Deserts of Southern Africa
2002-2003 Expedition

Current news
Check this site regularly for updates and news concerning the 2002-2003 expedition
(anticipated dates: 27 December 2002 to 18 January 2003)

25 February 2003
The end-of-course poster session has been scheduled for 2 April 2003 in Nifkin Lounge. Our session will be held jointly with the Australia group. Each of you must submit an individual poster for grading. However, I encourage any of you who wish to present additional jointly-authored posters.
I have posted guidelines for poster formats, sizes, etc. You may access this by clicking here.
A heads up: The College has a large-format color printer which we can use to print your poster at no cost to you. However, be advised that there will be a great deal of demand on this printer in the weeks leading up to our session. Not only will our 17 students be printing posters, but the 19 students who went to Australia will be needing the printer as well. Additionally, the Spotlight on Research poster session is scheduled for the following week, and this will result in further substantial demands on this printer. Bottom line: plan early! If we cannot print your poster here because it is submitted too late, you may have to have it printed at a private company like Kinkos or Syracuse Blueprint, at substantial personal cost to you ($8-$10 per square foot).

23 November 2002
I have posted recommendations for packing, what to bring, etc. This can be downloaded by clicking here or on the link to the right.
I am still awaiting passports, health and other forms, and full payments from several people. Please check your account (in box to the right, updated Friday 22 November) to ensure all forms are filed and payments made no later than 14 December 2002.
Be sure to check this page regularly prior to departure for news or developments related to the class.

26 September 2002
Please download the health and liability waiver forms by clicking here, or in the box to the right.

9 September 2002
To date, I have deposits from sixteen people. We lost two over the summer.
However, of those sixteen, only eight have made payments beyond the $500 deposit. Of the eight who have made further payments, only three have paid in full.
In response to my request for your schedules this semester, eleven of the sixteen have responded. Of the five that have not responded, four have not paid beyond the $500 deposit. This makes me think those individuals may have decided to drop the course (although they have not yet requested refunds).
This leaves only twelve who, through further payment or response to a request for a schedule, have indicated they still are interested in going. This puts the course below our minimum of fourteen, and means the trip is in jeopardy of being cancelled.
Let me remind you that 30 September is an absolute firm deadline. I will make the decision whether or not to go on that day. If you have not yet paid beyond your deposit, or if you have not otherwise made arrangements with me, please do so.

30 April 2002
To date, I have received sixteen deposit checks, with perhaps two likely to come. This is close enough to our target enrollment to operate the course. So, I'm as as certain as I can be that the course will fly. Well done.
I have deposited the deposit checks. You may pick up your receipts from me beginning Thursday 2 May 2002. If you have not picked up your receipt by Tuesday 6 May 2002, I will mail it to you.
You may check the status of your account by clicking on your name in the "Accounts" box to the right. Only you can access your account. To access your account, you must use your permission number as a password.

8 April 2002
To date, I have received ten deposit checks out of 20 applicants. This is well below our target enrollment of 18 students, and still considerably fewer than the absolute minimum of 14 students needed to operate the course. If you have not yet done so, please provide me with a deposit check for $500 by the end of this week (12 April 2002). Please make the check payable to "Deserts of Southern Africa."
Please note: I will be depositing the deposit checks on Friday 12 April 2002.

19 March 2002
As of today, I have received 20 applications, of which five have also submitted deposit checks.
If you have not yet done so, please provide me with a deposit check for $500 by Advising Week (1-5 April 2002). I will require a deposit check before I allow you to register for the course. Please make the check payable to "Deserts of Southern Africa."
Please note: I will be depositing the deposit checks on Friday 12 April 2002.

25 February 2002
Please plan on attending a new information and orieniation session for next year's Africa expedition on
Thursday, 28 February 2002 at 6 PM in Room 5 Illick Hall.
At that meeting, we will be making a more careful assessment of interest and potential for next year's expedition.
As of today, I have received 13 applications. Special thanks to Angie Eddie, Carlos Alvarez and Jeremy Testa for their extra recruiting efforts.

24 January 2002
Welcome to the news and planning page for the planned 2002-2003 expedition to the deserts of southern Africa. You will find here information on how to register for the course, how we will accept students for the course, and how the finances of the course will work, including our target dates and goals. This page will also serve as a news bulletin board for the course. If you have placed a deposit, or are interested in the course, please check this page regularly.

Please plan on attending the information and orientation session on
Thursday, 7 February 2002 at 6 PM in Room 5 Illick Hall.

Download an application
Calendar of targets
Refunds policy
Forfeiture policy

Future of field biology documents
History & issues
Field programs survey
Field programs white paper
DSA course proposal
Health & liability forms
Recommendations for packing

Deserts course home page
My home page

Calendar of targets
Following is the calendar of targets and goals that must be met for the course to proceed. At each target date, applications and payments will be reviewed and a decision made on whether to cancel the course, depending upon how firm the target is. If the course is canceled, all payments will be refunded in full. All payments may be made by check or credit card to the Bursar's Office in Bray Hall.

7 February 2002:
Enrollment opens
22 February 2002 (soft target):
Deposits from eighteen students @ $500 each
1 April 2002 (firmer target):
Advising week. Payments from eighteen students totaling $1875 each
26 August 2002 (really firm target):
Start of Fall 2002 semester. Payments from sixteen students totaling $3750 each
30 September 2002 (rock hard target):
Payments from fourteen students totaling $3750 each

Refunds policy
You will be refunded the full amount of any monies paid in the event:

• the course is canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
• if the targets outlined in the calendar are unmet or if there is a reasonable belief that the course cannot be run due to financial reasons.
• the course is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as outbreak of war or natural disaster that would put students’ personal safety at risk .
• the course is filled before you submit the full fee.

Forfeiture policy
Because of the substantial financial commitments we must make on your behalf, you will forfeit part or all of your fee if you withdraw from the course after 26 August 2002, unless the course is canceled as outlined in the refunds policy. If you withdraw:

• after 26 August 2002, you will forfeit 10% of the fee ($375)
• after 30 September 2002, you will forfeit 50% of the fee ($1875)
• after 28 October 2002, you will forfeit 90% of the fee ($3375)
• after 25 November 2002, you will forfeit 100% of the fee ($3750).