Summer Education Abroad
Fashion in Guatemala
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Guatemala
3 credits in Fashion Design and Merchandising
Richmond: June 1-5 and 18-19; Guatemala: June 6-16
Assistant Professor Linda Lee
$1,750 plus airfare and tuition
Registration deadline: April 1, 2009
Status: Program cancelled
The Office of International Education and Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising are proud to present an 11-day program in Tecpan, Guatemala. The unique service-learning opportunity led by a faculty member will provide design, marketing and color assistance to a fair trade producer and business. Maya Traditions, a member of the Fair Trade Federation based in Panajachel, Guatemala and San Francisco, Cali., has been working hand in hand with Mayan weaving communities in the highlands of Guatemala to develop fair trade products. The organization’s mission is to support weaving groups and small family businesses by providing consistent income, as well as health and education projects. VCU students will work with Maya Traditions staff on design, production and marketing in Guatemala.
Course and credit options: 3 VCU credits
FASH 450 Line Development or FASH 391 Fashion Workshop
Prerequisite: Junior status in VCU School of the Arts, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Crafts and Interior Design.
Course description
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VCU students will partner with Maya Traditions and Mayan artisans to create viable products for North American consumers using their design aesthetics and merchandising skills. The aim is to produce a fair trade product that will be successful online throughout the U.S. and Canadian markets. Students will learn about products using traditional Mayan aesthetics, as well as Mayan cultural history. A five-day workshop will precede the participant’s time in Guatemala. Upon the student’s return to the U.S., a three-day wrap up session will take place in Richmond.
Linda Lee has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising since 2004. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design at Pratt Institute. Lee has extensive experience as a fashion designer. Prior to joining VCUarts faculty, she worked in New York City’s garment industry for 30 years. She has also taught design in New York City at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute. This is Lee’s fourth time leading the program to Guatemala.
Registration deadline: April 1, 2009
Applications will be accepted until the deadline, or until participant space is full. Participant space will not exceed 15 placements. Early application is recommended.
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Program cost
$1,750 plus airfare and applicable VCU tuition
The program fee is $1,750 and includes the following:
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Service project materials
- In-country transportation
- On-site program director support
- Application fee and deposit
- Pre-departure orientation
- VCU administrative fees
- International Student Identification Card
The following are not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
- VCU tuition and fees
- Airfare
- Passport application fee
- One dinner and/or meals at airports
- Personal expenses during the program (estimated at $350)
- Anything not specifically mentioned above
Please budget for these additional expenses.
Airfare
Round-trip airfare to Guatemala is not included. Participants are encouraged to book their flights as early as possible.
While in Guatemala
Participants will arrive in Guatemala City and will travel together to Antigua. The group will spend mornings on projects and afternoons visiting artisan workshops in Tecpan and with other weaving cooperatives. The trip will include a weekend excursion to magnificent Lake Atitlán. Students will attend guest lectures, including a renowned poet. They will also enjoy outings to Mayan markets, a visit to Iximiche, a pre-Columbian Mayan city and a professionally guided tour of Antigua.
Participants will be housed in a European owned youth hostel in Tecpán, Panajachel and Antigua. Meals are included.
Important facts
- Tuition
- Financial aid
- Passports
- Payment of fees
- Refund policy
Tuition is charged separately and additionally at standard VCU rates for in-state students and at a 40 percent discount for out-of-state students. Estimated costs, based on current tuition per credit, are as follows: undergraduate in-state, $208.55 (per 3 credit class: $619.05); undergraduate out-of-state, $421.20 (per 3 credit class: $1,257); graduate in-state, $428.68 (per 3 credit class: $1,279.44); graduate out-of-state, $543.90 ($1,625.10 per 3 credit class).
Eligible VCU students may apply for need-based financial aid to participate in this program. Contact VCU Financial Aid, Ginter House, Room 110B at (804) 828-6669 or e-mail faidmail@vcu.edu. VCU offers its students a limited number of scholarships for study abroad participation. Contact VCU Education Abroad or see our Web site for further details.
If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, apply early because the processing time can take up to eight weeks. For more information on how to apply for a passport, visit http://travel.state.gov.
The non-refundable registration fee of $250 is due upon registration. The balance of the program fee and the tuition costs (based on the number of credits taken) will be billed separately through VCU Student Accounting after May 2009 (both amounts may be billed at the same time).
All withdrawals must be made in writing and submitted to the Director of Education Abroad.
The refund schedule is as follows:
- Prior to Jan. 8: I am eligible for a refund of the portionof the program fee that has not already been expended in payment of costs outlined on the individual program sheet in support of my participation. I understand that, as the spring progresses, the charges may reflect an increasing amount, depending on what payments have been made on my behalf. After Jan. 8, I understand that the entire program fee may be due. I understand that the refund amount cannot be determined until I formally submit written withdrawal from the program.
- After Jan. 8: I will be responsible to pay the entire program fee. In the event of an unexpected emergency that occurs after Jan. 8, I understand that I must provide a physician’s certification that my condition prohibits participation. In this case, refunds will be limited to recoverable expenses.
Every effort is made to provide updated and accurate information at the time of publication. The sponsors reserve the right to make necessary changes to the programs and costs. The university reserves the right to revise or alter all fees, regulations pertaining to student fees, and fee collection procedures at any time.
