The Service Learning Student

Park Guell

The Service Learning in Barcelona Program seeks students who are energetic and want to work, both intellectually and physically, to be involved, and to get to know people of other cultures. This asks for independence, adventurousness, curiosity, and flexibility. Those who enroll must be willing, literally and figuratively, to roll up their sleeves.

All students are expected to be punctual, and to participate in every scheduled activity, to give assiduous attention to the requirements of their Community Service projects, to demonstrate appropriate respect for the customs and mores of the local culture, and to follow the program rules described in the handbook. The Program reserves the right to dismiss students who are unable to meet these expectations.

Back to top

La Sagrada Familia

Orientation is an important element of the program. The goal is to help students become active participants in the study and service projects, thoughtful observers of the Spanish, and good guests in Barcelona. We want students to acquire or perfect the skills needed to observe, learn, discover, become self-reflective, enjoy, contribute, and benefit from everything that is available to them during the month.

Before coming to Barcelona, students will be sent a few short readings on community service and cross-cultural education. On arrival, participants will learn the public transportation system, necessary safety precautions, facilities in the Service Learning center's neighborhood — banks, post office, small groceries, cafés, and parks. Students will quickly become acquainted with one another and with the faculty and staff, and will get right down to work by joining in a service project, beginning Spanish classes, getting first-hand knowledge of the city and its sites, and gaining the self-confidence and experience necessary to engage with Barcelona and her residents and be more than tourists or casual visitors.

Back to top

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Barcelona. They will be met at their point of arrival — airport, train station, or bus terminal — and accompanied to the Service Learning center. The procedure will be reversed on departure.

Back to top

Students and staff are housed at the Residence. They will have either an individual room (with shower, toilet, and sink) or a double room with interior sink and bathroom facilities off the public corridor.

Back to top

Meals

Breakfast and dinner are provided each day. Students are responsible for their own lunches. Many will share a meal with people at the community service site. Others may buy a sandwich or meet friends in an inexpensive local restaurant. Evening meals at the Residence are prepared and served by a staff cook. Twice each week dinners out in the city provide an unusual opportunity for a small group of students to experience Barcelona life by dining with a faculty member or guest.

Back to top

Local Transportation

All participants in the program will be given a monthly Metro pass for travel in the city. Trains will be used for study travel and explorations outside of Barcelona proper.

Back to top

Costs and Refund Policy

A modest amount of need-based financial aid is available.

The $50 application fee should be submitted with the paper copy of the application. Students who apply on line are asked to send the application fee separately. The $1,500 enrollment fee is requested after the student has been accepted into the program. Bills will be sent in the spring. Payment is requested by May 1.

If a student needs to withdraw after enrollment up until June 1, all fees paid, minus $300, will be refunded. If the student withdraws between June 1 and June 30, 60% of the program fee will be refunded. For withdrawal after June 30, there is no refund.

Back to top

Financial Aid

While hewing fairly closely to standard financial aid practices, our goal is to simplify the process as much as possible. To help us make reasonably equitable yet reasonably speedy decisions, please send us the following—by mail, E-mail or fax:

1. A copy of the front page of your 2008 or 2009 tax return
2. A letter in which you tell us the following:
   
   
   1. Word about any net tuition paid for children in your family (i.e. school or college fees, minus any scholarship offered).
   2. A brief description of any unusual expenses for your family.
   3. Given program costs, airfare and personal expenses, the dollar figure you estimate to which you can stretch to support the student in July.

Once we have your materials, we'll get back to you very promptly with a decision.

Back to top

September 1, 2009
Application Period Opens

April 15, 2010
Application Deadline

July 4
Arrival in Barcelona

July 29
Last Day of Community Service

July 31
Departure

Back to top