Summer 2008 closed

May 15 - June 10, 2008

Sponsored by the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This three-week summer study abroad experience is based in the high Himalayan Range in the state of Uttaranchal, India. The focus of the program is ecology — the ecology of the mountains and their water, soil and forest systems; and the ecology of the people — their history, beliefs and livelihood systems. Students will spend the majority of the time trekking to the Pindari Glacier on the border of India and Nepal. While traveling, they will learn about the flora and fauna of the mountains, spend time studying the water and forest systems, stay in remote villages to learn about the people and their lives, and visit holy places to experience the spirituality of these sacred mountains.

The Kumaoni Hills in eastern Uttaranchal encompass some of the most beautiful and remote mountains in the Himalayan chain. Nanda Devi is the highest peak in India, towering to 7,816 meters. The Pindari Glacier is one of the many glaciers flowing down from these heights. This region is also an historic crossroads that supported the ancient trade between India and Tibet.

Today, the hill people are struggling to maintain their small farms and subsistence agriculture. The water sources are drying up as increasing deforestation and degradation of soils takes place. Some communities are developing facilities and services for trekkers and other tourists as a way to engage in the cash economy. Although ecotourism is increasing, it does not replace the livelihoods that are being destroyed. Young people tend to migrate to the plains and the older generation struggles to survive. However, within this scenario, many committed people and organizations are working to rehabilitate the ecosystems and to find new sources of income for the people. Organic agricultural products are increasingly being sought by urban consumers. The fruits, flowers and medicinal plants of the region are being processed as alternatives to commercial health products. And the arts and crafts of the region are being recognized for their unique value. This study abroad program will investigate these forces and evaluate the strategies being employed to assist these mountain people in maintaining their lifestyles in a changing economy.

The Pindari Glacier trek will start in the small hill station, Mukteswar, where students will have two days of short hikes and visits to typical family homes to help them adjust to the region and prepare for the physical challenges of the trek. The actual trek (including a side trek to Kafni Glacier) takes 8-10 days, but students will take 11 days so they can visit villages and other places of interest along the way. The trek starts in the village of Song, just beyond Bageshwar, an old trading center. It follows a well-established trail having dhaba (tea stalls) and overnight huts or tenting locations provided by the government for trekkers. Point Zero, the end of the trail at the Pindari Glacier, is approximately five kilometers from Phurkia, the last stopping place before the glacier. The route takes trekkers over roaring rivers, through mountain valleys with glacial water falls and along narrow mountain trails. Pindari glacier is situated between the Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot peaks.

Following the trekking experience, the students will return to Mukteswar and spend two days reflecting on their experiences, developing their papers, and presenting their projects as part of their coursework. Returning to Delhi, students take a side trip to visit the famous Taj Mahal, palaces and other historic attractions in Agra. A day of local sightseeing and shopping will top off the adventure.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of six (6) credits (appropriate to their major) from the following courses or others:

AEE 475	International Studies in ANR Communications and Agricultural Science	1-6 cr.
FW 480	International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife	1-6 cr.
PRR 410	International Studies in Tourism, Parks and Recreation	1-6 cr.
ESA 480	Environmental Studies Abroad	1-6 cr.
SSC 496	International Field Work	1-6 cr.
ISS 310	Integrated Studies in the Social Sciences: Ecology of the Mountains	4 cr.
XXX 490	Independent Study	1-6 cr.

Some students will take one four (4)-credit course and one two (2)-credit course. Alternatively, students may choose to take one six (6)-credit course or two three (3)-credit courses. Students receive a single grade for all the credits, regardless of the credit arrangement and course selection. In the past, students have studied forestry management issues, water quality and access, eco-tourism impacts, local health systems, family systems and packaging issues. Graduate students who choose to participate can be provided relevant graduate credits (talk with instructors).

TENTATIVE PROGRAM ITINERARY

May 15:	Detroit to Amsterdam
May 16:	Amsterdam to Delhi, arriving very late at night
May 17:	Orientation to India/Delhi
May 18:	Train to Kathgodam and Mukteswar
May 19-20-21:	Acclimatization, Orientation Sessions and Field Trips in Mukteswar, trip to Nanital
May 22:	Travel to trailhead in Song/Loharket
May 23:	Loharket to Dhakuri
May 24:	Dhakuri to Khati
May 25:	Stay in Khati, meet community, project work
May 26:	Khati to Dwali
May 27:	Dwali to Valley beneath Pindari
May 28:	To Pindari and return to Dwali
May 29	To Kafni Glacier and overnight at Kafni
May 30:	Return to Dwali
May 31:	Dwali to Khati
June 1:	Khati  -- project work
June 2:	Khati to Dhakuri
June 3:	Dhakuri to Loharket
June 4:	Return to Mukteswar
June 5-6:	Debriefing, work on/present projects in Mukteswar
June 7:	Drive to Kathgodam, night train to Delhi
June 8:	In Delhi (sightseeing, shopping)
June 9:	To Agra (e.g., Taj Mahal, palaces, marble-carving studio)
June 10:	In Delhi, celebration dinner, flight home Delhi-Ams-Detroit

What are the requirements?

The program is intended for mature, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. All students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students should be in good health and conditioned sufficiently to stand the rigors of trekking in the high Himalayan region.

An essay is required by all applicants at the time of application to share information about why the student is interested in the program and in what ways they have been involved previously in outdoor experiences.

Interviews will be held prior to admissions for those students who have not been enrolled in the FW 208 course (“Outdoor Preparedness”) taught by Dr. John Schwartz (although FW 208 is not required for enrollment in this trekking program).

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Accommodations will include youth hostel-type housing in Delhi and tents or lodges in the mountains.

 

Who can tell me more about this program?

Gail A. Vander Stoep
Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS)
131 Natural Resources Building
Phone: (517) 432-0266
E-mail: vanders1@msu.edu

Gail Vander Stoep is a faculty member in the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS) and works in areas of tourism, recreation resource management, interpretive communications, and sustainable community development. Gail has worked with the study abroad program in Australia, the Caribbean and India. She has traveled in the Himalayan region and, as a certified Wilderness Education Association instructor, has extensive experience in backpacking, climbing, and other outdoor activities.

John Schwartz
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (FW)
334 Natural Resources Building
Phone: (517) 353-9568
E-mail: schwartj@msu.edu

John Schwartz is a faculty member in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and teaches Outdoor Education. He is a former scuba instructor and is certified in dive rescue training. Dr. Schwartz has also taught study abroad programs in Belize, the Caribbean, Antarctica and Nepal.

Mary Andrews
MSU Extension
71 Agriculture Hall
Phone: (517) 432-3322
E-mail: mandrews@msu.edu

Mary Andrews, Director Emeritus of International Extension Programs at Michigan State University, was the original director of the program and will continue to assist in the organization of the program. Dr. Andrews lived and worked in India as a Peace Corps volunteer and is a regular traveler to the subcontinent. She and her husband, Harry, supervise the Spring Semester Study Abroad Program in India.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport, both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, because a minimum of twelve weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports, visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa. The passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. A visa is required for travel to India and is available through the Consulate in Chicago.

For more information about visas visit the following Web page :http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations, visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $2,765 and includes the following:

Students may request a cost sheet that estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges, or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students), visit the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting the following Web page: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu