Immersion Details and FAQs
Immersion Details and FAQs
Program Details for Students
Immersions are extended community engagement learning experiences that can last from 3 days - 1 week. Students explore and hold meaningful dialogue on intersecting social justice topics with each other and community partners engaged in the work. While some immersions offer opportunities for direct service, the focus is more deeply understanding complex social issues that inspire positive social change. Immersions are a great way to earn meaningful volunteer service hours for class requirements that align with your social values.
Current immersions are mainly located in and near North Portland (our campus community), and are led by student coordinators with the support of Moreau Center staff, as well as a staff accompanier.
Students who participate in immersions must commit to attending an orientation seminar, prep session and additional pre-learning opportunity (in-group or self-guided), and commit to at least one follow-up engagement after their immersion experience. There is a cost to attend each immersion that covers food, travel and accommodations and students are encouraged to request financial assistance in their application if payment is a barrier to participate.
Ready to Apply? Visit the Immersions page to learn about our current opportunities and submit an application. NOTE: Students must be logged into their GivePulse account to view and register for the immersions.
After signing up for an immersion trip, you will attend the orientation seminar, prep session (1:1 or small group meeting with the Immersion Coordinator), and pre-learning opportunity (group or self-guided). Dates and details will be added to the GivePulse immersion event page and emailed to you after signing up.
Immersion participants commit to attending all pre-immersion seminars and meetings.
We understand that conflicts may arise; participants should communicate any conflicts with their student leader as soon as possible and determine how they will make up any missed seminars or meetings.
On your immersion, you will be accompanied by your Immersion Coordinator and two University of Portland staff/faculty accompaniers, usually including one Moreau Center for Service and Justice staff. The student coordinator and Moreau Center Program Manager for Immersions will take care of the logistics for the immersion in collaboration with community partners.
During the immersion, we are guests and visitors of our community partners; openness and flexibility are essential. While immersions vary in terms of activities, each will include opportunities to engage with the local community and learn about the critical issues impacting its members. We will learn the historical context of the social justice focus of the immersion as well as the strengths and solutions proposed by the community. While some immersions include opportunities for direct service, the emphasis is on listening, learning, and reflecting with each other and the communities and organizations we are meeting with.
Immersions are planned with simplicity in mind, and students should expect to be flexible and adaptable to new experiences. Housing will usually be shared spaces amongst the group in locations like cabins, school gyms and churches. On most immersions, meals will be prepared by the participants and served buffet style. Meals are usually vegetarian. Most dietary needs can be accommodated. Immersions generally include time spent walking and standing as we explore neighborhoods and sometimes farms, gardens, or other off sidewalk locations. We are eager to work with students and provide information so they can feel confident to participate in the immersion experience.
Please reach out to us with questions and accommodation needs. If you have disability related access needs, please reach out to Accessible Education Services at aes@up.edu. For immersion-specific questions, please reach out to the Moreau Center for Service and Justice at immersions@up.edu.
While the actual immersion trip has a start and end date, the full experience is a journey that is never truly over. More than an end goal, we believe that the immersion itself is a starting point for ongoing reflection and critical engagement of the realities of our local and global community. For this reason, participants commit to meeting at least once upon return from the trip to continue processing, sharing stories, and determining next steps toward connecting the immersion experience to life at the University of Portland and beyond.
Your Immersion Coordinator, staff accompaniers, and other Moreau Center staff are here as a resource to assist as you draw meaning from the immersion experience and explore ways to integrate it into your personal and academic life.
Immersion FAQs
Students: Any and every UP student is encouraged to apply to participate in a Social Justice Immersion! A diversity of experience among immersion participants is what makes them great. No matter your year in school, your major, or your experience with the social justice issue at hand, you are enthusiastically invited to apply. After signing up, you will be contacted for a prep session and provided with further details. You can search for immersions and apply here.
Faculty and Staff: Each immersion welcomes 1-2 UP faculty or staff members to join. For more information, please email moreaucenter@up.edu.
Alumni: Are you a UP alum who was involved with the Moreau Center for Service and Justice as a student? We would love to welcome you to join part of an immersion! For more information, please email moreaucenter@up.edu.
Absolutely not! While the values of the Moreau Center for Service and Justice are informed by Catholic Social Teaching and UP's Holy Cross charisms, students of all faith backgrounds are enthusiastically accepted and welcomed into our programming. All students will be asked to enter into deep reflection on immersion, but what that means for students in terms of their own religious practice or spirituality can be quite personal. Students are encouraged to both share out loud and silently ponder these personal reflections as they are comfortable. Students who wish to participate in religious services of any type during an immersion experience will be accommodated.
Applications for our immersions are posted on our UP GivePulse events page (NOTE: you will need to be logged into using your SSO in order to view and register for an immersion). Each immersion typically closes its GivePulse application two weeks before the immersion begins; however, you can email moreaucenter@up.edu if you have any issues with GivePulse or miss the deadline to apply.
Of course! Friends and peers are encouraged to apply, understanding that we aim for students to branch out of their comfort zones in their experiences and reflections on immersions. We expect all participants to share deeply with and learn from each other, regardless of any prior knowledge or understanding.
The Moreau Center works hard to create access to each of its programs for all University of Portland students. We are committed to ensuring that finances are not a barrier for participation in Social Justice Immersions.
Participant Costs for Immersions
The participant cost in each immersion varies each year, and reflects the amount needed for any travel, food, accommodations and community partner payments for immersion planning. This list reflects the costs for 2026-27 school year immersions.
While we expect everyone to contribute what they are able to pay, we encourage you to request financial assistance in the immersion application if making any payment would be a barrier for you to participate.
- Immigration Justice Immersion: $80
- Health Equity & Access Immersion: $200
- Urban Housing Justice Immersion: $80
- Environmental & Food Justice Immersion: $900
This varies across immersions, but simplicity is emphasized across all trips. In order to keep costs down, build community amongst participants, and engage authentically with communities that may be new to us, groups stay together in simple accommodations. If the immersion is local, students typically sleep in their campus dorm or can be assigned temporary dorm accommodations if they live off-campus. Participants often share the responsibility of cooking meals together and cleaning up after themselves. Our student coordinator and Program Manager for Immersions work hard to make sure that all participants feel safe during immersions.
If you have any concerns regarding accommodations, please reach out to Amanda Hart, Social Justice Education Program Manager, at harta@up.edu.
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