México-U.S. Border Immersion Faculty Seminar

Please complete this survey to apply for the 2016 México-U.S. Border Immersion Faculty Seminar supported by the Center for Social Concerns. Assistant Professor of Sociology Kraig Beyerlein is organizing this seminar (he has directed the undergraduate one for the past 5 years, and is doing so again this year). Review the description below to make sure you can meet all requirements before applying.

The Center for Social Concerns invites Notre Dame faculty, staff, and their partners to apply for the México-U.S. Border Immersion Faculty Seminar. The seminar will expose participants to various perspectives about immigration issues, especially those related to the México-U.S. border. In the fall there will be three 75-minute seminar meetings, including one with the undergraduate student participants, to discuss the seminar readings. These readings will focus on why migrants leave their home countries, the struggles they face during the journey, how U.S. citizens are responding, and possible policy solutions.

From January 2-7, 2016, faculty and local community partners will participate in an immersion trip to the Southern Arizona borderlands (undergraduate students will also be present, but will generally have separate activities). Borderlinks (www.borderlinks.org) will facilitate the trip, which will include observing Operation Streamline legal proceedings; attending and participate in humanitarian efforts; touring a Border Patrol and detention facility; visiting a migrant shelter in Nogales, Sonora; and hearing from faith leaders about their current and past border activism. A primary focus of the seminar will be the intersection of religion—especially Catholic Social Teachings—and border and immigration issues.

The immersion welcomes Notre Dame faculty and staff, their partners, and local community partners who address immigration issues in the South Bend area. Graduate students are eligible for the undergraduate seminar rather than this one. Preference will be given to applicants who consider ways of connecting their seminar experience to courses or related issues in the local South Bend area, such as developing a community-based learning course with local community partners.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 22, 2015

IMMERSION LOCATION: Southern Arizona Borderlands

IMMERSION DATES: January 2–7, 2016

SEMINAR MEETING DATES: TBA

SIZE: 13-16 Notre Dame faculty and staff, their partners, and local community partners

SEMINAR COSTS:
-- $2,000 Seminar Fee. Covers double occupancy hotel ($2,250 fee for single occupancy), travel on site, tour guides, and administration costs.
-- ~$400 Airfare to and from Tucson, AZ. Participants make their own arrangements and pay directly in addition to seminar fee. Participants need to arrive early evening on Jan. 2 and not leave until Jan. 7. We recommend Southwest Airlines out of Midway in Chicago.
-- ~$100 Additional Spending Money. Covers meals during travel, incidentals on-site, etc.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
-- The agenda is subject to change in response to needs of community partners and changing conditions at the site.
-- The seminar will only run if we confirm at least 10 faculty participants by the deadline.
-- Participants must have a passport valid for crossing into Mexico in January.
-- Participants must be physically able to participate in a difficult 5 mile hike into the desert (or sit out that activity).

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Email address

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* 3. Title

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* 4. Department or Unit

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* 5. Status

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* 6. Does your participation depend on the acceptance of another applicant? If so, please name that person here.

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* 7. Spanish is helpful but not required for this trip. We just want to know who has what level of the language.

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* 8. Please check here that you have read and understand the costs associated with the seminar. The Center for Social Concerns cannot provide funding for Notre Dame employees or partners. Applicants should only apply if they are able to secure funding on their own.

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* 9. The Center for Social Concerns promotes and practices the pedagogy of community-based learning in which academic preparation and deep reflection are critical components into which experiences such as travel to the México-U.S. border are embedded. We ask that participants be willing to learn with us and not just travel with us by participating fully in the readings and discussions Professor Beyerlein arranges for the group. We will do our best to arrange times to accommodate participants' schedules. Please acknowledge here that you understand and are willing to participate fully in this dimension of the experience.

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* 10. The México-U.S. Border Immersion Faculty Seminar includes a difficult 5 mile hike through the desert. Please acknowledge here if you would join or decline that experience.

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* 11. Will you have a valid passport for crossing into México at the time of our immersion?

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