A domestic intercultural immersion experience at UW-Eau Claire is defined as a guided, critically- reflective intercultural experience outside the classroom designed to challenge and transform students' perspectives regarding cultural norms and values. People's beliefs, customs, experiences and environment create shared ways of perceiving and engaging in the world. Through dialogue and relationship building, students become more aware of and reflect on multiple perspectives. Guided, critical reflection is a key component to students' transformations as they seek a deeper understanding of another culture as well as their own. A meaningful engagement within the cultural environment inspires students to analyze the foundational assumptions that govern their thoughts and actions.
Goals of the Domestic Intercultural Immersion (DII) Experiences Program
- To engage learners firsthand with various cultures, populations and environments within the U.S.
- To deepen learners' understandings of intercultural dynamics as they relate to the UW-Eau Claire Liberal Education Learning Goals.
Context/Funding Sources of this RFP
In its fourth year of funding, these proposals are part of a Blugold Commitment proposal for 2011-2014 submitted by Jodi Thesing-Ritter, Student Affairs, in collaboration with Susan Turell, formerly of Academic Affairs. This project is designed to support implementation of pilot domestic intercultural immersion experiences for undergraduate UW-Eau Claire students. The project was also supported by a generous contribution by the Foundation. Projects may focus on issues, themes or locations with historical significance or current events and issues in the U.S. or on its borders.
Funding for this project could support staff and faculty to coordinate the details of student recruitment, development of the learning experience/curriculum and outcomes, travel costs for faculty/staff and students, and student worker stipends.
Eligibility Requirements and Priorities
Projects to receive DII funding must meet the following requirements. Immersion experiences will…
- Be intercultural/ cross-cultural,
- Occur within the US (i.e., domestic), but outside the Chippewa Valley,
- Tied directly to the UW-Eau Claire Liberal Education Learning Goals,
- Serve undergraduate students,
- Include pre- and post-experience guidance,
- Focus on an immersion experience of 5 full-days minimally (120 hours),
- Plan for growth in student involvement over the course of 3 years,
- Assess the students' learning on the project objectives and submit a final project report, and
- Be completed by June 30, 2014.
The following priorities are desirable, but not required for DII funding. Immersion experiences may…
- Be interdisciplinary,
- Provide a positive impact on the host community (volunteering, resources, etc.),
- Collaborative, and
- Sustainable.
Faculty/Staff Collaboration Opportunities
Having a team of interdepartmental faculty and staff to collaborate on Domestic Intercultural Immersion Experience projects enhances the experience for all involved and spreads the work load. Many Domestic Intercultural Immersion Experience project leaders have met at the bi-monthly Community of Practice meetings; however, you might be looking to find a team mate or join a team.
Please complete this web form if you are seeking a collaborator for a previously existing project, if you would like to join a project or if you would like to meet a colleague to build a new DII Experience project.
Deadline
The next deadline for proposal receipt in Undergraduate Studies (Schofield 208) is March 29, 2013. Proposals should be submitted electronically to Sarah Forcier. Please plan to submit your proposal for approval to all Chairs and Deans by March 15, 2013. The total number of projects funded depends on the number of applicants and the quality of the proposals.
Request for Proposals
The current RFP (Request for Proposals), budget sheet and the Proposal Format can be viewed here.
For additional information or questions:
Donna Lehmkuhl, Co-Coordinator for Logistics
Email: lehmkud@uwec.edu
Phone: 715-836-6011
Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, Co-Coordinator for Project Development
Email: reynolkm@uwec.edu
Phone: 715-836-4067
