Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name HECUA mean? How is it pronounced?
Who are HECUA programs for? Who’s the perfect fit?
How do I find out about the application process, eligibility guidelines, application deadlines, program fees and other general program information?
Will I get college credit by doing a HECUA program?
Who are HECUA faculty and staff?
Where do classes take place? Where is the HECUA classroom?
How large are the class sizes?
What schools are represented in the classroom?
Can I still do a HECUA program even though my campus is not a member?
What’s the process for finding an internship placement?
What are a few examples of nonprofits/community organizations that host interns?
Can students just enroll in parts of a program?
Does HECUA offer any scholarships?
Does HECUA provide housing?
Besides the program fee, what extra expenses should students be prepared for?
Does HECUA have summer opportunities?
Can I take courses at my home campus while enrolled fulltime in a domestic HECUA semester program?
Can I work during my domestic HECUA semester program?
Will I experience culture shock while on a HECUA program?
Do HECUA programs have any language requirements?
What does HECUA do to ensure students’ safety?
I loved my HECUA experience!…How can I stay involved?
What does the name HECUA mean? How is it pronounced?
HECUA is an acronym for Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. It is pronounced HECK-YOU-AHH.
Who are HECUA programs for? Who’s the perfect fit?
HECUA programs are for any undergraduate student who wants to learn by doing, who wants a hands-on, intentional academic program that’s challenging, fun, inspiring, and non-traditional. HECUA strives to empower students by equipping them with knowledge, practical skills, commitment, courage and hope!
All programs are interdisciplinary and combine theories and readings from sociology, justice and peace studies, political science, economics, education, history, English, science, environmental studies, philosophy, conflict resolution and other fields. It’s guaranteed that students don’t just learn about the world with HECUA, but actually learn about their place in it.
How do I find out about the application process, eligibility guidelines, application deadlines, program fees and other general program information?
Click on http://www.hecua.org/gen_programs.php for answers regarding all general program questions.
Will I get college credit by doing a HECUA program?
Yes! HECUA programs are approved for academic credit. Most students fulfill General Education requirements by doing a HECUA program, but many students receive major/minor credit as well. For non-member students interested in learning more about receiving approval for HECUA programs note that syllabi for all HECUA programs are posted online if you need to negotiate for credit with your academic advisor and/or registrar. For more information please contact
HECUA Student Services or call 1-800-554-1089.
Who are HECUA faculty and staff?
HECUA faculty members are conscientious people who don’t just teach social responsibility, they live it through their own scholarship and community involvement. They not only have a great deal of respect from their peers in their respective fields of expertise, but are well received in the local/urban communities with which we work.
Click on http://www.hecua.org/staff.php for faculty and staff bios.
Where do classes take place? Where is the HECUA classroom?
HECUA programs take place in and out of the traditional classroom.
Domestic (Twin Cities, Minnesota)
For the past several years, the Metro Urban Studies Term has met as a class two days a week at the Resource Center of the Americas (RCA) near Lake Street and Hiawatha in South Minneapolis. City Arts also convenes at the Resource Center. The Environmental Sustainability program has classes two days a week at the Institute for Agriculture and Trace Policy (IATP) in South Minneapolis. Although HECUA classrooms are central gathering places for the programs, much of the students’ time will be spent taking part in field study, visiting community partners, and working at their internship site.
International
For our international programs we usually have classes on the partner campus. (Independent University of Bangladesh – Bangladesh; Institute of Ecuadorian Studies – Ecuador; University of Oslo – Norway; University of Ulster – N. Ireland.) The program model, however, is the same as the domestic schedule whereas students are constantly meeting in and out of the classroom. Visiting local sites, meeting with community members and working at an internship placement make up the majority of the week.
How large are the class sizes?
HECUA classes are relatively small, which is conducive for learning and relationship building among program faculty, staff and classmates. Our intimate class setting of 15-20 students makes it feasible to get individual attention and assistance from faculty; plus, it’s the perfect size for group discussions and projects. January programs, which have increased in popularity over the past few years, have surpassed over 20 students per course, but never have been above 25.
What schools are represented in the classroom?
17 colleges, universities and associations have membership with HECUA. Please visit http://www.hecua.org/con-members.php for a list of HECUA member colleges. Program participation is heavy from within our consortium, which is made up mostly of colleges and universities from within Minnesota . However, any student from any school, nationwide, can participate in HECUA programs. The peer group is diverse and dynamic consisting of students with varying majors from many different schools from around the country.
Can I still do a HECUA program even though my campus is not a member?
Of course! Any student can do our programs; member schools pay a reduced program fee. For more information on student enrollment from non-member schools, contact
Mary Delorié.
What’s the process for finding an internship placement?
Most HECUA semester programs have an internship component that is integral and integrated into the experiential learning model. The internship work ideally compliments the class readings, discussions, and field experiences and is selected based on student interests, work history and needs within our community partnerships.
Domestic (Twin Cities, Minnesota)
Emily Seru, Manager of Internships and Community Partnerships, works with Metro Urban Studies Term, City Arts and Environmental Sustainability students to find the best internship placement and also provides programmatic support throughout the semester. To learn more about available options and past internship sites, click on http://www.hecua.org/intern_info.php or
contact Emily directly.
Prior to selecting a site, students visit the HECUA office to review organizational opportunities and project proposals, and are advised to meet with the internship supervisor before solidifying the partnership.
International
Prior to travel and participation in an international study-abroad program, there is quite a bit of information gathering. Detailed surveys are conducted to learn more about student interests and internship goals. Once students are on site, the program director facilitates the placement process and provides internship support throughout the semester.
What are a few examples of nonprofits/community organizations that host interns?
HECUA continually builds new partnerships with community organizations; hence, the internship list grows from semester to semester. A list of sample internship sites can be found at http://www.hecua.org/intern_info.php. We have over 400 placements available worldwide. HECUA creates internship placements that best meet students’ learning goals and professional interests.
Can students just enroll in parts of a program?
HECUA programs are not served a la carte…they’re an integrated whole. We offer full-time, holistic programs that combine classroom work and experiential components like internships, fieldwork, and study projects. The theories explored in the classroom are connected to the experiential components in the program. Students wouldn’t fully benefit from the HECUA experience if only introduced to sections of the program.
Does HECUA offer any scholarships?
Yes, we award up to three $750 scholarships for semester-long programs and two $250 scholarships for January-term programs. Students must apply for these competitive merit scholarships. A scholarship committee reviews all applications and applicants are notified in writing prior to the beginning of the term. HECUA also offers a Scholarship for Social Justice available to first generation college students, students from low-income families, and students of color. Two $1,500 are awarded each academic year for students enrolled in semester-long programs only. For more information about HECUA scholarships, eligibility, and to download application forms visit: http://www.hecua.org/scholarships.php
Domestic (Twin Cities, Minnesota)
We direct the student to housing resources, but ultimately students are responsible for making and financing their own arrangements. Often times, students from outside of the Twin Cities area live with friends or family members for the semester or have a month-by-month lease. Contact us at 1-800 -554-1089, if you’d like a copy of our housing resource materials.
International
Housing is always included in the overall tuition cost for participation and varies depending on the program site. In most cases students stay in a dorm-like setting within the University, yet some sites have home-stays, which are arranged for a deeper connection to the community and culture. Visit the program specific pages to learn more about housing or contact
Student Services, call 1-800-554-1089.
Besides the program fee, what extra expenses should students be prepared for?
If you would like a breakdown of tuition or an idea of extra expenses please email
Mary Delorié for more information. In most cases the program fee does not include the reading materials, transportation to/from class or your internship placement, room and board (in the domestic programs), entertainment, or communication with friends and family back home. All of our international program sites include room and board in the overall tuition. Some sites distribute a monthly stipend to purchase food.
Does HECUA have summer opportunities?
Currently HECUA offers two summer program options:
a.) Civil Rights Movement: History & Consequences
b.) Highly competitive paid summer internships known as the Partners Internship Program
Can I take courses at my home campus while enrolled fulltime in a domestic HECUA semester program?
Taking extra courses is a possibility if you attend a college in the Twin Cities, but we strongly discourage this idea. HECUA programs are intense and very time consuming. It’s a full-time commitment with class and an internship five days a week. Students often find that with the heavy workload, it is extremely difficult to take additional classes outside of HECUA.
Can I work during my domestic HECUA semester program?
Yes, it can be an unrealistic assumption that students can afford not to work for a semester. But keep in mind HECUA semester programs are very time consuming. If students do work during the week, no scheduling conflicts can arisebetween HECUA commitments and a work schedule. Remember, in addition to having class two days a week, and balancing homework and other commitments, a 15-20 hour internship commitment is also required.
Will I experience culture shock while on a HECUA program?
Everyone deals with transition differently. While on a HECUA program, you may experience culture shock. Being aware of the many conflicting feelings and emotions you may experience while abroad can help you understand the cultural adjustment process. Culture shock is real. It can display itself in both psychological and physiological ways.
International
Travelers often start with feelings of excitement and euphoria; these feelings eventually wear off and feelings of depression and anxiety may arise. Eventually the severity of the emotional roller coaster ride evens out and students learn how to adapt and live in a new setting.
There is not a “one size fits all” approach to dealing with culture shock. To cope with transitions abroad, we suggest: keep a sense of humor, write in a journal, communicate with loved ones, or talk to your program director and classmates—chances are high that others are also struggling with adapting to a new culture.
Domestic (Twin Cities, Minnesota)
Depending on the individual, students have also experienced high levels of emotional conflict while on our domestic programs. Even though a student may be living at home, these feelings of shock can stem from intense community immersions and experiences that leave the heart and senses stunned. If these feelings should arise in students we encourage them to be openly communicative with fellow students and HECUA faculty members.
Do HECUA programs have any language requirements?
Our semester-long Ecuador program, Community Internships in Latin America, is the only program that has a language requirement. It is required that students have equivalent of two years of college Spanish. All lectures and assigned readings are in Spanish, and students are required to comfortably communicate with people in the community. The entire program is performed in Spanish therefore students must have a working knowledge of the language and pass a language test prior to travel. Language instruction is not provided on the program.
All other HECUA programs do not have language requirements. However, for the students that have interest in participating in language studies while overseas, courses are offered through our semester programs in Bangladesh and Norway.
What does HECUA do to ensure students’ safety?
The safety of our students is of paramount importance. HECUA has an exemplary record of over 30 years of experience in providing safe, high quality, and successful off-campus programming. We actively monitor conditions and any new or perceived safety issues at all of our program sites by communicating with in-country program faculty, relying on the US State Department travel advisories, and reviewing relevant news sources in the US and abroad.
If program changes must be made to a HECUA program, a wide variety of alternatives will be considered. In the past we have changed site locations, made alternative travel schedules, or postponed a start date. In extreme situations we have closed program sites for the semester. If we are forced to cancel a program, we always work with each individual student to connect with an alternative study-abroad program provider.
If a safety issue arises while our students are in-country, we always abide by the State Department recommendations for lockdown or alternatively, evacuation, depending on the situation. We also connect with the US Embassy to seek asylum if the circumstance calls for this action.
All students traveling abroad with HECUA are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for medical insurance. Our plan provides up to $100,000 worth of coverage for each student. CISI provides 24 hours of support services 7 days a week in all the countries we operate programs. To learn about exclusions to the CISI coverage plan, or to learn more about the plan in general, please contact Mary Delorié.
I loved my HECUA experience!…How can I stay involved?
After programs are completed, we hope students continue to live their HECUA experience and continue to work for social change. We also hope students, now alumni, continue to be involved with us and help us build a community of socially conscious citizens.
HECUA has an active alumni network—visit http://www.hecua.org/alumni.html to learn more.
