Students study abroad, serve others and more during D-Term

D-Term is North Central College’s three-week period between Thanksgiving and Christmas when fall term and finals are over. Students are free to study abroad and engage in service, ongoing business projects, internships, independent research and life-enriching experiences.

Among the opportunities in 2012 are seven study abroad trips, including a new one for graduate students, with some 155 students and 14 faculty and staff participating. Each trip is a three-credit course with coursework prior to, during and after each trip.

“Study abroad during D-Term is part of North Central’s ongoing effort to internationalize the campus and community,” says Jack Shindler, director of international programs and professor of English. “It gives students who might not be able to study abroad for semester-long programs a chance to get some out-of-country experience and study. For some, it may fulfill an academic requirement. Study abroad also gives faculty an opportunity to create and develop a new course and teach it abroad.”

This year’s study abroad destinations and courses are:

• France, A Journey Through the History of France
• London, Psychology, Biology and the Arts in London: Perspectives on Self
• London, London as a Looking Glass
• Italy and Greece, Italy and Greece in the European Union
• Rome and Athens, Rome and Athens: Classicism and Cultures of Empire
• Germany, Germany From Luther to the Present: Castles, Cathedrals and Culture
• Greece, The Role of Greece in the Southeast European Union, open to all graduate students and required for those in the Masters in International Business Administration (M.I.B.A.) program

Also during D-Term are four service trips—one to Honduras, one to Haiti and two in the United States—organized by the Office of Ministry and Service. Some 43 students and six staff members have chosen to either serve others or explore their own leadership potential. The service trips are:

• Honduras: In partnership with Friends of the Orphans/Neustros Pequenos Hermanos, students will spend a week at an orphanage outside Tegucigalpa, Honduras, working with orphanage staff and building relationships with the children.
• Haiti: In partnership with Mission of Hope, students will build homes, distribute food and visit rural orphanages in Titanyen, Haiti.
• Appalachia Service Project: Students will work in the Appalachian region on home repair projects that make homes warmer, safer and drier.
• Men vs. Wild, A Men’s Leadership Expedition: Male students will explore leadership and their life’s mission through outdoor excursions, interactive workshops and spiritual reflection in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.   

Other students who are involved with Enactus (formerly SIFE) and its NCC’s Best socially conscious business are making their annual trek to Guatemala, Nov. 28-Dec. 12. Seven students and two faculty members will meet with various producer partners in San Lucas Tolimán, San Miguel Totonicapán and Chimaltenango. They will also hold a premier screening of their documentary on sustainable tourism based on fieldwork conducted during summer 2011 in Guatemala.

Members of the Cardinal men’s and women’s swimming team will travel to Cayey Municipio, Puerto Rico, to compete on Dec. 13 against the collegiate swimming team at the University of Puerto Rico.

Also during D-Term, students who plan to stay on campus or in the Naperville area can participate in a variety of fun activities or Verandah experiences.

Photos—Homepage: Meggie Brophy '13 serving in Honduras at Neustsros Peguenos Hermanos. Above photo, from left: Jeremy Gudauskas, associate dean of students, guide, Adam Kendall '13, Lucas Habeeb '15, Phil Norris '16, Kevin Murphy '13, Brian Rainville, director of ministry and service, Curt Bowers '13