Migrant Experiences Seminar

THEO 33967 / CSC 33967

Seminar Learning Agreement

Immersion Dates:  Friday, March 7 - Saturday, March 14
Application Deadline: Thursday, Jan. 22nd

Size: 12 students

Cost: $250 and $75 for travel expenses

Application: (online application will be availible sometime in the fall)

Seminar Director: Angela Miller McGraw

Overview

The goal of the Migrant Seminar is to introduce students to the cultural and social issues surrounding migrant farm labor through experiential learning. Such learning creates a strong foundation of knowledge through direct participation, allowing the development of relationships capable of revealing the diversity, culture, and life challenges of migrant farm workers.

Exploration into the plight of migrant farm workers begins in the mandatory preparatory class sessions involving presentations, discussions, videos, and selected readings. The Seminar centers on a week-long trip to Immokalee, Florida during the semester break.

Explore Exposure Values: The Immokalee Justice Project. In this exhibit, Notre Dame student Matthew Searle went to the farming region of Immokalee, Florida, to document the lives and experiences of its residents. (Flash player required).

Course Objectives

1. To experience the joys, hopes and frustrations of migrant work through direct involvement in the fields and family homes.
2. To be open to the presence of the migrant workers and the people who serve the surrounding community, to be willing to listen and learn from their experiences, and to welcome the possibility of forming caring relationships.
3. To study the various forces and values functioning in the lives of the people of Immokalee through direct involvement with local people during the immersion.
4. To examine the social forces contributing to migrant work patterns and injustices, and reflect upon means to improve conditions; to delve into questions of social justice, societal attitudes, and one's own personal response.  Students will be expected to collaborate in this examination and produce written compositions of their reflections.

Course Requirements

This Seminar is a one-credit Theology or Center for Social Concerns course graded "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory". To receive an "S" grade the following must be completed during the spring semester to receive credit:

1. The student must attend and participate in all required classes before and after the immersion (see calendar for class dates and times).
2. Students are encouraged to work together to promote "community building" activities prior to the week in Immokalee.
3. The student must participate in all activities and site visits during the week in Immokalee, FL.
4. Completion of assigned readings, short reflection papers and a research paper (4-5 pages).
5. The final paper requirement can be fulfilled by completing a special project such as a video, website or photo essay on a particular issue, etc.   Group projects may also be done, but prior approval is required from the course instructor.

Application Process

• The deadline is January 22, 2008 (online application will be availible sometime in the fall).
• Saint Mary's College students must contact Sally Burns for application and registration instructions.
• By completing the application, you are agreeing to all requirements of the Migrant Experiences Seminar.
• All applicants will be notified regarding seminar selection by email on or before Sunday, January 25, 2008. If you are applying to more than one seminar, you will receive a single email noting whether or not you have been selected to participate.
  

Criteria for Selection

• The Seminar is open to any student in good standing at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College.   Admittance to the Seminar is based on a variety of factors. The primary criterion is expressed interest in the goals of the Seminar. Preference will be given to upper class students who may have fewer opportunities to participate in the future.
• We have a limited number of spots available. While previous study in social justice issues is not necessary, all participants are expected to be acquainted with the Seminar theme and to demonstrate how they might contribute to a Seminar learning community.

Course Registration

• You will receive email notification on a) whether you have been selected to participate in a seminar and b) which seminar you have been selected to participate in (this circumstance applies if you have applied to more than one seminar). Subsequently, the course instructor will email instructions for course registration, and you will need to register within the first seven days of the semester.
• Contact the Assistant Dean's office of your College if you are over the maximum number of credit hours (Maximum Hours Exceeded) allowed by your College. The assistant deans of your college will be able to grant special approval. Contact Sally Burns at the Center for Social Concerns if you have a class time conflict.

Fees and Expenses

• The cost of the Seminar is $250. This fee will be assessed through Student Accounts. This fee contributes to van rental, lodging, site fees and donations, gas, tolls, and food. Personal expenses are the responsibility of each student.
• If you are accepted and you decide not to participate in the Seminar before the final day to drop noted on the calendar below, your student account will be charged a $40 cancellation fee.   If you are accepted and you decide not to participate in the Seminar after the final day to drop, your student account will be billed the full $250.   (This is necessary because the Center has pre-paid expenses based on your acceptance into the program, which may have precluded someone else from participating.)
• Limited financial aid is available. To apply for financial aid, please contact Sally Burns prior to the first scheduled class.

Transportation, Meals and Personal Expenses

• Students who receive University Driver's Training drive themselves to New Orleans using 7-passenger mini vans. Vans are rented through local car rental agencies and are regularly serviced.
• We recommend that you bring an additional $75 for any personal items, snacks, or other items you may want to purchase. Students will be responsible for their meals while they travel to and from the site.
• A food allowance of $25 per participant will be given to those sites where meals are not provided.

Withdrawal from the Course

• Please notify the Seminar Director if extenuating circumstances prevent your participation in the Seminar.   Final day to drop is noted on the calendar below. To withdraw from this course, an Academic Course change form (obtained from the Center for Social Concerns), must be completed and signed by the Center's Seminar Director.   Saint Mary's students must complete the SMC drop-slip, signed by the student's academic advisor and the Seminar Director, and processed through the SMC Registrar.
• Drops after the final drop day and failure to follow proper withdrawal from course procedures will automatically result in a grade of "U."

The following websites may be of interest to you:

http://www.usccb.org/mrs/history.shtml United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Migration and Refugee Services.

http://www.ciw-online.org/  Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

http://www.cmfn.org/  Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network.

CALENDAR SPRING 2009

Thurs., Jan. 22, 2009
Online application deadline.

Sun., Jan. 25
Acceptance confirmed by email. If you apply to more than one seminar, you will receive ONE email for the seminar you have been admitted into.

Wed., Jan. 28
Last date to register. You must register with ND's online system by the end of the day.

Fri., Jan. 30

Final day to drop. Change of course forms must be turned into the CSC

Tues., Feb. 10
REQUIRED: Migrant Seminar Class I - Time and Location TBA

Tues., Feb. 17
REQUIRED: Migrant Seminar Class II - Time and Location TBA

Tues., Feb. 24
REQUIRED: Migrant Seminar Class III - Time and Location TBA

Tues., Mar. 3

REQUIRED: Migrant Seminar Class IV - Time and Location TBA

Thurs., Mar. 5

Seminar Send-Off Mass, 7 pm; Alumni Hall Chapel

Sun., Mar. 8 - Sat, Mar. 14
Immersion; exact dates and time TBA

Tues., March 24
REQUIRED: Migrant Seminar Class V - Time and Location TBA

Questions about registration specifically may be addressed to Sally Burns at the Center for Social Concerns (574) 631-5293.