The Impact of Immersion Programs at Jesuit Colleges and Universities

Immersion programs offer college and university students direct experience within developing countries that parallels the lives of the indigenous poor and marginalized populations. These programs are often facilitated by campus ministries, as well as other university departments with a similar philosophy of education. They flourish within 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States. Students participate in immersion programs to gain greater knowledge of the cultural, social, and political reality of communities within developing countries, and return to campus with deeply changed lives. This current study was conducted to provide a more in-depth assessment toward greater credibility of immersion programs within the academic community.