the proposed project will be the focus of an interview with faculty study abroad program coordinators prior to admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will stay in a variety of accommodations including homestays, apartments, hostels, and residence halls.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Irvin Widders
Dry Grain Pulses CRSP
321 Agriculture Hall
Phone:  (517) 355-4693

Dr. Brian S. Thompson, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
2450 Engineering Building
Phone: (517) 355-2179

Dan Dutkiewicz
Institute of International Agriculture
319 Agriculture Hall
Phone: (517) 355-0184

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.  It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee for 2009 was $2,808 and included the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• some meals
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Additional costs not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• additional meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs were estimated at $3,685 (summer 2009).  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.