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Punta Cana Biodiversity
Center, Dominican Republic
What and
Where is it?
Virginia Tech
has established a new relationship with the Punta Cana
Ecological Foundation and its
Biodiversity Center in the Dominican Republic. Over the coming
years, Virginia Tech faculty will design a variety of different
programs based at the Biodiversity Center. This will open a
range of opportunities for Virginia Tech students to study
and learn in the Caribbean region.
This type of
program is sometimes known as an "island" program, meaning you
will not be integrated into a foreign school system. Instead,
you will take courses that would normally be taught at Virginia
Tech, alongside other Virginia Tech students.
Where will I live?
Students live on-site at the Biodiversity Center which is
located on the grounds of the Punta Cana Hotel and Resort.
Accommodations are air-conditioned two-bed dorm rooms, each with
a a private bathroom. Twelve such rooms occupy the second floor
of the new Biodiversity Center building, built in 2000. Half of
the upstairs is a common area that includes a large kitchen and
an even larger recreation area with tables and a sitting area.
Breakfast and lunch are served on this second floor while
dinner is served from 7 to 10 pm at the hotel buffet dining room
(which is where non-student guests at the hotel also have
dinner).
The ground floor of the Punta Cana Biodiversity Center holds the
main administrative offices, a reading/conference room, a
computer lab with three machines (open 24 hours a day), a
classroom, and several biology and chemistry labs used for
teaching. The entire building is air-conditioned except the
second-floor commons area (but there are ceiling fans). The
building is next to several botanical and herbal gardens and is
monitored 24 hours a day by security services.
When can I
go?
Available
upcoming programs include the following:
Spring Semester 2007:
Perspectives on Caribbean
geography, culture and biology
Information
Sessions
For more
information on the Spring Semester 2007 program, all are welcome
to attend information sessions held in 136 McBryde at 5pm on the
following dates:
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Tuesday,
September 13
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Thursday,
September 22
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Thursday,
September 29
Costs
The costs to
study in Punta Cana may vary by program. Typically, costs
include reduced Virginia Tech tuition
and fees, and a program fee. Check out individual programs
for more information about specific costs.
Additional
Information
Read a
recent article published in Attache Magazine about Punta
Cana, environmentally friendly activities at the Punta Cana
Hotel and
Resort, and the region as a whole.
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