We have exceeded our capacity to accept guest students into Alma College International Study programs. At this time only students enrolled at Alma College may apply for admission to these programs.
If you are not currently an Alma College student, we wish you all the best in identifying a suitable host institution as you pursue your interest in study abroad.
Alma College students: If you're interested in obtaining more information about this or any other off-campus study location, visit Off-Campus Studies in the lower level of the Kehrl Library, next to the Registrar's Office.
Why India?
The Alma India Program will center on the Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School in the village of Ayroor in the state of Kerala. Ayroor, about 50 miles inland on India's southwest tip, offers a rich array of resources and opportunities:
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a society rooted in their ancient heritage and grounded in family life yet in the midst of modernization;
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an artistic and highly literate culture in which English is widely spoken alongside Kerala's native language Malayalm;
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religious diversity and tolerance amongst Christian, Hindu, Moslem, and Buddhist believers;
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stunning environmental beauty and diversity with tropical greenery, coastal backwaters, and breathtaking mountain ranges.
India Application Deadline
Applications for off-campus study in the summer or fall semester are due by the second Friday of classes in February. Applications for Off-Campus Study in the spring semester are due by the second Friday of classes in September. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Program Dates & Cost
Students in the Alma India Program pay Alma College tuition and room and board. Program fees include pre-departure orientation and consultation, tuition for 16 Alma College credits, room, board of three meals each day, Internet access, transportation costs associated with academic work, limited health insurance, an International Student ID card, handbooks and an Alma College transcript for credit transfer.
Fall 2007 prices to be announced.
The Alma India Program
The goals of the Alma India Program are to provide a meaningful international education experience, combining service learning work and academic inquiry especially focused on Kerala, India. More broadly, the Alma India Program will provide opportunities for cross-cultural enrichment of the Alma College campus. Students who participate in the program should anticipate connecting their academic work in India to their ongoing Alma programs - and sharing their experiences in India with the Alma College community.
The Alma India Program has two main components: volunteer/service work and academic work. Students perform volunteer work in the Mathen Mappilai Memorial School in Ayroor, India, and other services for local organizations, such as health clinics, earning eight credits. Oversight is provided through Alma College professors, the school's headmaster, and the onsite coordinator, K.C. Cherian. In addition, Alma students enroll in two four-credit courses.
Guided by faculty from Mahatma Ghandi University, the courses will typically focus on Ghandian thought and philosophy or Indian religious diversity and on issues of environmental sustainability or rural development. Students will typically attend MG University once a week for lectures, discussions, and use of the library and facilities. Grades and academic credits will be assigned from Alma College under the supervision of an Alma College faculty member. Refer to the Academic Sheet for further course details.
Program Selection
Applicants should have strong academic credentials, be open to new ideas and experiences, and approach the world with self-confidence. Because the Alma India Program participants represent the college and, indirectly, the U.S. while in India, they must have a command of the English language and general knowledge of the people, history, and economy of the U.S. and India. Personal maturity - sensitivity to the needs and problems of others, patience in the face of sometimes exasperating and frustrating situations, empathy with people of a culture unlike one's own, and resourcefulness - is essential. Final admission is contingent upon acceptance to the program by the program committee.
The School and Facilities
Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School was founded in 1991 by members of the ancient Pakalomattom family. Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios, Visiting Professor of Religious Studies at Alma College, is the patron and president of the MMM school. Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School is an English medium school consisting of grades K-12, with all traditional subjects taught in English.
MMM students are also required to take two language courses: Malayalam, the language spoken in Kerala, and Hindi, on of India's most important languages.
Students will live in a home directly adjacent to the MMM school. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the student house is comfortable and well-maintained by its owners Sunny and Grace Eapen, who live on the second floor. Bed linens are provided. Arrangements can be made with the housekeeper to have clothing laundered. Students can launder small garments by hand.
Food and cooking utensils will be provided at the home for Alma students. Typically, students will make their own lunch and a cook will prepare breakfast and dinner. With ample local markets, students will be able to purchase local products and to explore Indian cuisine on their own.
The student house has telephone service that can be reached directly from the United States. The number for the house is 011-91-4690207730752 when calling from the U.S. Students can purchase telephone calling cards for international calls.
Travel Documents
Students are responsible for transportation costs from their home to the program in Ayroor, India. The Alma India Program will provide recommended travel itineraries; assistance with travel costs is also available from Discovering Vocation: The Lilly Project at Alma College.
Travel to India requires a visa and passport, which must be valid at least 180 days beyond the end of the program. Instructions for visa application will be provided upon acceptance into the program. Staff will meet students at the airport and accompany them to Ayroor. Early departures from the program are not acceptable.
All transportation costs not specified in the Program Services are the student's own responsibility.
Orientation
Students accepted into the Alma India Program must attend a comprehensive orientation program before their departure. The orientation will include description of academic expectations and information about Indian culture, local customs and safety and health issues. The Alma College International Education Office also provides a general study abroad orientation covering packing tips, personal safety, health and immunizations, immigration and customs and issues pertaining to returning to the Alma campus.
Administrative Staff
Alma College staff is available in the event of an emergency 24 hours a day. Please call 989.463.7055 to reach an OCS staff member. The On-site Coordinator is K.C. Cherian. He is available to assist students throughout their stay. He can be reached by calling (from the U.S.) 011 91 4735 230374. The school principal will arrange academic details.
Excursions and Vacations
While the primary commitment of student sin the Alma India Program will be to their academic and service work, travel in the region and elsewhere in India is encouraged. Students are advised to travel in pairs and to notify staff at the school when traveling away from Ayroor.
Students who wish to travel widely in India should plan on doing so after the conclusion of the scheduled program work in Ayroor.
Computers/E-mail
Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School has a lab with five computers available for Alma students to use. Students will have onsite access to the internet and to printing. Students may choose to bring a laptop computer for their personal use and can purchase Internet services from local providers at a reasonable price.
Mahatma Ghandi University in Kottayam has limited computer facilities available for students; cyber cafes and long-distance telephone access are widely available in Kottayam and other nearby towns.
Weather
During the fall, students can expect balmy weather. Kerala's proximity to the equator means it is hot, and being a coastal state means it is also humid. The breeze from the seas keeps the temperatures manageable near the upper 80s.
Health Insurance
Limited health insurance is provided as a part of the program cost. It is recommended to keep existing
Medical Issues
It is highly recommended that students have a complete physical prior to departure. The Center for Disease Control's website at www.cdc.gov has details of immunizations for travel to India. Allow sufficient time to obtain any recommended immunizations. All costs related to immunizations are the student's responsibility.
Airfare/Transportation
Students typically work together to arrange air transportation. Bishop Makarios, Professor Mark Seals and Professor John Ottenhoff can all provide insight into airfare costs and travel. Sometimes a faculty member will accompany the students on their trip.
Family and friends should send mail to students at the school's address. Packages/letters will take approximately seven days to arrive. Mail should be sent to students using the following address.
(STUDENT'S NAME)
c/o Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School
Theodical P.O.
Kerala 689613
INDIA
