Connections USA On-campus Summer Program at the University of South Alabama
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Date: July 1-22,2018 Location: University of South Alabama |
Director: Dr. Nicholas Gossett Contact: ngossett@southalabama.edu |
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Highlights: 3 USA credit hours for Alabama students, learning in a cross-cultural environment, a rich cultural program, and on-campus college experience. |
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The Connections USA program is meant to bring together high school students (ages 15-18) from Alabama and Russian in a cross-cultural educational environment. Students from Alabama will spend part of the time learning Russian language and culture while their Russian peers will learn American studies. During this program, students will be divided into groups and complete a project to present during the final day of the program. The final project will follow current methods in Project Based Learning (PBL). Students will identify a problem and work together to present a possible solution involving the university and the community. The main purpose of this program is to create connections between the youth in Alabama and Russia, the university, and the city of Mobile.
Often people focus on the differences between two cultures, the Connections USA program, however, will focus on the similarities between people around the world, using the Five Pillars of Culture as the major framework for the thematic units in this program. Each part of the program will include a thematic unit highlighted by a specific excursion or event to focus on a specific pillar. The pillars we are focusing on for this program are:
Symbols - Family focuses
Values - Education
Language - Language (cross-cultural communication)
Beliefs - Pluralism
Customs - Food/Traditions/Holidays
From - Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (University of Minnesota)
Students from Alabama high schools will be registered for LG 171 (Introductory Russian I - 3 credit hours) and attend Russian language and culture classes from 9:30AM-12:30PM daily Monday - Friday. The course will be taught by Dr. Nick Gossett (Assistant Professor, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature). Tutors for the Alabama students to practice their Russian will be made available in the residence halls from 1:30PM-3:30PM Monday - Thursday.
Russian students will attend a series of lectures and seminars on various aspects of American culture and the American view on the world given by graduate students from various departments (English, Political Science, and History) as well as high school/college educators will present. Some examples of seminars we look to offer:
Both Alabama and Russian students will take part in a group project the duration of the program. This project, based in Project-Based Learning, will consist of the students identifying a problem/issue and working together to come up with a viable solution or plan. This type of activity will not only strengthen the bonds between the students but also give them the 21st century skills needed to succeed in our ever-globalizing world!
| June 30 | Arrival Day |
| July 1 | Orientation Day |
| July 2 | Classes Begin |
| July 4 | Independence Day Celebration - Duck Boat Tour of Mobile Bay and Cookout |
| July 6 | Visit Montgomery (Governor’s mansion, Southern Poverty Law Center, and others) |
| July 7/ 8 | Beach Day |
| July 13-15 | Visit New Orleans (WWII museum,other museums, restaurants, jazz music etc.) |
| July 20 | College Tour |
| July 21 | Closing dinner and project presentation |
| 08:30 AM - 09:15 AM | Assembly/Breakfast |
| 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Classes |
| 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM | Lunch (Cafeteria) |
| 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM | Rec Center/Pool/Open Time/Tutors |
| 03:30 PM - 06:00 PM | Group Projects/Applied Learning |
| 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM | Dinner (Cafe or Cooking Demonstration) |
| 08:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Evening Assembly |
| 10:30 PM | Lights-out |
(Most weekdays will follow this schedule; unless an excursion is planned.)
Students will live in university residence halls on campus at the University of South Alabama. Depending on enrollment numbers, Alabama students and Russian students will be partnered up as roommates to provide additional cultural exchange opportunities. Residence hall rooms are two-person hotel-style rooms with ensuite bathrooms, refrigerators, and individual air conditioning units. Students will have access to the residence halls via scancard access. Residence-life and maintenance staff are available 24 hours a day to assist students living in the residence halls.
Students will be provided two meals per day (lunch and dinner). Meals will be served
in our buffet-style cafeteria, The Fresh Food Company, located in the residential area. Some meals will be provided as a cooking demonstration
where students will learn about traditional dishes in the Southeastern United States
and Russia. Students wishing to have breakfast will have the opportunity to purchase
breakfast for $7.00 at the cafeteria or to purchase groceries and keep them in their
rooms.
*Bed linens are provided and included in the cost of the program. Alabama students
should bring their own pillows. Pillows will be provided for Russian students and
is included in the cost of the program.
There are three categories of domestic students based on where the student resides. The table below lists the appropriate cost by region. The following is included in the cost of the program:
Regardless of which category, every domestic student for Connections USA must meet both of the following criteria:
| Domestic Students within the University's service area | $1699 |
| Alabama Residents from outside the University's service area | $2699 |
| Students from outside of Alabama or the University's service area | $3699 |
| University of South Alabama Service Area: Residents of Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, and George, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Perry, and Stone counties in Mississippi | |
The total cost of the program is $1999. The following is included in the cost of the program:
Russian Students