Social Justice 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 filling out an application, you will participate in an interview, and then be contacted about placement. You can apply here.

Faculty and Staff: Each immersion welcomes 1-2 UP faculty or staff members to join. For more information, please go here. 

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 go here. 

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 website at the start of the academic year. The applications for Fall Break immersions are usually due at the end of September. Applications for Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer immersions are usually due in October. 

Immersions have a selection process, including an individual or group interview, conducted by the student coordinators. Participants are selected to achieve a balanced, diverse range of ages, interests, personalities, and experiences. Your background will not necessarily make you "more qualified" for an immersion, though we do seek participants who work and travel well with others and who will embrace the values of our programs (solidarity, social justice, community, reflection).

2024-25 Application

Our immersions are community-oriented from our first gathering through our return to campus and beyond. No special preference will be given to arrange for friends to participate in immersions together, as we've found that participants can experience immersions more fully and bond with the group more deeply when they are open to building new relationships.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with knowing other people on your immersion beforehand, but one of the most rewarding aspects is coming home with a whole new group of friends! If you are selected to participate on the same immersion as a close friend, you will be encouraged to spend most of your time branching out to others in the group. 

Each immersion has its own requirements.

The fall break immersions have one 2.5 hour seminar and may have one additional meeting before the immersion.

The Urban Immersion will participate in at least two 2-hour group seminars (Fridays 4-6), as well as possible additional educational seminars and group bonding opportunities that relate specifically to the Urban Immersion.

The spring break and summer immersions will all have four 2-hour group seminars (Fridays 4-6). Each immersion will have approximately 1-5 additional group meetings, bonding activities and/or service opportunities as an additional part of their preparation. These immersions will also have some fundraising requirements such as assisting with an auction or conducting a used bike sale.

Each immersion will also be strongly encouraged to have at least one post-immersion activity. This could be a service outing, educational presentation, reunion meal or other ideas the group can come up with.

The Moreau Center works hard to create access to each of its programs for all University of Portland students. Immersion costs are paid through participant fees and fundraisers. Financial assistance is available through a short application and we encourage students to utilize this assistance. We do our best so that cost does not present a barrier to participation. 

The student fee is paid by making deposits throughout the year, and flexible payment plans can be established for those who need them.  

Any fundraiser is conducted for the benefit of the group, reflecting the community-oriented nature of our immersions; all participants are expected to share the workload regardless of personal financial situations.

Student Fees for Immersions

The student fee to participate in each immersion varies each year. This list reflects the fees for immersions that will take place during the 2024-25 school year.

Urban Immersion: $70

Rural Immersion: $150

Indigenous Justice: $250 (+ fundraising)

Border Immersion: $900 (+ fundraising)

North Portland Civil Rights Immersion: $150 (+fundraising)

Students will have the opportunity to request financial assistance at the time they apply for an immersion. Participants who wish to discuss payment options or have questions regarding financial assistance should schedule a meeting with Erin Savoia, Program Manager for Immersions at savoia@up.edu. 

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 accomodations. There are times when groups sleep on the floors of churches, participate in rural home stays, or go several days without showering. Participants often share the responsibility of cooking meals together and cleaning up after themselves. Our student coordinators and Program Manager for Immersions work hard to make sure that all participants feel safe during immersions. If you have any concerns regarding accomodations, please reach out to Erin Savoia, Program Manager for Immersions, at savoia@up.edu.