New Zealand: Sustainable Tourism & Human Impacts on the Environment | 2025 Information Session
Pallavi Chandna: Keep admitting people as they come. Ryan Vonderhaar: That'd be great. Ryan Vonderhaar: All right, folks. Welcome in. If you're here to learn about the 2025 New Zealand sustainable tourism and human impacts on the environment Ryan Vonderhaar: global education program. You're in the correct place. Ryan Vonderhaar: My name is Ryan Vonderhaar. I work here within our college of Food Agricultural and Environmental sciences as a global education coordinator. Which just means I get to work with the other great folks we have on this call, staff and faculty to help plan Ryan Vonderhaar: these study abroad programs. I'm going to be going through
Ryan Vonderhaar: really, just our information session presentation today. Ryan Vonderhaar: We hope that you walk away learning a little bit more about what this program is really about what the experience will look like on the ground. What are the some of the things that you'll be able to learn about. Ryan Vonderhaar: Later on we will talk more about kind of logistics, the application itself, scholarships that are available, and a couple other resources. And I'm very thankful to be joined by our 2 resident directors on this call this evening Ryan Vonderhaar: Paul V. Who started the meeting up obviously, and then Saeed Mahmoud, who is our faculty, professor, that so these 2 are the when I say resident directors, those are the words we utilize. For the professionals here at Ohio State. That will be leading this group abroad. Okay?
Ryan Vonderhaar: And with that here on the 1st screen, just a couple of things to note number one, enr. 5,797.0 3. That is the course that you'll enroll in if you do end up participating in this experience. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you are curious about how that credit could fit into your degree, I'd encourage you to email your academic advisor right now is a great time to go ahead and begin having that conversation a couple months ahead of the application deadline. Ryan Vonderhaar: The other big piece on this page are the program dates. So you can see them there. May 6, th through May 30, th Ryan Vonderhaar: obviously 2025, as you're beginning to think about what your summer could look like. And then, lastly, maybe the most important piece of this presentation, the application deadline
Ryan Vonderhaar: itself being on January 14, th 2025, and I do. I have been saying this to folks. We know how you know kind of chaotic. It is going home at the end of the fall semester getting back started once you're back in the spring semester and January 14th is gonna fall just at the beginning of that second week of classes. So it's an easy Ryan Vonderhaar: thing that you know could get jumbled if you're not paying attention to it. So I'd encourage you, you know. Set an alarm in your phone, put it on your calendar, whatever that looks like just so that deadline doesn't catch you by surprise. Okay. Ryan Vonderhaar: And PAL, Aviv. Would you mind taking us to the next slide?
Ryan Vonderhaar: There we are great. So the number one thing for this presentation that is not published yet. But we'll talk about it a little bit more specifically is the program fee. Ryan Vonderhaar: So when we're talking about global education Ryan Vonderhaar: one of the major costs for you to keep in mind is the program fee itself. Ryan Vonderhaar: So what is a program fee. I described that as, where are we going? What are we doing? Once we get to New Zealand? Okay?
Ryan Vonderhaar: So the program fee includes the experiences on the program, the excursions. Ryan Vonderhaar: all of your or most of your in country transportation outside of getting to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: All of your lodging and country on the program dates. And then,
Ryan Vonderhaar: really quite a few meals. Typically all of your breakfast on this program, and then a handful of lunches and dinners are included in that program fee. There's also a mix of meals that are not included where you'll have the opportunity to explore a little bit of New Zealand on your own. Whether that be for a lunch, stop, maybe on our way to a new location or for dinners. Obviously just places near your accommodation where you'll have some time in the evenings to be able to explore any cuisine you'd like Ryan Vonderhaar: expenses outside of the program fee. To keep in mind. Ryan Vonderhaar: the 2 big ones would be tuition. So just like, if you were to take accounting over the summer you have to pay Ohio State for the individual credit hours that you're enrolling in as a part of your experience. So for this program, you'd be enrolling in 3 credit hours.
Ryan Vonderhaar: that will vary on the price based on whether you are an in State or an out of State student, just like any other class that you would take Ryan Vonderhaar: additionally the airfare. So that's another big thing to keep in mind for this program. Ryan Vonderhaar: You know, it's it's Ryan Vonderhaar: definitely some Ryan Vonderhaar: around $2,000 is something to keep in mind, really, for international airfare to and from New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: That's a bigger piece of this program just because of how far, obviously, New Zealand is from the Us. Ryan Vonderhaar: A benefit of it being individual airfare. So you're purchasing your own airfare as a part of this program is that you can either obviously travel out early and explore a little bit on your own before the program begins, or at the end of May, after the program concludes, maybe you extend your travel in New Zealand, or, you know, take a shorter flight to either Australia or potentially southeast Asia. If you're interested in exploring
Ryan Vonderhaar: any of those parts of the world, especially because you've already taken the major flight to get you to that area. A lot of those shorter trips are much cheaper if you are looking to explore while you're over there. So airfare something to keep in mind Ryan Vonderhaar: meals I already talked about making sure that you have a passport. So that's a great kind of piece of homework for today. If you don't have a passport. Whether you end up applying for this program or not, I would encourage you to either apply for that 1st time passport or knock out your renewal application. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you're above the age of 16, and applying for a 1st time passport, it is good for 10 years, so let it be something that you know, allows you to travel, and never something that holds you back. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you are interested in applying for that passport, and you're not sure how to knock it out. Please just send me an email after today. I'd be happy to work with you to figure out how to get that knocked out here, even around the Columbus area there's a number of passport facilities that we can help you out with. Ryan Vonderhaar: Lastly, for this program is a visa Ryan Vonderhaar: I don't really describe New Zealand's visa as a conventional visa. It's really more of a tourist tax, just because it doesn't really take you a long time in order to apply. You're really able to do the application through your phone. They actually have a pretty simple app that you'll be able to use to purchase it. Ryan Vonderhaar: But that is another cost. to keep in mind everything that I'm talking about. You'll be able to see the 2020 4 estimates if you log onto the program web page.
Ryan Vonderhaar: you'll see kind of last year's estimates for the program. We will hope to have the 2025 program fee and updated cost published here by the end of November as our plan. Okay? Likely there's a chance. We may re-record this section of the information session. Just so. You see that information. Ryan Vonderhaar: But and this is the 1st time I will plug this, and I'll say it a few times in the in the presentation Ryan Vonderhaar: the best thing that you can do in order to stay up on Ryan Vonderhaar: information. Ryan Vonderhaar: The published price for 2025 itinerary updates, the best thing that you can do is to open an application for the program Ryan Vonderhaar: in order to open an application. You'll just head to globaleducationosuedu. You'll search New Zealand Ryan Vonderhaar: and you just click the apply. Now, button and bang! You've already got an open application. That's it. There is no requirement for you to submit an application. There's no financial requirement for you to open an application. It just flags you in our system saying that you're interested in this program and that you would like to, you know, receive updates essentially. I'll talk more about the application later on in the presentation. Ryan Vonderhaar: Great.
Ryan Vonderhaar: all right. So how will you study? This is, you know, one of the most common questions we get when it comes to any study abroad program. So this is a very different way of learning, you know, if you're used to. Obviously, many of your classes here on campus, sitting in the classroom for maybe much of the day learning from lectures and that sort of thing. Our goal on this program is to get you out and into the elements as much as possible. Ryan Vonderhaar: So yes, there there definitely will be lectures as a part of the learning experience in country, but most of the content will be delivered in the field, which is the reason that we're taking the trip obviously out to New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: It's a very hands-on program. You'll be exploring geology, agriculture, indigenous history and culture sustainability through varied learning activities. And really so much more, which we'll kind of get into as we start breaking out the modules. Ryan Vonderhaar: You're going to be covering a lot of content in a short amount of time. Obviously, this program's just around 3 weeks long. Ryan Vonderhaar: It's a fast paced learning environment with a good amount of academic rigor.
Ryan Vonderhaar: It is an incredible experience, but not a vacation. So this is the 1st time we're going to be kind of mentioning this. You know, if you are looking for a totally relaxing 3 weeks on the beach, you know, just kicking your feet up. Type of experience. That's not what this is going to be. We are going to be moving. We are going to be learning about lots of different things. And once you are done with this program, you're really going to feel like you have a pretty comprehensive knowledge on. Ryan Vonderhaar: or at least a baseline knowledge on, the history of New Zealand, and the way the things essentially that make it unique, and how you can compare that back here in the Us. Ryan Vonderhaar: Great. So what does the coursework actually look like in country? So I talked about it a little bit. There's going to be a number of lectures in country, some of it done by your resident directors, some of it done by in country experts that you'll be meeting throughout the program.
Ryan Vonderhaar: Whenever possible. You're going to be hearing from the folks that are actually conducting that business or that organization that we're learning from, so that might look like an indigenous population that we're working with, that might look like a whale watching tourism company that we're going to be interacting with. There's a number of different in country experts that you'll be interacting with on the program. So lecturing, obviously a piece of it. Ryan Vonderhaar: The program's built into a number of different modules, which we'll kind of get into specifically here in a second. Ryan Vonderhaar: and within each module number one. Ryan Vonderhaar: you'll be working out of what we call a course reader, and it's essentially Ryan Vonderhaar: you could describe it as a textbook, but it's really a little bit more than that it'll be. It'll have readings that you'll be knocking out as a part of the program in country. It will have
Ryan Vonderhaar: essay questions for you to be knocking out. It will essentially be preparing you for your day to day visits hopefully, adding a little bit of context, so that when you are meeting with these experts in country. You're walking into it hopefully with questions to ask that will supplement the readings that you're taking part in beforehand. Ryan Vonderhaar: Outside of readings and lectures there will be quizzes. As a part of the program in country there will be essays or sort of written questions that you'll be answering. Ryan Vonderhaar: There will be Ryan Vonderhaar: a final exam in country. And this program also has a group research project as a part of it. And some of that research that you'll be doing in country is really encouraging you to be interacting with the folks that you're meeting throughout the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: There's also sort of to get you ready for the program. There's a pre-departure section where you'll be learning doing a little bit of general reading about New Zealand itself, and taking a quiz as a part of that. And then, after the program, there's also a post trip reflection Ryan Vonderhaar: which you'll be Ryan Vonderhaar: taking part in to really express everything that you learned in country. I'm just gonna take a look at the notes here to make sure I hit everything.
Ryan Vonderhaar: Activities include creating infographics on different topics, mock town halls. Yep, stakeholder meetings, debates, and discussions. So a lot of the program is going to be built on. You know, you all expressing what you've learned in country and interacting with each other. Ryan Vonderhaar: There is the ethnographic interview or the group team project that I was discussing before, which will focus on the tourism industry. Ryan Vonderhaar: Throughout the program you are meeting with vendors, talking with locals about their viewpoints, speaking with tourists, real methodology.
Ryan Vonderhaar: learning, fundamentals of ethnographic observation, and also there is an opportunity to create your own thesis. If you are coming into the program with your own research interest Ryan Vonderhaar: throughout the experience, they're Ryan Vonderhaar: there's a team project which I've already discussed. I think I've hit everything, anything else to add in there. Polyvi. Pallavi Chandna: I think you got it all.
Ryan Vonderhaar: All right. So kind of getting into some more of the fun here. So if you haven't done any research into the country of New Zealand itself. It's made up of 2 major islands there in Ryan Vonderhaar: as well as I forget exactly the number. It was like 200 plus tiny islands that really surround the 2 major bodies. Typically most folks when they fly to New Zealand, are going to fly into the North Island Ryan Vonderhaar: typically into Auckland. And then you'll connect onto a shorter domestic flight down into Nelson. There on the north part of the southern island. And really the majority of this program is going to take place really more than the majority. The program is going to take place on the southern island. Ryan Vonderhaar: Which, if you do a little bit of research into New Zealand itself. You will understand that really is the place to go. It is the home of their tourism
Ryan Vonderhaar: industry. Ryan Vonderhaar: It's where the vast majority of tourists obviously visit. And as a program that is built around sustainable tourism, that's where the focus of our learning is going to take place. Ryan Vonderhaar: It's 2,000 miles off of the coast of Australia. So that's something that you know, a lot of Americans really don't have in their mind, which is, you know, you kind of look on the globe. And you think, Oh, yeah, there's New Zealand, and you have Australia right here. Well, 2,000 miles is, you know, quite a quite a bit of space, obviously between the 2 countries. So it's really quite a bit off there in the ocean. In a unique spot on its own Ryan Vonderhaar: other than that, you know, the South Island is really home to the mountain views, the beautiful vistas, the fjords Ryan Vonderhaar: Milford sound, which is a unesco world heritage site. It's definitely a highlight of the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you're really wanting to, you know, kind of make your eyes water. By natural beauty. You could go to Youtube and type in Milford Sound, and you're going to see some some things that I I described it as like Pandora from the movie avatar. Just a total otherworldly
Ryan Vonderhaar: sort sort of geography to to take in in person. Ryan Vonderhaar: Great. Ryan Vonderhaar: So we're going to begin talking a little bit more about some of the learning modules in country here, so geology and glaciation. Ryan Vonderhaar: the South Island is home to lots of glacial activity. It's also the home to their southern Alps, which were formed through shifts and tectonic plates.
Ryan Vonderhaar: One of the places on the current itinerary is Mount Cook, and if you know anything about New Zealand. It is one of the most famous kind of natural sites within New Zealand Ryan Vonderhaar: which sits in the Southern Alps. Mount Cook National Park is home to the highest mountains and longest glaciers in New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: It forms the majority of New Zealand's international Dark Sky Reserve, which is a really fascinating sort of subject, all on its own, especially for us here in the Us. Where you know some some really. Ryan Vonderhaar: you know, in depth, stargazing is not always possible due to just how much sort of light pollution that we have.
Ryan Vonderhaar: But really the dark sky, which is kind of a classification that New Zealand has for a section of its area is where some of the best stargazing exists anywhere in the world. So that's another kind of cool piece. Ryan Vonderhaar: Would you mind moving to the next slide? Poly? Ryan Vonderhaar: Great Ryan Vonderhaar: New Zealand sits in the meeting of 2 tectonic plates like I referenced there on the last slide, that because of this there is some real tectonic activity that does take place. Ryan Vonderhaar: With that comes positive things like beautiful views. Obviously, that's how you know volcanoes, a lot. Many mountains are formed. Ryan Vonderhaar: Some of the best hiking in the world exists in New Zealand because of this Ryan Vonderhaar: as well as negative things like earthquakes. Right? That's the other things that we, as humans, kind of understand when it comes to tectonic plates. Ryan Vonderhaar: There have not been any earthquakes during all the years the program has traveled. But one of the 1st things that you'll do in country is to learn what to do in the event. Ryan Vonderhaar: an earthquake were to take place essentially, just like a fire drill, or you know anything else you'd think of when it comes to just making sure we're being safe.
Ryan Vonderhaar: as you take some a look at some of the photos here you can see some of the damage that has taken place by earthquakes in the past. There in New Zealand, both, but in human and man, built Ryan Vonderhaar: structures, but also there in the natural landscape. Looking at the divides in the landscape itself, you can, you can see sort of the impact there. Ryan Vonderhaar: We're going to learn all about sort of how earthquakes have impacted some of the major cities and towns in New Zealand. And what has the kind of rebuilding plan looked like? And really what technology has been developed in order to set structures up for success in the future. If earthquakes were to come back Ryan Vonderhaar: into that area. Ryan Vonderhaar: Great, the adventure capital of the world, as New Zealand likes to to boast. And obviously some of this
Ryan Vonderhaar: stuff that we're going to be able to experience there in country. So we will spend a good Ryan Vonderhaar: some time in Queenstown. Ryan Vonderhaar: which is, that's kind of the nickname for Queenstown itself, the adventure capital of the world. Ryan Vonderhaar: It's also known as the playground for those who love the outdoors.
Ryan Vonderhaar: And yeah, because of this, you you will be essentially experiencing some of the coolest, or what I think some of the coolest things about sustainable tourism that it has to offer just because of the uniqueness of the environment Ryan Vonderhaar: that you'll be interacting with. You also get some free time in Queenstown to be able to do some exploration of tourism on your own. So if there's something that you've really been looking forward to doing while there, that is really where the majority of free time on the program is spent. You'll actually have a full free day in Queenstown to be able to explore some on your own. Ryan Vonderhaar: You'll also be meeting with a tourism company whose background is in environmental education and architecture, who focuses on building his company, sourcing responsibly and conducting business in a way that doesn't negatively impact the environment. Ryan Vonderhaar: You'll be spending time taking a critical look at this, conducting the interviews with the companies. Ryan Vonderhaar: talking to tourists, community members and looking at perhaps the gaps that exist between the community support of tourism and the investment in infrastructure such as. And this is the same thing that we deal with obviously here in the Us. When it when it comes to infrastructure. What are the not so fun things to talk about when we talk about tourism? Well, waste management, medical care, facilities. Ryan Vonderhaar: actual transportation, logistics. How do people, you know, get to and from these places that we're talking about?
Ryan Vonderhaar: Queenstown is on a journey to be a regenerative destination by 2030. Their philosophy is for you to feel like you are a temporary local when you are visiting, and it really is a lovely place and definitely a highlight for many folks on the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: All right. So our Maori history and culture definitely. Ryan Vonderhaar: really, just an interwoven part of the program the Maori people. When we talk about indigenous people for New Zealand, we're really referring to the Maori folks. Ryan Vonderhaar: it is a very important aspect of the program, and part of that is, understanding and learning about the Maori history and culture, both pre and post colonization. Ryan Vonderhaar: learning about indigenous land management practices, understanding Maori perspectives on relationship to the environment which Ryan Vonderhaar: they would obviously describe as living with the environment and less of maybe more of our Western, you know, extractive way of maybe taking from the environment. So how are they utilizing the land Ryan Vonderhaar: in a sustainable way? Ryan Vonderhaar: Looking at Maudory perspectives on the Christchurch rebuild process and cultural implications of that rebuild.
Ryan Vonderhaar: exploring, living, and working communities and understanding a Maori ceremony which Ryan Vonderhaar: definitely is a unique part of this program. Ryan Vonderhaar: It it was that from the last time the program run, you know, this was one of the Ryan Vonderhaar: kind of most impactful experiences that students would describe when they were talking about. Just Ryan Vonderhaar: maybe a cultural Ryan Vonderhaar: understanding as as you're talking about learning about a new culture these folks are excited to welcome us in and are Ryan Vonderhaar: Saeed and I can can talk about this, you know, going through the the ceremony that we were introduced to in country. It's just they're very welcoming to us. But there was also a certain amount of tradition that is expected for visitors that are going to come and visit the Mirai, which is kind of their sacred space, their sacred community space. Ryan Vonderhaar: And you can see the mirage here on the both. The right side of this picture frame on the top right and on the bottom right. And that photo on the bottom right is actually one of our groups Ryan Vonderhaar: going through the kind of welcome ceremony going through all of their Ryan Vonderhaar: sort of honoring of their guests once they've been welcomed onto the property, and then obviously taking a great photo with us there at the end. So this is a
Ryan Vonderhaar: I described it like this a few weeks ago at our last info session, you know. Here in the Us. We have a very different perspective when it comes to our indigenous peoples and our native American peoples here, and I think one of the best ways to just on its surface describe this difference is, you know, it's really it's almost 50% of the New Zealand government is made up of representatives from the indigenous folks from the Maori population. Ryan Vonderhaar: And if you compare that to here in the Us. Right, how many of our elected officials are representing, you know, native Americans as a whole. When it comes to Ryan Vonderhaar: the way we protect our environment, the way that business is conducted here, the way that land is protected. You know, it's it's just really a night and day difference and a really pretty, fascinating aspect of this program. Ryan Vonderhaar: Okay? Ryan Vonderhaar: All right. So, resource management, and another extremely fascinating piece of this program. And you know, New Zealand being an island nation on on its own. Just that fact on its own makes resource management a really interesting conversation. But also
Ryan Vonderhaar: how long humans have even been in New Zealand really impacts, what does resource management look like while we're there. So behind tourism, agriculture is a huge contributor to New Zealand's Gdp specifically dairies, lumber mills and wineries. Ryan Vonderhaar: So we spend time learning about these industries and how resources are managed in the context and what the implications are. Ryan Vonderhaar: We also look at extractive energy. 90 95% of the country runs on hydroelectricity. Ryan Vonderhaar: We also look at a balance of using the land and sustainability.
Ryan Vonderhaar: How is this similar to, and different from, the Us. So kind of Ryan Vonderhaar: similar to the conversation we were just having. Ryan Vonderhaar: This is like a fascinating re really subject. And when you
Ryan Vonderhaar: especially when when you get into kind of the uniqueness about New Zealand itself. How humans have only been there for, you know, several 100 years, not even, you know, thousands of years. Like most places in the world the way that animals were even introduced to New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: You know. You see, some cows obviously focused there on the top right side. There were no cows, you know, in New Zealand before humans arrived, and we'll kind of get into that here on on the next few slides. But their lumber industry, the way trees are able to grow in their climate. Invasive species control which we'll get into here just just all of that are pretty major elements, especially for the locations we're traveling through on the southern island Ryan Vonderhaar: all right, invasive management. So this this truly, if you were gonna set New Zealand aside and say, what are the really unique things about this country itself, and invasive management has to be at the forefront of that conversation. So. Ryan Vonderhaar: aside from a few species of bats. Okay, a couple of bat species. New Zealand has no native mammal wildlife. Okay, so think about that. For a second.
Ryan Vonderhaar: A couple 100 years ago the 1st Matari people navigated the Pacific on some canoes and found their way to New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: On that 1st trip Ryan Vonderhaar: there were maybe not the 1st trip. But on one of those trips some Ryan Vonderhaar: rats actually, that were living aboard these canoes were the 1st walking mammals to step foot outside of humans onto New Zealand. So you're like, well, what was there what was in New Zealand right before humans got there before other mammals were introduced? Birds. Ryan Vonderhaar: New Zealand has an extremely unique bird population, because when New Zealand 1st separated as a country and and as a country as an island, and pushed itself Ryan Vonderhaar: away from the other major continents. There were no, it was so long ago that there were no walking mammals, or maybe there were that obviously died out and through Ryan Vonderhaar: evolution. Ryan Vonderhaar: The animals that the birds that existed there in New Zealand, or that found their way to New Zealand, since it was not a landlocked Ryan Vonderhaar: location Ryan Vonderhaar: birds filled all of those natural Ryan Vonderhaar: sort of lines that you know most mammals would typically fill. So some of those
Ryan Vonderhaar: birds being the Hast eagle, which is one of the largest birds that has ever existed on earth. Think of, like Ryan Vonderhaar: the the largest bald eagle that you can think of, this hast eagle would be 4 or 5 times larger, able to pick up Ryan Vonderhaar: humans, you know, walking, walking around Ryan Vonderhaar: the moa, which is essentially like an emu or an ostrich, but maybe twice as big. If you're you know, if you're googling some of these things to understand what these birds look like, I use those as Ryan Vonderhaar: examples, because really, because there was no, you know, large mammal population. These birds were everything. They were the the food source for the 1st humans that arrived there in New Zealand. And actually, we'll learn a little bit more about how the Maori population hunted the Moa to extinction and kind of the implications of that
Ryan Vonderhaar: in country. So I'm getting way off. Course, when we're talking about invasive management. Ryan Vonderhaar: new Zealand has a Ryan Vonderhaar: not a philosophy, but a goal Ryan Vonderhaar: that they will be predator free by 2050. Okay, that is a, it's a, it's a lofty and it's a large goal within New Zealand, and you say, Well, what are these predators? Why are they wanting to be predator free in New Zealand, after all these species have been introduced? Ryan Vonderhaar: Well, going back to what we were 1st talking about. There's such a rich and diverse bird population of unique bird species in New Zealand that because we now have Ryan Vonderhaar: rats and Australian possums which you'll get to learn more about, and domesticated dogs and domesticated cats. Ryan Vonderhaar: All of these predators.
Ryan Vonderhaar: predators, meaning domesticated dogs, cats, rats, all sorts of things that eat Ryan Vonderhaar: eggs that eat bird eggs right? They're they're impacting the indigenous Ryan Vonderhaar: bird population, bird population by quite a bit. So there is this huge philosophy in New Zealand to try and rid the major islands of mammals in order to protect these endemic Ryan Vonderhaar: bird population. So Ryan Vonderhaar: there's a whole conversation around this. Ryan Vonderhaar: And when we talk about invasive management. Ryan Vonderhaar: and we're obviously addressing this from an environmental perspective. Since obviously, our programs out of our school of environment and natural resources. There's a little bit of a complicated conversation that that takes place between.
Ryan Vonderhaar: How do you control invasive populations? Because one of our major ways of control as humans is poison. We poison things that we don't want to be around anymore. Well, what does that poison do that we put out into the environment that's trying to protect the bird population, but obviously has side impacts. Right? What is that long term impact going to be of poison just being littered throughout these wild spaces in New Zealand. Ryan Vonderhaar: there's a huge trapping campaign going on to try and eliminate these wild species of rats and Australian possums that are impacting the bird population to that point. So invasive management is a huge conversation. Ryan Vonderhaar: not only with animals, but also different plants and trees that are also invasive within New Zealand? How are the endemic places being protected? How are the endemic species being protected? And what's the balance? So as we talk about invasive management. There's a lot of different elements to it. And it's another one of those that's sort of a thread that's woven throughout the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: All right. So those were really the modules on the of the program itself. Just to talk a little bit more about funding and then application slash next steps here. I'm going to talk through a few funding sources. So number one.
Ryan Vonderhaar: this is probably one of the most common ways. Students will help fund. Their experiences are folks that are complete have completed or are completing the second year transformational experience program. So the step Ryan Vonderhaar: program Ryan Vonderhaar: as a Ohio State approved study abroad. This program is typically always approved for step students in order to use their transformational experience programming funds. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you are a step student and you are interested in using your step funds for this program, and you have any questions about it all at all. Please reach out to me. But essentially, once the finances are published for 2025. You'll just be logging on to the Global Education web page and utilizing the financial webpage tab to fulfill the financial requirement of your step proposal. Okay, so that's the 1st part on step. Please reach out. If you have questions on that Ryan Vonderhaar: outside of step. I want to go through our scholarships really quickly. Ryan Vonderhaar: Ohio State has a number of university-wide scholarships and Oia as well. So Oia managed scholarships. I would describe as any program, and any major. So this is any student going on a study abroad program Ryan Vonderhaar: can apply for these scholarships. Okay, we just concluded the spring and spring break. Scholarship application for the Oia and University-wide scholarships. They will be available again in January, right around. Really, the application deadline.
Ryan Vonderhaar: everything I'm talking about here on the scholarship page is linked on the financial tab of the program web page. So don't just take my word for it. Please go explore these web pages obviously on your own, but I always kind of. I zoom out, and then zoom in a little bit when we talk about funding resources. So any student on this call, I'd encourage you to take a look at the university wide. And Oia managed Ryan Vonderhaar: scholarships. Ryan Vonderhaar: Okay, so after that. Ryan Vonderhaar: definitely, if you are within our school of environment and natural resources. So if you're an Eids major or forestry fisheries and wildlife, major environmental science, anything within our Scnr right? I would encourage you to apply for the Senr scholarship which is directly linked on the financial webpage, the study abroad, Senr scholarship. Ryan Vonderhaar: That is due by November 30.th Okay, so I'm going to start there with that one. It is the earliest deadline of these scholarship applications. So if you are an Senr student, please make sure that you submit that application. It's a qualtrics form. You'll find it once again on the program, webpage on the financial tab.
Ryan Vonderhaar: If you are an Senr student or any other student within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. I cannot encourage you enough. Please make sure you have submitted your Cfaes general scholarship application. Okay, whether you apply for this program or not, you could be eligible for other academic scholarships. But if you do apply for the Ryan Vonderhaar: New Zealand program, you need to make sure you have that Cfas general scholarship application on file in order to be eligible to receive a study abroad. Specific scholarship. Okay. Ryan Vonderhaar: so that's cfas specifically. And Senr, if you are a major outside of Cfas and Senr. Ryan Vonderhaar: please make sure that you look into your college's specific scholarship process for study abroad. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you actually go to the grants and scholarships web page once again linked on the financial tab of the program web page Ryan Vonderhaar: you'll be able to see all of the study abroad scholarships that are broken out by college. And I'm assuming, yeah, probably is probably pulling this up for me, which is terrific great.
Ryan Vonderhaar: all right. So if you click on the financial tab, so right here, we're on the homepage of the New Zealand program Webpage. Ryan Vonderhaar: And Ryan Vonderhaar: as you venture up there at the top and click on the financial tab Ryan Vonderhaar: and scroll down. So the Oia website is listed there under grants and scholarship. Ryan Vonderhaar: So it's that second link there Ryan Vonderhaar: and then the Cfa. Yes, scholarships also on that page and the Senr scholarship. But this is a perfect place here. Pallavi Chandna: No. Do you want me to head back to that.
Ryan Vonderhaar: Yep, just for a second, so we can show folks where. So if you just click the dropdowns on the Oia and the University Ryan Vonderhaar: wide scholarships. We'll start here, but you'll see there's a number of different funds. Okay, so please take a look through these funds. If anything applies to you. If you're served by any of these offices, please make sure that you're looking into the scholarship that aligns with it, and then, if you scroll down just a little bit more Pallavi Ryan Vonderhaar: and click, the colleges drop down Ryan Vonderhaar: right here. You can see all of the colleges at Ohio State that have study abroad. Specific scholarships. Take a look at that program, webpage, whichever college you're a part of, and look into their eligibility requirements to see if their money can follow you on a Cfas program. Okay? So those are the 2 definitely big places I'd encourage you to look at. And then if you keep scrolling down. Ryan Vonderhaar: you'll see government scholarships, and I always want to mention this. If you have a Pell grant as a part of your financial aid package, okay? And you probably know if you do, but if you're not sure log into your Buckeye link, take a look at your financial aid package and see if Pell Grant is listed on it. I would love to help you knock out a Gilman international scholarship application.
Ryan Vonderhaar: It's only available for students planning to study abroad with a Pell grant as a part of their financial aid package. I have served as a reviewer for this Federal scholarship before. I'd love to chat with you about your scholarship application and help you out with the essay. If you do need it. So please reach out to me. Ryan Vonderhaar: If if I'm talking to you essentially, can you scroll down a little bit more for me, poly Ryan Vonderhaar: great. And then, lastly, on this page is external funding links. So essentially, this is non university affiliated scholarship web pages. There's a couple of scholarship search engines on here. I always describe it like this. If you were the type of student in high school where your parents maybe were encouraging you to fill out as many scholarships as you can as you're applying for college. Those exist for study abroad as well. It just Ryan Vonderhaar: takes you taking the time to do the research, read through the eligibility requirements and obviously applying. If anything on there is interesting to you. Okay. Ryan Vonderhaar: I think that's it for this web page Ryan Vonderhaar: beyond the Oia Scholarship page always also want to mention the honors and scholars enrichment grant here at Ohio State, and you can just type that into Google, and it'll come up Ohio state honors and scholars enrichment.
Ryan Vonderhaar: And it'll kind of walk you through the eligibility for the enrichment, Grant. I'd encourage you to explore that if you're interested in it. Ryan Vonderhaar: I think that's it. Here, Polyvi. Ryan Vonderhaar: if you wouldn't mind. Pallavi Chandna: Did you want to go through the. Ryan Vonderhaar: Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, we didn't go through the cost sheet at all. So 2024 we have, you can kind of use this, as you're beginning to estimate what the program cost could look like for you. And she just did a great job clicking that 1st link. Which is the tuition estimate. So again I mentioned it before. You have to pay for the 3 credit hours of tuition that you're enrolling in over the summer. Ryan Vonderhaar: there's the end state rate. You can play around with that there on the 1st tab as well as the program fee beneath it. So those 2 costs tuition and the program fee will be billed through Ohio State. Okay, so essentially, they'll both show up as line items on your Tuition bill for the summer semester. So a common question I get with that is, when is that money due? It is due 7 days prior to the start of the summer term. Okay.
Ryan Vonderhaar: just like your fall tuition was due just like your spring tuition will be due. This money is also eligible for the tuition payment plan. So if you're interested in breaking it up into a number of payments, you're able to opt into that. If you want to learn more, I'd encourage you to Google, Ohio State tuition payment plan. It's actually pretty easy to opt into it. If that's something that interests you Ryan Vonderhaar: beyond those Ryan Vonderhaar: international health insurance is 0 on this website because it is included in the program fee. So you are enrolled in international health insurance as a part of you being enrolled in this program Ryan Vonderhaar: the Ohio State under global education application fee. So that's a $150.
Ryan Vonderhaar: You pay that at the time you submit your application. So like, I said before, there is no commitment at all to open an application to just show us that you're interested, that you want to learn more, you know. Please feel free to open an application. If you do end up deciding, you're going to apply, and you fill out the entire application, and you're ready to hit. Submit! You're going to be asked to pay this $150 application fee with a credit or a debit card. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you are not selected to participate in this program, you get that money back. It's refunded to you. If you are accepted into the New Zealand program. You'll then be given the decision whether to commit or decline your acceptance to the program, and that is considered. Your 1st cost for studying abroad is that $150 application fee Ryan Vonderhaar: beneath that is the Oia administrative fee. That is just a fee charged to any student doing any sort of study abroad at Ohio State. I compare it to your student organization or your Rec. Center fee. It's just your fee for utilizing the services of the office of international Affairs. Ryan Vonderhaar: If you scroll down a little bit more for me. Okay, here we get into the out of pocket section of the program. And this is really helpful, as you're just budgeting, you know. What does it really in total look like for me to to have this experience in New Zealand. So number one is the airfare like I mentioned before. There at the top. That's gonna be one of your significant costs when it comes to getting to and from New Zealand. So begin thinking about a plan for that. I will say Ryan Vonderhaar: this is the average, or this is the rate that we take based off of conventional flights on the dates of the program. I definitely have had. Students pay less than this. If you're a thrifty flyer and you're looking for. You know, just the best deal you're able to. Typically, you can find a little bit of a better price than this. But this is a good estimate. As you're looking to get to and from New Zealand.
Ryan Vonderhaar: Excuse me. Ryan Vonderhaar: Rooming on the program is all included, like I mentioned before, so that cost is 0 for the accommodations on site and country board. If you've ever heard the phrase, room and board board is our word for food. So that's a general out of pocket estimate for meals on your own. As a part of the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: we get this rate Ryan Vonderhaar: by using the Federal Government's per diem Ryan Vonderhaar: rate, which essentially is the amount. The government will pay an employee to live and eat in a location when they travel there.
Ryan Vonderhaar: So the reason I describe it like that is, this is a range, you know. If you eat out 3 meals a day, you know, for the entirety of the program, you'll definitely get up to, and maybe even pass this number if you are more like me. And you're fine with going to the grocery store, maybe having a sandwich and a drink for lunch, or even in New Zealand, I will specifically say a pie at the petrol stations that they have Ryan Vonderhaar: all sorts of delicious kind of grab and go. That's almost like their I describe it as like their hot dog that you might have at like a speedway or something like that. Ryan Vonderhaar: You're gonna save quite a bit of money. So it really depends on. You know who you are. What does your diet look like? What do you want? Meals to look like for you in country Ryan Vonderhaar: books and supplies? We're required to list this as $388, even though there's no textbook associated with this program, there is the course, Reader. The Course Reader is going to be more like $30 than $388. So definitely a big difference on there. We have to list this due to student financial aid Ryan Vonderhaar: immunizations and an international travel health consultation. Ryan Vonderhaar: I'm required to encourage you to have a conversation with your primary health care, physician.
Ryan Vonderhaar: let them know that you're traveling to New Zealand in the month of May in 2025, and then have that conversation. If they'd recommend any immunizations or vaccinations for you to have before traveling. Ryan Vonderhaar: in general, I would say, if you're enrolled at Ohio State right now, you probably have everything you need in order to travel to and from New Zealand from a vaccination standpoint Ryan Vonderhaar: beyond that that, $40 is listed for a monthly international cell phone plan. You do not have to have a cell phone plan while traveling abroad. Ryan Vonderhaar: these rates definitely vary I would definitely encourage you to check in with your international cell phone or your cell phone provider to take a look at what their cell phone plans look like. There's also a number of businesses that are sort of popping up where you can get just a monthly plan a monthly international plan.
Ryan Vonderhaar: typically maybe at a cheaper rate than what your carrier is gonna offer you. But we know how important it is for folks to stay connected. So please just be thinking about what is. If you if you, if you are, gonna have an international cell phone plan on the program begin budgeting what that looks like for you. Ryan Vonderhaar: A number of the places that you're going to stay in country will have Wi-fi. So if you're okay, you know, not being totally connected at home, you again, not a requirement in order to have a cell phone plan while abroad. Ryan Vonderhaar: Lastly, on this list is the passport, so again, knock that out as soon as you can. I would love to help you get that passport application knocked out as soon as possible. Please reach out to me. Ryan Vonderhaar: Pay a hundred $75 now in total, while while you're not in a hurry. If you wait until you know February, even into March, and you're like Crap. I need a passport you're gonna get a little bit more, probably a $60 charge on top of that, just to expedite your passport in order to have it in time. So let it be something that you have never something that you're stressed out about just knock it out way ahead of time. Ryan Vonderhaar: Lastly, is the visa cost the last time the program traveled the visa was around $40. And they call it's actually the Eta electronic travel authority there in New Zealand.
Ryan Vonderhaar: it's gone up, which I was a little disappointed to see. They have raised the price on their tourist tax as I describe it, it's going to be more like $100 going into this year. But again, this will be something that we will keep you updated on, and it's not something you'll have to figure out on your own. I will work with you through the eta or the visa process Ryan Vonderhaar: so that we can encourage you to be all ready to travel by the time the the program takes off. But another cost for you to keep in mind. That's an individual expense that you'll need to take care of while participating in the program. Ryan Vonderhaar: Okay? Ryan Vonderhaar: And I don't know. We have a little bit left on the slides, but I can go ahead and start talking about it. So, number one, I'll just reiterate. Please make sure you open an application. If you're even 50% interested in the program. That's the best way for us to stay in contact with you, totally free to knock out that or just to open that application. You're just going to that program. Webpage policy just had pulled up. You'll scroll to the bottom. Click. Apply now and then you'll log in with your Ohio State credentials. Ryan Vonderhaar: and then you're done. Your application is open. You can forget about it for a little bit. But I'll have your information. And the day that that program fee is published online you'll get an email from me, letting you know that the 2025 Ryan Vonderhaar: costs have been published, and you'll be able to explore it as soon as you can Ryan Vonderhaar: outside of the application itself. Please make sure you get that submitted by January 14th at midnight. So another common question, the application is closed as soon as it is January 15.th If you need to think about it like that. It is open the full day of January 14, th until midnight. If you're going to apply, I would say, do not wait until midnight. This happens all the time. Ryan Vonderhaar: There'll be some sort of issue, maybe, with payment or the application itself, where it might get you delayed. If you know you're going to apply. Just begin on that application and have it submitted. I'd even encourage you a few days before the deadline
Ryan Vonderhaar: outside of the application. Just one other thing to mention this program does utilize. We call them group interviews. So the students who apply for the program where we'll pull everybody together kind of get you scheduled in about groups of 5, and we'll just have an opportunity essentially to meet you outside of your application. Ask you a little bit more about. Ryan Vonderhaar: Why are you interested in the program? How's it going to impact your long-term career and academic goals? Ryan Vonderhaar: And you'll have an opportunity to learn, you know more from us about the program Ryan Vonderhaar: and ask any questions you may have. Before any acceptances or decisions are made. Ryan Vonderhaar: After decisions are made. If you are accepted to the program. You'll be emailed. An acceptance letter from me Ryan Vonderhaar: within that letter is going to be all of the important information about the program that we've talked about Ryan Vonderhaar: and that will start a window on your end. You'll have 10 days if you are accepted to the program to decide whether you are going to commit to the program and join us there in New Zealand in May of 2025, or you still then, have the opportunity to decline if you're no longer interested at that point. Okay?
Ryan Vonderhaar: And I think I've covered it all. I feel like I'm losing my voice at this point. But please let us know. If you have any questions, utilize the chat or you can come off mute. But I will be stopping the recording.
2024-11-18 23:07
