Q: Is it possible to attend only for some part of the in-person week due to other internships/placements etc.?
A: No. In general, the success of the program relies on everyone committing to the goals of the school and working together as a team which requires an in-person presence. In some cases, where participants have had other summer commitments, we have found that those placements may be flexible to allow you the 1-week away – often the benefits of this school being complimentary to the efforts of the other placement.
Q: What time are the remote lectures held?
A: The lectures are generally 1 hour each and have been held Tuesday afternoons (~2pm EST) for the past few years. This time compliments the setup of the school’s scheduling in general and we like to keep close to it. However, each year we make adjustments to accommodate holidays and availability, so final times would be confirmed in May.
Q: I live in a different time zone/I have work commitments during the remote lecture period. Do I have to attend synchronously?
A: Generally, we prefer everyone can join the remote lectures synchronously, but we understand that this is not always possible. Instead, we make sure to record the lectures and upload them to our Canvas page. We just ask that you watch them within 24 hours so that you can stay up-to-date with coursework and logistics.
Q: How do the assignments during the remote period work? Do I need to participate live?
A: The assignments are designed such that you can complete them asynchronously in your own time. However, most of the assignments have some group work element (a sub-team formed from your peers in the program) . In this case we ask that you at least stay in regular communication with your team so that you can contribute to the assignment and stay abridged of developing mission ideas.
Q: Are assignments graded? Can I fail?
A: No, not as such. The assignments are there to help you understand the concepts from the course and collectively develop the overall mission concept. Usually, the assignments are not “fully polished” on submission and that’s ok! We provide feedback and everyone moves on to the next task. The important thing is to make and effort, take on the feedback, and drive the mission concept forward.
Q: I am an international student, what visa do I need to participate in this program?
A: This program functions much like a conference or workshop, rather than an accredited course, for the purposes of international visas/visa waivers (i.e. this is not eligible for J-type visas). Please see this page for the most up to date guidance for participating in the program.