Students from Rhetoric and Civic Life are welcomed to apply for a one-credit inaugural spring-break embedded trip to Ireland. Applications are due October 1.
Why we are going
The Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy awarded the 2019 Brown Democracy Medal to Irish scholars David Farrell and Jane Suiter who spearheaded various deliberation initiatives that led to the Irish Citizens’ Assembly, a landmark exercise in deliberation integrated with the Irish government. The Assembly resulted in tremendous legal and cultural change in Ireland, including the 2018 referendum to lift Ireland’s abortion ban. Students will travel to Ireland to learn from Irish scholars about the cultural context of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly.
What we’ll be doing
Working in groups, students will draw and expand upon their documentary-film-making skills and their newly practiced understanding of public deliberation to create a 12-15-minute documentary examining the social and political impact of the the Irish Citizens’ Assembly. To do this, students will interview Irish scholars, select participants in the Irish Citizens’ Assembly, and everyday citizens across the country about their perceptions of the deliberative project.
What will this cost?
The trip cost is $1,750. Students accepted into the program on October 15 will need to furnish a $500 deposit by November 1 to hold their place on the trip.
Costs included for this 11-day trip:
- One Penn State credit (CAS 199) if students are registered for 15 credits or more in Spring, 2020.
- All travel expenses, including airfare.
- All accommodations
- All entrance fees to sites and events on the official itinerary
- Nine breakfasts
- Two lunches
- Three dinners
$500 of additional spending money should be sufficient for food, optional activities, and souvenirs.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes! Lots of them! Check out this Embedded Program Funding Source Guide for Students.
More details about the Liberal Arts Enrichment Funds
Students with at least one major in the College of the Liberal Arts are encouraged to apply for Liberal Arts Enrichment Funds for the Spring 2020 semester. LA students participating in LA embedded programs are eligible to receive $750, which will be applied to their student bursar account. Applications will open in mid-Fall and you must submit an email confirmation from Professors O’Hara or Bedell documenting that you’ve been accepted to the program. Liberal Arts majors must submit an application through the Liberal Arts Enrichment Funds Application System to be eligible for funding. Only University Park and World Campus students are eligible for this funding.
And also…
Another potential PSU funding resource would be the Student Engagement Network grants. These tend to be quite competitive, though students are welcome to apply!
Questions? Email faculty leaders Lori Bedell (lab41@psu.edu) and Jessica O’Hara (jessicaohara@psu.edu).