How can I pay for an immersion experience?
Our goal is for students to pay as little out-of-pocket as possible. However, ultimately the student is responsible for complete payment of their experience by the established deadlines.
The JCU immersion program provides fundraising training and materials. Many students fundraise the entire cost of their experience. Our most effective method has been for participants to ask those they have personal connections with (family, friends, former teachers, church/parish, etc.) for financial assistance through letter writing. Any money raised by individuals above-and-beyond their costs can be applied to another participant who is in need. Money raised beyond the groups’ needs will be donated to agencies the group will come in contact with during their experience.
Letter Writing: (download these helpful documents)
Tips for Writing a Personal Fundraising Letter 3 Sample Letters
Fundraising deadlines:
The deadlines for receiving donations for your account are the same as the payment schedule. That means that you should send out your fundraising letters early enough so that your donations will come in before the dates that payments are expected. If your donations exceed the amount you owe, then no out-of-pocket payment is expected from you. There is an exception to this rule with the first payment date. In lieu of your first payment, you may give us a stack of fundraising letters to send out for you. We will accept these as your first payment.
Information for Specific Experiences
Appalachia
- Appalachian Catholic Worker: http://www.acwfarm.com/
- Appalachia Institute at Wheeling Jesuit University: http://www.wju.edu/ai/default.asp
- Appalachian Regional Ministry: http://www.arministry.org/appalachianculture.asp
- Glossary of Words Important to the Appalachian Traveler: http://www.apptrav.com/glossary.html
- Rural Poverty Portal: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/
- Rural Sociological Society: http://www.ruralsociology.org/briefs/brief2.pdf
- West Virgina Mine War: http://www.wvculture.org/history/minewars.html
Ecuador
El Salvador
- Dean Brackley, S.J. – YouTube video introduction to the videos and the UCA
- Dean Brackley, S.J. – Country Overview
- Dean Brackley, S.J. – Religion in El Salvador
- Dean Brackley, S.J. – Migration to the U.S.
- Comunidad Oscar Arnulfo Romero (COAR)
- Jon de Cortina, S.J.
- FMLN – Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional)
- ARENA
- Dolores Medina Foundation
- Art Center for Peace (Sr. Peggy O’Neal)
- Shicali Ceramica
- Mujeres Transformando
- Casa de la Solidaridad
- CRISPAZ
Honduras
Jamaica
- Jamaica Power 106 FM Radio Station
- USAID Website
- USAID Office in Kingston, Jamaica
- Catholic Diocese of Mandeville Website
- History of Archdiocese of Kingston
- Passionist Volunteers International
Louisville
While no immunizations are required by law for the countries we visit, JCU strongly encourages receiving immunizations recommended by the Center for Disease Control. The immersion program will offer an opportunity every semester to receive immunizations from a medical professional at JCU’s Health Center.
Students may choose to visit their own doctor. All immunizations must be paid for by the student participant. Immunizations costs are above and beyond the cost of the immersion. The cost of visiting with the doctor at the Health Center is $37.50 plus the cost of the individual immunizations which average around $50 per shot. A list of the current prices can be found here.
For information about recommended immunizations visit the Center for Disease Control website at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx.
Please contact us for information about on-campus travel clinics!
Forms necessary for Immersion travel:
All international immersion experience participants are required to have a valid U.S. passport. In some countries, the passport must be valid for at least six months after the return date of your immersion experience (ie. If the return date is May 31, 2020, your passport must be valid until at least November 31, 2020).
If you need a passport, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html and follow the instructions. Be sure to apply for a passport book and not a card. A passport card only allows you to travel via ground transportation into Canada and Mexico.
Participants should begin the process of applying for a passport at least six months prior to their immersion experience departure date.
NOTE: The cost of your passport fee is not included in your experience cost. Students cannot be reimbursed for the cost of attaining a passport with fundraising money.
Participants are required to submit a copy of their passport with their commitment form, if available at the time of application.
If you have other questions, feel free to contact us at immersion@jcu.edu.
