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Benedictine Heritage Tour
Announcing the 2012 Benedictine Heritage Study Tour
for CSB/SJU/Abbey Employees
The Benedictine Institute of Saint John's is pleased to invite applications for an exciting professional development opportunity to tour several sites in Italy and Germany that are associated with the Benedictine origins of our communities. The aim of these tours is to help employees deepen their understanding of this heritage. The tours are open to members of the faculty and staff of Saint John's University, the College of Saint Benedict, and monks and employees of Saint John's Abbey as designated funding permits.
The Benedictine Heritage Study Tour is meant to provide firsthand familiarity with the historic Italian and Bavarian sites to which the Benedictine communities of Saint John's and Saint Benedict's trace their origins. This tour involves visits to Rome and such Benedictine sites as Subiaco and Monte Cassino in Italy, and Metten and Eichstatt in Germany. Participants are expected to bring their experience back to enrich the understanding of our Benedictine heritage on both campuses.
Individual tours will be limited to twelve participants including a leader and a monastic representative. Two tours will be offered in 2012. The first will take place May 14-25, 2012; the second June 4-15, 2012.
Eligibility
Eligibility is limited to personnel of Saint John's University, the College of Saint Benedict, and Saint John's Abbey. In the event of numerous applicants, preference will be given to those with five or more years of continuous service. Members of administrative and support staffs as well as faculty members are encouraged to apply. Applicants scheduled to work at the time of the tours should first consult with their supervisor to determine if participation is appropriate and possible in relation to departmental operations and staffing coverage. Written evidence of supervisory consultation must be provided through receipt of the supervisor approval form. (See How to Apply section.) In the case of more than one applicant from an academic or service area and all other things being equal, preference will be given to the person with the longest continuous full-time employment.
How to Apply
Submit a narrative of not more than three pages explaining why you are interested in this experience, what you hope to learn from it, and how your participation will benefit your work and service in our campus communities.
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Indicate which dates you prefer.
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If you know conversational Italian or German, or if you have international travel experience, it would be helpful to mention that in your narrative.
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Please use the form at the end of this announcement to confirm your supervisor's acknowledgement and approval of your participation. If you submit a hard copy of your application, attach a signed copy of this form with your application. If you send your application electronically, please ask your supervisor to send the approval separately - a hard copy or electronically. No applications will be considered until supervisor approval has been received. Faculty who are not under contract at the time of the scheduled tours are not required to submit this form.
Please Note
The Benedictine Heritage Study Tours are offered as a special professional development opportunity. Administrative and support staff tour participants regularly scheduled to work during the travel dates will receive their regular pay and will not be required to use accrued vacation leave.
Costs
Transportation, housing and some meals will be paid for by the Benedictine Institute. Participants will be asked to contribute $350 to help cover side tours such as the ancient sites in Rome and the Vatican Museum as well as tips for guides. Participants will also be responsible for obtaining a passport, paying for some meals, and any personal expenses. Regarding meals, the tour will pay for all breakfasts, two lunches and one supper. Participants will be expected to pay for all other meals. Also please note that all rooms will be double occupancy.
Participant Obligation
In addition to contributing $350 toward the cost of the trip, each participant will be asked to do preparatory work prior to departure. This includes attending and participating in all group meetings before departure, reading selected books, researching historical aspects of sites the group will visit, and writing a short reflection paper. Each participant is also expected to fully participate while on-site and to share with students and co-workers what they have learned about Benedictine history and values upon their return.
Deadline
In order to be considered for either tour your application must be submitted to Fr. Hilary Thimmesh, Benedictine Institute, Quad 241, SJU by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 31, 2011. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by December 9, 2011. Please direct any questions to Gloria Hardy.
Supervisor Approval Form
I acknowledge that _______________________________ is submitting an
application to participate in one of the two Benedictine Heritage Study Tours taking
place next summer. I give my approval for this employee to be gone from work
during the dates of one the tours. If chosen, I also understand that participants receive
their regular salary for this trip and because this is a professional development
opportunity, use of vacation time is not required.
____________________________________ __________________
Supervisor Signature Date