UD Students Experience the World for J-Term
Feb 23, 2011 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
January 2011 marked the first full implementation of the University of Dubuque's January Term (J-Term) calendar. One J-Term option for students is structured time for off-campus (domestic and international) studies - this term included trips to Spain and France, China, the Bahamas, and New York City.
Service Learning in the Bahamas
Henry Pitman, director of the Wendt Center for Character Education, and Cari Simison, assistant professor of education, traveled with eight students to Marsh Harbor, Abaco Bahamas. Students participated in service work and practicum teaching experiences in Special Education. The students helped with researching, designing, and completing a sensory experience, a teachers' training workshop, and a challenge course for the Every Child Counts School for students with exceptional needs. Six of the students also participated in a Special Education practicum, teaching supervised lessons in classes with students with exceptional needs. Students experienced what it means to live on a small island with limited resources, and studied the history, government, education system, economy and culture of the Bahamas. The group, had the opportunity to explore some of the unusual natural features such as a Blue Hole, hurricane impacted beaches and offshore cays, and - of course - had the opportunity to " go beachin " as the Bahamians say.
Student travelers included:
Jordan Cowhey, senior, Algonquin, IL
David Fischer, senior, Oregon, WI
Kelsey Gruhn, sophomore, Lanark, IL
Amanda Hansen, sophomore, Crystal Lake, IL
Emily Riniker, senior, Dubuque, IA
Tina Schwager, junior, Bellevue, IA
Hillary Swenson, junior, Rockford, IL
Desiree Taylor, sophomore, Chicago, IL
Literature and Culture of China
From January 8-19, ten UD students, traveled with Nathan Faries, associate professor of English, and Eric Munshower, associate professor of business, to Beijing and Hong Kong for the first-ever UD study trip to the People's Republic of China. Participants walked the Great Wall, wandered through old imperial palaces, and climbed the second highest peak in Hong Kong (934 meters). Academic conversations centered around cultural contrasts between the two cities and questions of freedom vs. authoritarianism. The students could not use Facebook or Google - sensitive topics in Beijing, but they did participate in what one student called "trip of a lifetime."
Student travelers included:
Jacob Bahl, MBA candidate, Dubuque, IA
Tiffany Carey, junior, Bluffton, SC
Nicole Connolly, junior, Dubuque, IA
Naomi Hasselblad, senior, Galena, IL
Jacob Hurd, junior, Coralville, IA
James Kendell, senior, Bellevue, IA
Laura Kramer, senior, Dubuque, IA
Michael Malone, senior, Hanover, IL
Andrew Pierson, senior, Cherokee, IA
Cody Stuter, senior, Dubuque, IA
Literature and Culture of New York City
Eleven UD students, along with Jonathan Barz, professor of English, and Mary Anne Knefel, University librarian, traveled to New York City to experience the Literature and Culture of the Big Apple. The group stayed in midtown Manhattan, within walking distance of many of the great sites of the city. They took walking tours of Harlem and Greenwich Village, saw a Poetry Slam at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, toured Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, visited Ground Zero, walked on the Brooklyn Bridge, went to the topof the Empire State Building, took in the Broadway show Memphis . Students acclimated quickly to America's biggest city as they learned to navigate the subway system and find their way around.
Student travelers included:
Lindsay Bonnell, senior, Camanche, IA
Benjamin Carbajal, senior, Camanche, IA
Danielle Cash, sophomore, Ft. Wainwright, AK
Aimee Hornagold, senior, Crystal Lake, IL
Ann-Katherine Kimble, junior, Daegu, South Korea
Michelle Lautenschlager, senior, Oshkosh, WI
Emily Martin, senior, Swisher, IA
Anthony Noel, junior, Dubuque, IA
Heather Prosch, senior, Dubuque, IA
Ryan Tackitt, sophomore, Montgomery, IL
Paige Triervieler, sophomore, Dubuque, IA
Art and Culture of Spain and France
The Art and Culture of Spain and France course was led by Alan Garfield, associate professor of computer graphics and interactive media, and Mary Pregler-Belmont, assistant professor of physical education/health, wellness and recreation. Eighteen students traveled with professors Garfield and Pregler-Belmont to experience the old world culture of Spain and France. The academic portion of the course focused on helping students better understand Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassic art in these countries, but its experiential nature helped the students better understand themselves and their place in this global society. Highlights of the trip included discussing Velazquez' Las Meninas at the Prado in Madrid, viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and taking in the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Student Travelers Included:
Ashley Bliznick, junior, Algonquin, IL
Heather-Mae Bucich, senior, Dubuque, IA
Randi Busch, junior, Winnebago, IL
Elizabeth Caughron, junior, Bellevue, IA
Jamie Cota, senior, Eldridge, IA
Cody Coulson, junior, East Dubuque, IL
Justin Foht, junior, East Dubuque, IL
Kelli Foht, junior, Dubuque, IA
Raquel Herber, junior, Dubuque, IA
Mitchell Hubbel, senior, Guttenberg, IA
Chelsea Kittleson, senior, Stoughton, WI
Nicholas Meader, junior, Fairfield, CA
Matthew Meyer, senior, East Dubuque, IL
Devon Mullner, sophomore, Dubuque, IA
Kathryn Sauser, junior, Dubuque, IA
Susan Szymczak, senior, George, IA
Courtney Thompson, senior, Rockford, IL
Kristin Valant, junior, Bellevue, IA
