Eastern Mennonite University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

EMU's three decade old "Cross-cultural" program is a highly immersive one semester or a 3-10 week summer experience, usually in the Global South or among other economically and culturally marginalized populations, that is required for all undergraduates at the university. Beginning in 2010, The program formally integrated sustainability into its learning outcomes and experiential learning objectives. According to the QEP Peace With Creation project guidelines, the Cross-cultural program now includes the following: “Students will learn how to evaluate the impact of their group’s travel during their cross-cultural experience through ecological footprint comparisons, logging of resource use, exploration of carbon offsetting, or similar exercises either while in the host country or during orientation. In addition, students will identify sustainability issues in their host community and explore how responses to these issues are reflective of the broader host culture. Upon returning to EMU, each cross-cultural group will be provided an opportunity to deliver a campus-wide presentation about their experience, including their learning and development with regard to environmental sustainability. Finally cross-cultural leaders will also report on sustainability efforts and learning experiences in their final written reports and debriefing.”