Cross Cultural Experiences are a key component of Bluffton University’s gen ed program for juniors, seniors and some sophomores. The applications for these programs opened at 7 am on Wednesday, Oct. 12 and will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Short-term opportunities for May 2023 include:
The Returning to the Roots of Civil Rights bus tour is led by Tyson Goings, the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion along with Todd Allen, vice president of diversity affairs at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. This experience costs $2,500. This is one of two trips that requires a COVID-19 vaccination. These tours consist of engagement activities with civil rights leaders and visiting landmarks. There is a 30-student maximum. This is the first time Bluffton University is offering this experience.
Ecuador is a great trip for MLS, Nursing, and STEM majors as it has a focus on volunteering at the Centro Medico clinic in Cuenca. This trip is led by Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Lehman and has a program fee of $3,500. COVID-19 and Hepatitis B vaccines are required. Passports are also required. This is the first time Bluffton University is offering this experience.
Photo taken during the May 2022 short term experience in the Czech Republic. Photo provided by senior Grace Zickafoose.
The Focus on the Holocaust trip has stops in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The trip is led by Associate Professor of History Martina Cucchiara and husband Mike and has a fee of $4,900. The trip educates students on the experiences of the Jews and Poles during WWII. Students will have the chance to visit castles and other historical landmarks. Passport and visa are required. While this experience has been postponed more than once since the original offering in May of 2020, this is the first time Bluffton University students will be going on this experience.
The Sharing with the Appalachian People trip in Kentucky is coordinated by the Mennonite Central Committee and led by Professor of Mathematics Darryl Nester. The program fee is the cheapest of all other options being $1,250 dollars. The trip includes volunteering at a church camp, hiking, live music and visits to cultural sites.
The last short-term cross cultural experience offered for May 2023 is Korea. This is a trip provided for members of Bluffton’s University Chorale and those interested in joining. This is a choir concert tour that focuses on learning the history of victims of WWII and the Korean War. This trip is led by the Director of Choral Activities Bo Young Kang and has a fee of $5,900 dollars. Passports are required. This is the first time Bluffton University is offering this experience.
“One thing to mention is that of these short-term experiences offered for next May, four of them are brand new that we haven’t done before. Civil rights, Ecuador, Holocaust, South Korea are all new ones.” said Paul Neufeld-Weaver; professor of Education and Spanish, Director of Global Education, and International Student Advisor.
From left, Haley Byrnes, senior Exercise Science major, Paige Myers, senior Social Work major and cross-cultural leader Emily Buckell during May 2022 short term experience in Guatemala. Photo provided by Haley Byrnes.
There are also semester-long abroad experiences that Bluffton offers. Some of which include Chicago, Greece, Guatemala, and Washington D.C. Sign-ups for these trips can take place at any time.
For more information, students can contact Elaine Suderman, Asst. Director of Cross-cultural Programs at sudermane@bluffton.edu.
