GSI FAQ

Decide which trip you would like to go on and submit the online application. You will be notified within a week of your application submission if you are selected to participate in GSI. A link to register for GSI can be found here.

All Delta Upsilon Fraternity members, both undergraduate and alumni are eligible to participate.

Some GSI participants have been able to get credit from their institution. To determine if you are eligible for academic credit, contact your faculty advisor.

Each university will have different class schedules. We schedule the GSI so there should be at least one trip per year that will fit into a time frame you are not in class. However, it is the responsibility of the student to work with faculty members for any missed classes, tests or assignments.

The cost to participate in the GSI Jamaica experience for March 2023 is $100 plus airfare, a passport and miscellaneous expenses for undergraduates. It is $500 plus airfare, a passport and miscellaneous expenses for alumni. Your fees include food, lodging, insurance and all activities.

Typically there are 14-18 participants and one-two DU staff members on each trip.

Yes. All trips are open to DU undergraduates, graduate students and alumni.

We recommend that you are current on your tetanus vaccination for the Jamaica trip. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website can help give you an idea of which immunizations you may need, if any, for travel to Jamaica. You can access the CDC at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

In Jamaica, we have an arrangement with a local hotelier that has cabin-type facilities located in Negril. Cabins are shared with other participants and are furnished with beds, bedding and bathroom facilities.

A typical day of service usually means breakfast by 7 a.m., and at the work site by 8-8:30 p.m. You will typically spend about seven hours each day at the work site. After dinner, we typically spend some time together reflecting on the day. There is free time each evening to relax.

Yes, in Jamaica you can feel comfortable in drinking water right from the tap. Bottled water is provided on the work site.

DU staff will provide a comprehensive packing list for all GSI trips. Keep in mind that valuables are a liability and make sure that you are not bringing more than you can handle. An example of the packing list can be found here.

DU staff work to create a safe, educational and service-oriented itinerary and curriculum for the trip. All travel comes with a level of risk that students should be aware of. Students should research their destination and take all safety precautions necessary.

International students are very welcome to join GSI! Prior to signing up, talk to your embassy about travel requirements such as visa regulations.

Typically we offer trips in January, May and June. Most trips are from Saturday-Saturday in a week. However in 2023, our trip will be held in March to correspond with many chapters' spring break. 

GSI makes every effort to ensure that students with disabilities can participate successfully in the program. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that facilities or support services will be available at each location in the same range and quality as in the U.S. To discuss this further, please contact the DU International Headquarters at ihq@deltau.org. 

Yes, participants on trips can solicit funds from others. Chapters can also create personalized fundraising pages for you chapter. Please contact the DU International Headquarters at ihq@deltau.org for assistance in setting up you personalized page. Click here for a comprehensive fundraising resource has been developed for your chapter to use.

In addition, we can provide you or your chapter with other fundraising ideas. Some sample fundraising ideas can be found here.

If your chapter reaches fundraising thresholds of at least $3,000 or more, it may earn complimentary registrations for GSI (not including travel expenses). If your chapter is at this fundraising level, a member of IHQ staff will reach out to you. 

Some chapters may have scholarships through the DU Educational Foundation in place to cover GSI registration costs. Fraternity or Foundation staff will be in touch with those chapters about how to utilize those scholarships.