Arrival
Details : International airfare is not included. Students are responsible
for booking and paying for their travel to Mexico City (MEX). Studentuniverse.com
and STD travel give student discounts. Upon arrival into MEX, students are directed
to taking a taxi from the (secure taxi kiosk located outside of customs) to the
hotel (approx 12 USD). At the end of the program, a GMU bus will depart Cuernavaca
at 6:30am arriving to the airport at 8:30am for those students that wish to take
it. Otherwise, a student can take a bus from Cuernavaca directly to the airport
at anytime (at their own expense approx 10 USD).
The
program begins with dinner on Saturday, May 17. Participants can arrive at any
time on the 17th. In the past, participants have chosen to arrive a day early
to take advantage of site seeing and visiting museums during the day on Saturday,
since the program does not afford much free time. Hotel rooms for this extra night
can be booked directly with the Hotel
Gillow.
Visas:
U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa for travel to Mexico. Non-US citizens
may be required to obtain a visa for travel. Please check with the Mexican authorities
for additional information. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they
have a visa, if required! Note: A tourist/visitor visa is sufficient (a student
visa is not required). Don't delay in applying for a VISA, if needed. No program
refunds are given for any reason including not getting your VISA in time.
Dates
of Attendance: Dates of Attendance: The course combines a 10 day trip to Mexico for lectures and site visits with Saturday lectures at GMU. If you cannot make the lectures because you don't live in the Washington area, an additional writing assignment will be given. A maximum of 40 students will be permitted to participate
Course
Credit: Students successfully completing the program will earn 3 graduate
credit hours. NonGMU participants will receive graduate credit as extended studies
students at GMU and are responsible for ensuring the transfer of credits to their
home university/school.
Airfare:
NOTE: Airline baggage restrictions have tightened up in recent months. Be sure
to pay close attention to what is permitted and prohibited for number of pieces,
weight, content, carry-on luggage size, etc.
Passport:
A valid passport is required for travel to Mexico. Information on applying for
a passport can be obtained from the Department of State Passport Agency at (202)
647-0518 or from the web site http://travel.state.gov.
Passport
applications can be downloaded from that web site or obtained from your local
post office. You may also obtain and submit Passport applications at the Merrifield,
Virginia--U.S. Regional Post Office on Rte. 29, between Prosperity Avenue and
Gallows Road. For more information on passport services available at this site,
call (703) 698-6300. Applicants are required to provide the passport number and
expiration to Michal McElwain. This information must be on file for all students
participating in the program. As a precaution, participants should provide someone
close to them in the U.S. with a photocopy of the inside page of the passport
in case it is lost or stolen while overseas. Participants are responsible for
ensuring that they have a valid passport.
Internet:
Our hotels in Mexico do not have internet access. There are plenty of Internet
cafés in Mexico. Internet Cafes are cheap and easy to find. Participants
should have no problem using the Internet while in Mexico. It is not recommended
to bring a lap top.
Room
and Meals: For the period of the study program, the program fees include double
occupancy hotel rooms and most meals. If a participant wishes to have his/her
own hotel room, this can be arranged for an additional fee of $400. Some meals
are organized through the program but there is no such requirement should students,
for example, want to eat the evening meal on their own or order something different
than what is provided for by the program.
However,
these meals are at the students' expense and there are no refunds for missed meals
organized within the program. Anything students would want in terms of additional
food, drinks, alcohol, personal items, souvenirs, etc. is available within easy
walking distance of the school and hotel.
Contact:
Michal McElwain
Malur, Director External Programs
School of Public Policy
703 993 1577
mmcelwai@gmu.edu
