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STORY: Immersive Education
This story focuses on the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA), and MUST (Metro-Urban Studies Term), one of their successful initiatives. MUST provides a unique hands-on field experience, where students spend a "Day in the Life" of underprivileged people and learn how to overcome the challenges facing these individuals. As a result, the students are better equipped to take action on their own behalf and on the behalf of others to bring about positive change in their communities.
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| Discussion Questions |
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- What kind of experiences does HECUA seek to provide to make students "complete citizens"?
- What is unique about MUST?
- What challenges and issues do students learn about through the "A Day in the Life" project?
- What were students' reactions to the challenges they encountered?
- Why is it important for students from privileged backgrounds to see firsthand how underprivileged people live?
- Did you or would you have liked to have similar experiences as a part of your learning?
- With what project would you like to be involved?
- After students complete their coursework with HECUA, what do you think they should do next?
- How can Human Rights Commissions, non-profit, and other community-based organization participate in providing immersive education for Minnesota students?
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| Ideas for Action |
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"Day in the Life" project
Invite participants to partner with local non-profit organizations and government services to create their own Day in the Life project to address issues of poverty, homelessness, etc. in their communities.
Intern & Volunteer
Invite participants to explore volunteer opportunities in the Twin Cities.
The Volunteer Match website provides a list of volunteer opportunities in the Twin Cities:
http://www.volunteermatch.org
Hunger Solutions Minnesota provides a list of opportunities to volunteer to help end hunger in Minnesota: http://www.hungersolutions.org/do
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