Study Abroad Office, University of Illinois

Global Studies 298

Education and Development in Andean Ecuador
Lumbisi, Ecuador

Spring/Summer Faculty-Led Program Abroad
Sponsored by: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Study Abroad Office

On Campus Class Meetings: Class meets Wednesdays from 5-7pm starting March 17 until May 7, building/room TBA
Program Dates Abroad: June 29 to August 9, 2014

***This year, this is a 6-credit hour course with 6 weeks in Ecuador***

Application Deadline: March 1, 2014
 

Overview Course Description Program Eligibility Academics Student Life Additional Resources Application Information Program Fee Scholarship Opportunities Withdrawal, Change of Program, or Cancellation Policies Passport/Visa Information Contact Information

Course Description

See a presentation describing this year's course here: GLBL298-Ecuador-Recruitment-2013-14.pdf

• teaching and leading young people in the areas of: language, environment, sports and wellness, arts
• the role of education in a nation’s development
• NGOs and their impact
• developing Spanish skills and cultural immersion in Ecuador
• global citizenship and community service

To read a comprehensive course description and tentative syllabus for this program, please view the following link: GLBL 298 Ecuador Syllabus_Tentative.pdf 

***This year, this is a 6-credit hour course with 6 weeks in Ecuador***

Group Flight: As part of the Program Fee, the Study Abroad Office will organize a group flight for this course, as long as there are more than 10 participants.  The group flight is MANDATORY.  All group flights will be departing from and arriving at Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Program Eligibility

• Application Requirements:  UIUC undergrads 
• Language of Instruction: English
• *While there are no formal pre-requisites for this program, you should have at least some basic Spanish knowledge.  Talk with Professor Grim-Feinberg if you are uncertain that your skills will be sufficient, or if you have no Spanish, to explore possibilities for working on this project.  Students who bring discipline-specific knowledge in certain areas, such as health and wellness or science education, may still be able to contribute significantly to the project and work with fellow students who serve as translators.

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Academics
 

This course will be worth 6 credits.
 
Class meets Wednesdays from 5-7pm starting March 17 until May 7, building/room TBA .

Program Dates: June 29 to August 9, 2014
 
*Program dates and fees are subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuations and the number of participants.
 
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Student Life

Housing: Participants will stay with a host family (usually 1 student/family) in the small semi-rural community, called Lumbisi, where we work and can walk back and forth to the school-camp each day.  Lumbisi is about 45 minutes from Quito center and about 10 minutes to more urban community where the University of San Francisco de Quito is.  Lumbisi is around 8000 feet in elevation.

 
Meals: Will be included with housing. Students may pay for some meals on excursions.

Free time:  Participants enjoy time with their host families, hanging out in the town's central square, catching up with friends at local internet cafes, or visiting nearby urban areas, including Quito, that have many of the free-time activities that Americans are used to.  Travel during free time is usually by public bus.  Group travels around Ecuador during the weekends to get to know diverse peoples and places that make up Ecuador.
 
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Additional Resources

• Ecuador Country Info
  • U.S. Department of State Country Profile
• Ecuador News Sources
  • ABZY News Links
• Ecuador Travel Info
  • Lonely Planet – Ecuador

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Application Information
 
Application Process
Apply for this program through the Study Abroad Office. In order to determine if program expenses will be Financial Aid eligible, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at 217-333-0100 as soon as possible. All participants are expected to adhere to the policies and procedures of the University of Illinois Study Abroad Office. 
 
Click the "Apply Now" button on this web page to apply. Note that you will be charged a non-refundable $25 application fee by clicking "Apply Now."
 
You may apply to only one program per term. Please consider your program options carefully before beginning a new program application, as you will be charged a non-refundable $25 application fee each time you begin a new program application by clicking "Apply Now."
 
Application Components
Program applications vary. All SAO-sponsored, faculty-led course abroad applications include: 

• An unofficial Illinois Transcript (not required for first semester Freshmen)
• Photocopy of Passport or receipt verifying application or renewal of passport
• Signature verification form (downloadable from your online application)
• 5 short-answer essay questions
• Online questionnaires and online signature documents
• Note: NO letters of recommendations are required for SAO-sponsored, faculty-led courses abroad

 
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted by the deadlines established by the Study Abroad Office for timely review. The Study Abroad Office reviews program applications as a batch after the deadline has passed. The decision dates listed below indicate the earliest possible date that a student's application may be reviewed. Most decisions will be released two to three weeks after each deadline.
 
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Program Fees
If the Study Abroad Office nominates or accepts you to the study abroad program you have applied for, the Study Abroad Office will bill your Illinois student account a non-refundable $305 advance fee.  This fee will be deducted from the final cost of your program fees; however, please note that this fee is not refundable should you decide to withdraw from the study abroad program.
 
2014 ESTIMATED PROGRAM FEE: $3,300 - $3,500
*Please note: this year's program has been increased from 4 to 6 weeks 
2013 PROGRAM FEE: $2,921
 
*Fees are subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuations and the number of participants.
 
Total cost is ESTIMATED and is BEFORE scholarships.
 
Program Fee Includes: Round-trip airfare Chicago-Quito, housing, most meals, program excursions, and international insurance
 
Program Fee Does NOT Include: Books (est. $25), optional cell phone rental ($50) and personal expenses (est. $500)
 
2014 TOTAL including off-budget expenses and program fee: $3,900 - $4,100
*Please note: this year's program has been increased from 4 to 6 weeks
2013 TOTAL including off-budget expenses and program fee: $3,396
 
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Scholarship Opportunities
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences receive a scholarship toward the program cost.  The amount varies depending on the program destination.  Scholarship amounts are announced when program fees for each program are announced.  Non-LAS students should contact their college about scholarship opportunities.  All participants should also apply for the Illinois for Illinois (I4I) Study Abroad Undergraduate Scholarship. For more information, click here.
 
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Withdrawal Policy
All withdrawals must be made by email to the Study Abroad Office. Online withdrawals without emails may result in extra charges. Withdrawal by 5:00 pm on March 1, 2014 loses only the $25 application fee. Withdrawal after having been accepted to the program loses the $305 advance payment. After committing to the program, the student is responsible for all costs incurred.
 
Change Policy 
To change an application, an applicant must withdraw from the original application and start another one. Such withdrawals will lose the original $25 application fee. To avoid confusion and double charges, all changes should be accompanied by an email to the Study Abroad Office.
 
Cancellation Policy
If a student is denied, they lose only the $25 application fee. If the University of Illinois cancels a program, the student loses the application fee but will receive a full refund of the advance payment and any other billed expenses.
 
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Passport/Visa Information
You must have a valid passport to participate on this program. If you do not already have a passport, or if it needs to be renewed, you must begin that process now, even before program acceptance. 
 
You may also be required to get a visa for your program.  Please consult the host country’s consulate website or a visa agency to determine whether or not a visa is required to travel to your destination country or countries.
 
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Contact Information
For any questions you may have or for more detailed information on the program, please contact the faculty leader, Prof. Kate Grim-Feinberg or Adam Heinz in the Study Abroad Office (SAO).  The SAO is located at:
 
910 S. Fifth Street
124 International Studies Building
Champaign, IL 61820
217-333-6322
 
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:45pm.  We are closed on holidays and when classes are not in session.
 
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