Frequently Asked Questions: Summer Institute
What is Summer Institute 2016?
Summer Institute 2016 refers to the demanding and intensive six weeks of orientation and training to prepare you for your first year as an Urban Teachers resident. You will live on the same college campus with your fellow cohort members, teach summer school at one of our summer partner locations during the day, and take master’s degree coursework in the afternoons and evenings.
When and where is Summer Institute 2016?
Summer Institute 2016 will begin on Friday, June 17th and end on Saturday, July 30th. Summer Institute 2016 will take place on the campus of Maryland Institute of College Art (MICA). You will be able to move in on the morning of Monday, June 17th. More information about move-in day will come as we approach the date. Please note that each of the Urban Teachers summer partners conducts its own orientation program for Urban Teachers-Baltimore residents in addition to the Urban Teachers orientation.
When is orientation and what should I expect?
Orientation starts at 9 AM on Saturday, June 18th, at MICA. The day will run until 2 PM with an optional social in the evening to be coordinated by the Urban Teachers Summer Mentors. Please dress business casual. Come prepared to take notes in your preferred manner – paper or computer. The orientation experience is designed to build the Urban Teachers-Baltimore Cohort 2016 community, to introduce residents to the Urban Teachers staff, and the rewards and challenges of the journey ahead.
How can I prepare for Summer Institute 2016?
All Cohort 2016 residents have pre-work for Summer Institute. Please plan to bring your completed pre-work for Summer Institute to your Foundations coursework during the first week of summer. Pre-work is required for all Cohort 2016 residents regardless of stated master’s program of study preference. Click here to access the pre-work.
What is the Urban Teachers attendance expectation for Summer Institute 2016?
Residents should expect to commit to a rigorous schedule of daily clinical practice, coursework, and professional development opportunities. The courses and clinical experiences are critical for preparing you for your residency year and, therefore, attendance is required for the full Summer Institute. The start date for Summer Institute is mandatory for all residents. Attendance at all coursework and Urban Teachers - Baltimore events is mandatory, unless otherwise indicated.
Please note: Urban Teachers and Johns Hopkins University do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences from coursework sessions. Participants must be available for the entire day and may not miss more than one day of Summer Institute without risking their standing with Urban Teachers.
What does a typical day at Summer Institute look like?
The daily schedule typically includes scheduled activities from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm, Monday–Friday, with occasional evening and Saturday sessions.
On weekdays, breakfast will be served from 6:30-8:30am. Clinical placements will run from approximately 7:30am-12:00pm. Boxed lunches may be picked up during breakfast hours. Coursework will last from approximately 1:00-6:15pm. Dinner will be served from 5:30-7:30pm. On weekends, brunch will be served from 11:30am-2:00pm and dinner will be served from 5:30-7:00pm.
Where will I teach during the summer?
During the summer, Urban Teachers partners with summer enrichment programs located throughout Baltimore. Urban Teachers places residents in classrooms within these programs for their Summer 2016 clinical practice. Residents will learn their specific summer placements upon arrival at Summer Institute. They should be ready to report to their sites as early as 7:30am each morning.
What is the dress code while I am at Summer Institute?
Each summer placement (summer enrichment program) has its own respective dress code, but frequently, these are business casual environments. Urban Teachers encourages all members of the Urban Teachers community to maintain a high bar and dress in a professional manner at your summer site. The specific dress codes will be placed on this E-Hub prior to the start of Summer Institute.
Dress codes typically involve:
Collared Shirts
Slacks/Suit Pants
Blouses
Knee-length skirts
Dresses
Cardigans
Capris
Blazers
Khakis
We also encourage you to follow these guidelines for the Urban Teachers coursework and professional development opportunities.
What is the Urban Teachers expectation for professionalism?
Professionalism and growth mindset are part of the evaluation of your summer performance. Expectations include:
-adherence to summer partner dress codes and professional dress for all settings;
-arrival to coursework, clinical sites, and meetings on time or early;
-using electronics only for on-task activities during clinical work, coursework, and meeting times and refraining from personal use during these times;
-using social media such as Facebook and Twitter responsibly, recognizing the open nature of these media and how quickly, easily, and irreversibly images and information may be shared;
-protecting student identities, names, photographs, and work is of critical importance; these pieces of information should never be posted on social media sites; and
-positive and respectful interactions with all Urban Teachers and summer placement staff and students.
Will I have housing during Summer Institute?
Yes, Urban Teachers will cover the costs of on-campus housing at Maryland Institute of College Art (MICA) and three meals per day. Residents are not required to live at MICA during Summer Institute. Unfortunately, MICA is not able to provide housing for significant others, children, or pets. In addition, no overnight guests are allowed during Summer Institute.
Will there be parking at MICA?
Yes, there is parking available at MICA. Parking permits can be purchased for $195. This will grant you use of the Fitzgerald parking garage near the MICA campus. Bring this form to Move-In Day to purchase a parkign pass. Although the garage is helpful, there is plenty of free parking around the university. Please be aware, that MICA is a city campus and parking is first come, first served. You must be vigilant about reading both campus and city parking signs.
What if I don’t have a car?
If you do not have a car, you will be able to carpool with other residents to your assigned clinical site or travel via train or bus. Carpoolers are encouraged to support the driver with gas mileage expenses. MICA has its own light rail stop: Mt. Royal Station.
I have allergies or specific dietary needs. Will MICA be able to provide appropriate accommodations for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Prior to Summer Institute 2016, you will receive a registration survey from Urban Teachers covering topics such as dietary needs. Please complete this survey as soon as you receive it, so that we can ensure the staff at the university can accommodate your specific dietary needs.
What should I bring with me when I move into MICA for Summer Institute?
Please be sure to bring personal items, as you would during a move-in to college. These items include but are not limited to: toiletries, sheets, linens, snacks, a fan, and shower shoes. A more comprehensive list of items can be found here. We recommend that you only bring items needed for the summer as the dorm rooms are small and provide minimal storage. All coursework textbooks will be provided by Urban Teachers and will be distributed at Summer Institute.
Are computers required? Are computers available on campus?
Residents will need a computer for coursework. Residents will have access to a few MICA desktop computers on the second floor of the Gateway dorm building, which includes printers. Urban Teachers encourages residents to bring their own laptops as well. (WI-FI access is available in coursework and in living spaces on the MICA campus; details will be shared with you upon arrival.) Please note that most assignments will be submitted to your professors electronically.
When is move out day?
Move-out day is Saturday, July 30th.
When is Summer Institute officially over? Will we have commitments to our placement school all through August, or will there be a week or two of down time in between? Can I take a vacation after Summer Institute ends?
Summer Institute ends on July 30th. Many new teacher orientations begin on August 8th while others may start later. In addition, once Summer Institute ends, residents in good standing will need to secure housing for the fall.
Are there opportunities to meet my cohort members and the broader Urban Teachers community?
There are several ways to begin connecting to other cohort members. In May, please complete the Cohort 2016 Meetbook online form to send us your information for the Cohort 2016 Meetbook—theUrban Teachers version of an online yearbook. Urban Teachers will compile all information and distribute on the first day of Summer Institute.
In addition, Urban Teachers will have a full staff of Summer Mentors during the 2016 Summer Institute. Summer Mentors will be facilitating a variety of events to build community and encourage peer collaboration. Summer Mentors will also assist in planning events across cohorts. All Summer Mentors are Urban Teachers Fellows.
Will I have an opportunity to learn about neighborhoods in Baltimore?
Residents will have coursework that will help them explore their communities to better understand their students and their families. We also encourage you to visit neighborhoods prior to and during Summer Institute. Check out the neighborhood profiles on the "Explore Baltimore" page. Urban Teachers staff members are happy to make suggestions about neighborhoods to visit and places of interest. Urban Teachers staff members will provide “Get to Know Baltimore” information at the beginning of Summer Institute.
