Schlegel Center Frequently Asked Questions

Service & Justice Trips are open to all members of the university. Students of all ages, from every undergraduate school, and even some graduate students, participate in the trips each year. Faculty and staff members are welcome on trips and if they are interested should speak with Cristina Hiddleston at the SCSJ (cristinahiddleston@creighton.edu or 402.280.1295).

Service and Justice are often linked together and called the two feet of social change. Meeting someone’s immediate needs by providing services like food, clothing, housing, education, or an ear to listen, are all important things. Yet, we also want to change unjust social structures that are causing the need for our service to exist. Therefore, we’ve named our program to recognize that service and justice are both equally important for creating a better world.

The price (what we charge) of a full-week Service & Justice Trip is $325. The price for a five-day trip is $185. The cost of each trip is over $500 a person, but we are able to keep prices low because of fundraising and a subsidy from the Creighton Student’s Union.

Even if finances are a little tight this semester, there are still several ways in which we try to make Service and Justice Trips a reality for you. In addition to the regular Service & Justice Trips application, there is a separate scholarship application for students who are looking for need-based financial aid for their trip. If a scholarship does not cover the total amount of the financial need, the SCSJ can also set up a payment plan to spread the payments out over the course of the semester. Finally, we offer half-week trips which cost $185 instead of $325 for a whole-week trip.

On the Service & Justice Trips application, participants rank a variety of social justice issues that they have an interest in learning about. Core Team tries to take the top two to three interests of all participants and match them up with a corresponding site. Unfortunately, because of the size of the program and the number of spots available at each site, we are not always able to guarantee someone’s top choice.
We try our best to split up students that know each other particularly well (roommates, best friends, folks dating each other, relatives…) because it allows participants to meet new people. While this is not always possible, it’s certainly a goal.

All of the Service & Justice Trips are in the United States and within a day to a day-and-a-half drive of Omaha. Your group will likely travel to your site in a Creighton vehicle or rented van.

We don’t want you to miss out on doing a Service & Justice Trip next semester just because you’re abroad this semester. The application deadline will still be the same (sometime in November for fall trips, or April for spring trips) you’ll just need to contact Cristina Hiddleston to make a special arrangement for your interview. Any of the remaining logistics can be taken care of when you return to campus the next semester.

Each site is different. Groups stay in churches, post-grad volunteer program houses, Catholic Worker Houses of Hospitality, or with community organizations. You will have access to showers and all necessary (though often simple!) facilities. A sleeping bag is a helpful item as participants often sleep on floors with sleeping bags at most sites. More information about specific host site arrangements is given during the General Meetings.

You will not need much for your Service & Justice Trip (clothes and basic travel essentials like toiletries being the main things) and your coordinators will outline your site-specific packing list at the General Meetings. While packing, though, we ask everyone to keep in mind the pillar of Simplicity. One reason is practicality – space is limited in the vans and if everyone packed a large 50-pound suitcase, there would be no room for participants. The other reason is to help facilitate the community on the trip.
We ask that participants not bring cell phones and other personal electronic devices like computers, cameras, or music players. By “unplugging” for the week, participants are able to be fully present to their host site and group. Many participants say that going without a cell phone is a highlight of their week.
Every group has a cell phone for emergencies (and this number is given to parents in case they need to make contact), and there is a single group camera to capture pictures of the entire group. We cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items brought on trips. We ask that you leave anything too expensive to lose at home.

Sleeping arrangements, food at the site, transportation, and a donation to the community partner host are all included in the price of the program. While you won’t need any additional money to go on the trip, we’d still recommend bringing a little spending money (around $30) just to be prepared.

Yes. Every academic year, Creighton students, faculty, and staff need to complete the Children and Vulnerable Adults training if they want to do service with children or vulnerable adults. Since all Service & Justice Trips have the potential for working with children or vulnerable adults, it is necessary to require the training. If you have already completed the training this school year for another Service & Justice Trip or with a different club/organization, you fulfill the requirement. Check out the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance website to take the online training.

If you have other questions about Service & Justice Trips, please contact SCSJ Assistant Director Cristina Hiddleston.

Breadcrumb