This course is a multi-faceted real-life case study that allows students to experience the effects of business and government initiatives on various stakeholder groups with a particular focus on the effects that pertain to sustainability—environmental sustainability, sustainable ways of life, and commercial sustainability. Before engaging in the case study, students will learn frameworks for evaluating the morality of sustainability-related efforts, and students will become familiar with the backgrounds and efforts of the Bahamian government and the various other businesses and groups with which we will meet.

During the trip, students will meet with representatives of stakeholder groups at various levels, including government officials in populated islands (New Providence, the highest-populated island, pop. 250,000, and the hub of Bahamian commercial activity) and rural islands (Central Andros, an emerging commercial island, pop. 9,000, and South Andros, a rural, recondite island with limited commercial activity, pop. 400). In addition, students will meet with and interview managers and business owners responsible for sustainability efforts, who will show us the results of their initiatives, explain why they are engaging in those efforts, and discuss their successes and failures. These managers and owners include those spearheading the Blue Project at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, those leading the Bahamian Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) in Central Andros, owners of Small Hope Bay Lodge (an environmentally sustainable resort) in Central Andros, owners of Caerula Mar Club (an upscale, foreign-owned resort) in South Andros, fishing guides in South Andros, and various other business owners and residents on each island. On each island, students will engage in the top-grossing commercial activity on those particular islands, explore the effects of those activities on other groups on the island, and both experience and discuss with various stakeholders what those stakeholders are doing to ensure sustainability across the Bahamas.

**COVID-19 Notice**
Travel and Entry Requirements: Each country has established entry requirements and travel restrictions set for foreign visitors and their citizens. The Study Abroad Office is monitoring the policies of many countries to advise students for study abroad. Any country can change their regulations at any time. We encourage all students and their families to monitor the situation in the location(s) to assess if they wish to continue with study abroad. To view the current COVID-19 response for a specific country, we recommend starting with the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov) and the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 webpage for the country or countries of interest.

Vaccination Requirement: Christopher Newport University requires students to have the COVID-19 vaccination. The Study Abroad Office will assume each student has been vaccinated when advising, so students must tell the office staff if they are not vaccinated. Many countries have opened their borders to vaccinated travelers with continued levels of on the ground preventative measures (masking, distancing, etc.). An unvaccinated student may be able to travel, but there could be additional testing requirements, quarantine time during arrival, and/or there may be restrictions to certain group activities. In some cases, an unvaccinated student may not be permitted to enter a country. There is a cost for testing, quarantine time, and/or early arrival for quarantine, which may differ by location. Any costs associated with traveling as an unvaccinated person will be an out of pocket expense for the student. Christopher Newport University will not cover the costs associated with these expenses.


**Passport Notice**
Application & Renewal: The U.S. State Department is backlogged with passport application and renewals. The routine processing time is currently up to 18 weeks and expedited services is up to 12 weeks. We highly recommend apply or renewing your passport as soon as possible. Most countries require at least 6 months remaining time on your passport expiration from your intended date of departure. Example: If your passport expires December 1, 2022, you would need to renew your passport to travel in the summer 2022.