How Much Do Immersions Cost?
How it Works
The Moreau Center for Service and Justice is committed to ensuring that finances are never a barrier to participation in a Social Justice Immersion. We also rely on student contributions to run and grow these programs. Contributions help us to pay for student travel, lodging and meals, and also help us to financially compensate community partners who generously share their time and energy with us. This Student Contribution Guide is meant to help you understand how things work, and guide you to a contribution amount that feels comfortable to you and your family.
Suggested financial contributions for Social Justice Immersions are tiered. Please see below for specific amounts associated with each immersion. There are four tiers, all starting at $10.
It is up to you and your family to determine your contribution amount. The tier system and guide below are meant to help you make this determination, but you are welcome to contribute any amount between Tier 1 and Tier 4, no questions asked.
| Immersion | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 |
| Rural Immersion | $10 | $75 | $150 | $300 |
| Housing Justice Immersion | $10 | $25 | $50 | $100 |
| Indigenous Justice Immersion | $10 | $75 | $150 | $300 |
| Border Immersion | $10 | $225 | $450 | $900 |
| Civil Rights Immersion | $10 | $225 | $450 | $900 |
Suggested Contribution Guide
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Consider Contributing the Tier 1 Amount...
...if these statements resonate with you or your family:
- I frequently stress about meeting basic needs* and don't always achieve them
- I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting basic needs
- I have unstable housing
- I don't have a car or struggle to afford fuel for a car
- I am unemployed or qualify for government assitance
- I have no financial savings
- I have no or very little expendable income**
- I cannot afford a holiday or to take time off without financial burden
*Basic needs - food, housing, bills, transport
**Expendable income - able to buy coffee out, dine out, go to the movies/concerts, buy new clothes, and similar items each month
-
Consider Contributing the Tier 2 Amount...
...if these statements resonate with you or your family:
- I may stress about meeting basic needs* but still regularly achieve them
- I have some debt
- I am employed or self-employed but work part time
- I have limited financial savings
- I have limited expendable income**
- I have to actively save in order to take vacation
- I own a car, but struggle to cover tax and insurance
*Basic needs - food, housing, bills, transport
**Expendable income - able to buy coffee out, dine out, go to the movies/concerts, buy new clothes, and similar items each month
-
Consider Contributing the Tier 3 Amount...
...if these statements resonate with you or your family:
- I am able to meet my basic needs*
- I may have some debt but it doesn't prohibit attainment of basic needs
- I own my own home or rent a property
- I own a car
- I am employed or self-employed
- I have access to some financial savings
- I have some expendable income**
- I can take an annual holiday without financial burden
*Basic needs - food, housing, bills, transport
**Expendable income - able to buy coffee out, dine out, go to the movies/concerts, buy new clothes, and similar items each month
-
Consider Contributing the Tier 4 Amount...
...if the following statements resonate with you or your family:
- I am comfortable and able to meet all my basic needs*
- I may have some debt but it doesn't prohibit attainment of basic needs
- I own my own home OR I rent a higher end property
- I own a car
- I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs
- I have access to financial savings
- I have an expendable income**
- I can afford vacations or take time off
*Basic needs - food, housing, bills, transport
**Expendable income - able to buy coffee out, dine out, go to the movies/concerts, buy new clothes, and similar items each month
-
Other Factors to Consider
Consider a lower contribution amount if you or your family...
- are supporting children or have other dependents
- have medical expenses not covered by insurance
- have immigration-related expenses
- are an unpaid community organizer
Consider a higher contribution amount if you or your family...
- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
- have access to family money and resources in times of need
- work part time or are unemployed by choice, including unemployment due to full-time school
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How did we come up with this?
This model is designed to promote equitable access to our programs for every student at UP, regardless of financial status. We followed the lead of other organizations rooted in social justice. For more information, please email Erin Savoia, Program Manager for Immersions at savoia@up.edu.
