September / October
If you intend on applying to the Immersion Service Learning Program you should APPLY FOR A PASSPORT RIGHT AWAY to avoid processing delays.  Participants for the Cuba immersion experience have to submit their passport details in November.

Wednesday, October 3
General Information Session, MacKay Room (Bloomfield), 7:00 pm.  All are welcome to attend.

Applications accepted from Thursday, October 4 to Thursday, October 25
Deadline for: Application Form, Reference Forms (2 per applicant), Bursary Application Form (if you wish to apply for a Bursary) and the following documents in support of your Bursary Application: 1 page essay (please see Bursary Application Form for details) and a copy of student loan assessment or line of credit statement.

Wednesday, October 31 through Tuesday, November 6
Interviews of student applicants by Faculty Leaders and Service Learning staff.

Wednesday, November 14
All applicants will be notified of acceptance and bursary status via e-mail.

Monday, November 19 to Friday, November 23
Deadline for meeting with Susan MacKay to sign and submit Student Commitment Confirmation form. FIRST PAYMENT is due ($400 non-refundable deposit) on signing of Student Commitment Confirmation form.

Sunday, November 25
MANDATORY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP for all Immersion participants (Location:  Dennis Hall, Coady Institute, 1:00pm - 5:00pm) Topics: roles and responsibilities, documents required, meeting arrangements, expectations, and the setting of learning goals, IDS 305 course option, possible group fundraising.

November & December
Group meetings with Faculty Leader. Purpose of the meetings is to set goals, begin background research and reading on the geography, history, politics, and social conditions.

Tuesday, December 4
Deadline for non-refundable SECOND PAYMENT, signed Consent for Medical Treatment Form, signed Release of Liability Waiver.

Wednesday, January 9
Deadline for non-refundable THIRD PAYMENT, copy of passport, Criminal Record Check and Health Information Sheet.

Sunday, January 13
MANDATORY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP (excluding Guatemala group) Location:  Dennis Hall, Coady Institute, 1:00pm—5:00pm.  Snow date: January 20.

Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19
MANDATORY WORKSHOP for Guatemala group only. Workshop will take place on a Friday (evening) and the following Saturday (all day). Location:  Room 342 Coady Institute. Guatemala students are not required to attend the January 13 workshop.  Snow dates: January 25 and 26.

January & February
Group meetings with Faculty Leader (minimum of 2 over this time span).

Thursday, January 31
Deadline for non-refundable FINAL PAYMENT (excluding Belize group).

Friday, February 22 — Sunday, March 3 
Immersion experiences take place between these dates for CUBA, GRENADA, GUATEMALA, L'ARCHE OTTAWA, and MEXICO.

Sunday, March 10
MANDATORY DEBRIEFING WORKSHOP - Faculty Leader and students meet to discuss returning to StFX following the ISL experience and prepare for Presentation Night (except Belize group).  Location:  TBD, 1:00pm-3:30pm.

Thursday, March 14
Evening presentation session for all Immersion group (except Belize group). Presentations are 5 to 8 minutes in length. Group members are expected to be present.  Location:  MacKay Room, Bloomfield, 7:00pm.

Thursday, March 21
Belize FINAL non-refundable Payment Due

April 22 to May 5
Belize Travel Dates. Please note that Belize travel dates will be following the last day of examinations thus travel will take place over convocation weekend.

May 6 TO May 10
Belize Group Only - Debriefing.  Faculty Leader and students meet to discuss returning to StFX following the immersion experience.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Please note:  If you were awarded a bursary, it will be deducted from your January 9, 2013 payment (#3).  The final payment for Belize only is Thursday, March 21, 2013.

ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Payments and documentation (including applications, bursary applications, supporting documentation, passports, and required forms) must be submitted on or before the due date to Susan MacKay, Room 414 Immaculata between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday - Friday.

PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED for all participants with the exception of L’Arche Ottawa. Passport applications and information regarding Canadian passport applications are available on-line at http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx or at the Antigonish Post Office located on Main Street. 

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS ARE REQUIRED for all participants. Criminal Record Checks must be obtained from the police/RCMP detachment in your home town/city (contact the Antigonish detachment only if you are from this area). Processing can take 1 to 8 weeks depending on location and volume. Some police/RCMP detachments charge a small fee.

PAYMENTS ARE TO BE MADE BY CHEQUE, MONEY ORDER, OR CREDIT CARD ONLY (VISA, MasterCard, and American Express). Cash and debit are not accepted. CHEQUES SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO: “St. Francis Xavier University”.

For more information, please contact: Susan MacKay, Program Assistant, Service Learning, Room 414 Immaculata Hall, (902) 867-2583, smackay@stfx.ca.