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"I never thought I would tour the White House, but I did because of the Presidential Classroom."
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Presidential Classroom
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Presidential Classroom? Presidential Classroom is a non-profit, non-partisan civic education
organization. We present one-week civic education programs based
in Washington, D.C. for high school juniors and seniors.
Why
did I receive this brochure?
Enclosed with the brochure is a letter. The text of the letter explains
why you are a good candidate to attend a Presidential Classroom
program.
How
can I get involved in Presidential Classroom?
Request a program brochure here
or call toll-free 1-800-441-6533. To enroll, just complete
and return a program
application (note: you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open
this PDF file), verified and signed by your principal.
How
do I qualify to become a Presidential Classroom Scholar?
How
would I benefit from participating in Presidential Classroom?
When could I attend Presidential Classroom?
Presidential Classroom offers programs in February, March, June
and July. See the schedule. What
program is right for me?
The brochure provides details on each program. Also see the program
overview and tentative schedule for each program. A good way
to approach this may be to determine what program best fits your
educational pursuits.
When
are the application deadlines?
Student Applications (NOT financial assistance applications):Include the deposit. The deadline for 2007 winter/spring programs is December 1, 2006. The deadline for 2007 summer programs is April 6, 2007. Financial Aid Applications: Do NOT include the $150 deposit. Applications for financial aid for winter/spring programs is November 3, 2006 and March 2, 2007 for summer programs. What is the tuition cost of Presidential Classroom programs?
What is included in the cost of the program?
What happens after I register? Once we receive your completed application, we will send you a "Welcome Packet" with all the information you will need to prepare for your Presidential Classroom program. The packet includes the Student Handbook, a program brochure, a Student Scheduling form and your invoice. The invoice will state how much you currently owe and when it is due. Full time staff and program faculty, including a team of instructors and the intern staff, reside at the hotel throughout the program week. You will be assigned to a "Caucus" group of approximately 40 students. Two instructors work with each Caucus Group, acting as the chaperones, mentors, guides and program facilitators for the week.Presidential Classroom Safety and Security Measures "Presidential Classroom is committed to providing a safe and non-threatening environment for students and staff at all times. Our first priority is always the safety of the students and we will go to whatever lengths necessary to ensure that safety." Is Presidential Classroom canceling their program because of the increased security awareness?
At this time, Presidential Classroom is running business as usual. Our first priority is the safety of the
students. If student safety or the quality of the program is compromised, Presidential Classroom will take
the appropriate steps necessary.
How do you determine whether it is safe to be in DC?
Presidential Classroom has always been concerned about student and staff safety. PC representatives meet
the students at designated pick-up points at three (3) regional airports (Reagan National, Dulles
International and Baltimore/Washington International) and also at the train station (Union Station). The
PC representatives will be wearing red PC shirts with white letters and holding PC signs. The PC
representatives will also be wearing PC nametags. The students are then transported by private buses to the
Georgetown University Conference Center for registration. The same private buses are the exclusive means of
transportation used to move our students to all program locations. Our staff is in direct contact with each
other through the use of Nextel (cell phones/2-way radios) and can be reached at all times. (Nextel was the
sole cell system that was functioning on 9/11.) Our Student Services Office is open 24 hours a day during
the program schedule and is staffed at all times. We have an on-site infirmary with nurse practitioners and
a doctor on-call. The students are housed in a Marriott managed hotel on the campus of Georgetown University.
The university provides us with their security plus hotel security onsite. The campus is located in a
residential area of Washington, D.C. It is also not located above or near the subway system, downtown
Washington, Capitol Hill, or federal buildings.
What if there is a terrorist attack?
Again, our first priority is the safety of the students. It is hard for us to determine what may happen in
Washington D.C. as a result of the United States War against Terrorism. If student safety or the quality
of the program is compromised, Presidential Classroom will take the appropriate steps necessary. During
the Persian Gulf War, September 11th, The Iraqi and Afghanistan invasions and the last rise in terror
alerts federal agencies, Congress, and other area businesses continued to remain open in Washington, as
did Presidential Classroom. We use past occurrences as a guide for current preparations.
Our first course of action is to gather the students together and safely transport them to the Georgetown University Conference Center (GUCC). We feel that the GUCC is a safe and secure area that can provide proper security, health care, and nourishment in an emergency situation. We will then make arrangements (air, train, bus, etc.) for the students to return home as soon as possible. If the need arises (and time permits) we are prepared to evacuate the students to a safe place outside of the metro DC area (to a Marriott operated facility, if available). Rest-assured that PC will go to great lengths to ensure their safety. Our first concern is to make sure the students are safe. We will then contact all parents/guardians with their location. Please make sure that we have all emergency contact information. How do the students travel while in DC?
Students are separated into caucus groups of 40 with two volunteer instructors who oversee the group. Each
caucus group travels on chartered buses throughout the metro DC area. Presidential Classroom staff and/or
interns also frequently travel on board.
Will someone be at the airport/train station to meet me?
A representative from Presidential Classroom will meet students until 5 p.m. the day of arrival (Sunday).
Refer to your Student Handbook to find
where to meet our representative. The representatives are easy to recognize -- they will have on red
t-shirts or sweatshirts with "Presidential Classroom" on the front. They will also have a "Presidential
Classroom" sign.
How do the students travel from airports?
After students arrive at the airport, they are transported onto chartered buses directly to the
Georgetown University Conference Center. Presidential Classroom is always concerned about student and
staff safety. PC representatives meet the students at designated pick-up points at three (3) regional
airports (Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International) and also at the
train station (Union Station). The PC representatives will be wearing red PC shirts with white letters and
holding PC signs. The PC representatives will also be wearing PC nametags. The students are then transported
by private buses to the Georgetown University Conference Center for registration.
Are the students supervised at all times?
Full time staff and program faculty, including a team of instructors and the intern staff, reside at the
hotel throughout the program week. Each student is assigned to a "Caucus" of approximately 40
students with two instructors acting as the chaperones, mentors, guides and program facilitators for the week.
What if war breaks out or there
is a terrorist attack?
Again, our first priority is the safety
of the students. It is hard for us to determine what may happen
in Washington, D.C., as a result of the United States invading Iraq.
If student safety or the quality of the program is compromised,
Presidential Classroom will take the appropriate steps necessary.
During the Persian Gulf War and September 11th, federal agencies,
Congress, and other area businesses continued to remain open in
Washington, as did Presidential Classroom. We use past occurrences
as a guide for current preparations.
Our first course of action is to gather the students together and safely transport them to the Georgetown University Conference Center (GUCC). We feel that the GUCC is a safe and secure area that can provide proper security, health care and nourishment in an emergency situation. We will then make arrangements (air, train, bus, etc.) for the students to return home as soon as possible. If the need arises (and time permits) we are prepared to evacuate the students to a safe place outside of the metro DC area (to a Marriott operated facility, if available). Rest-assured that PC will go to great lengths to ensure their safety. Our first concern is to make sure the students are safe. We will then contact all parents/guardians with their location. Please make sure that we have all emergency contact information on file. What happens if the airports/train
stations close?
If the area airports and train stations
close, we will keep students/staff in a safe place until a time
that alternative routes are established so they can travel home
or be released into the care of their parent/guardian.
What about the hotels and the
subway?
GUCC is not widely known as a commercial
hotel. Even though it is run by Marriott, it is literally on the
campus of Georgetown University and is owned by the University.
The hotel is not underneath or near a subway, nor near downtown
Washington or federal buildings. We feel the GUCC is a safe, non-threatening
area for the students to reside.
Will there be appropriate health care available in case of an emergency? A health clinic, on-call doctor and nurse practitioner are available 24 hours a day. Presidential Classroom staff is also trained in CPR and First Aid. The GUCC is located immediately adjacent to the Georgetown University Hospital. How and when will I be contacted
if something happens in Washington, D.C.?
Presidential Classroom will contact
parents as soon as possible in case of an emergency, after students
are properly accounted for and brought to a safe and secure location.
How will I be able to contact
my son/daughter if something happens in Washington, D.C.?
The Student Services Office should
be the first place you try, at 202-464-5580. If that is not
working or overwhelmed with calls, Presidential Classroom has set
up an emergency toll-free number. This is for OUTGOING information
only. You will not be able to leave a message. Dial 1-800-862-0718
for updates in emergency situations only.
We will post updates on our Web site, at www.presidentialclassroom.org. What is the refund policy? Will
there be a change in refund policy? If Presidential Classroom continues
to run our programs, our refund policy will remain as stated in
the Student Handbook. (See table below.) If Presidential
Classroom is unable to provide a program, for whatever reason, your
monies will be refunded. However, if Presidential Classroom has
to cancel mid-week, or while the students are currently in Washington,
the tuition will be refunded at a pro-rated amount. You also have
the option, instead of canceling, to transfer to another week either
later in the spring or in the summer. If the student is a junior
in high school, they also have the option of deferring their enrollment
to next year.
If you must cancel, please notify us immediately and in writing. We can refund the tuition balance only as indicated. We will not refund tuition for students who are dismissed from the program for disciplinary reasons nor for those who leave for medical reasons.
How
many students dress formally for the dance?
Approximately 80% dress in more formal attire than the "business
dress" code that is in effect for the rest of the week. You
do not have to dress in formal attire, but you may not dress casually
for the dance. For more details, see the "Dress Code"
section of the
Student Handbook.
Is
there any time I can dress casually?
You will dress professionally for the majority of the program. You
may dress casually when you tour museums on Sunday and during lounge
each evening.
I need to change my class date, how do I do that?
Send your request in writing, with a $25 change fee. Be specific
about the dates. Please send your request to: Presidential Classroom Admissions Dept. Please hold on to all the Welcome Packet materials you received. We will send you a new invoice reflecting the new dates and any updated materials you may need. The majority of the information you have already received will apply to your new class dates. I have special needs (physical, dietary, religious). What do I need
to do? Make sure that everything is outlined on the back of your application
in the dietary/medical section. Include additional details in writing
along with the application if there is not enough room. Admissions
may call you to discuss details and to clarify everything.
I
take medication and need to keep it refrigerated, can you provide
me with a refrigerator in my room?
Our infirmary has a refrigerator to store your medicine. If you
have special needs that need to be addressed, e-mail us at info@presidentialclassroom.org.
You may also call our admissions department to discuss this at 1-800-441-6533.
I
have hypoglycemia and need to carry snacks so I can control this
condition. Can I do this?
You may carry snacks with you. You need to let us know this before
attending the program. You can list this on the back of your application
in the medical/dietary area.
Can
I be roomed with a friend or fellow classmate?
We do not room students together from the same school or state. We room students
together from different schools and parts of the country. This gives
students the opportunity to interact with peers from other areas
of the country and abroad.
Can
I bring a laptop computer/ tape recorder/ camera/ video camera/
cell phone?
You can bring these items, however, you will probably not be able
to take them into some of the seminars/events. You will also be
responsible for their safety. We require all cell phones to be turned off and stored during seminars, meetings and other times designated by staff.
Can
I have visitors during program?
Sorry, but the full schedule does not provide time for visitors.
Visitors will need to schedule a time to meet with you before or
after your program week. The program will keep you busy from early
morning until very late each evening.
What
do I do if I need to leave the program early?
You will need to bring a letter to the program stating your request,
signed by a parent or guardian. This letter will be your release
form to depart the program early.
How
much money should I bring?
Your tuition covers all of your meals/hotel (except daily
lunches ) and program costs. You
may want to purchase souvenirs and the student picture (a large
poster size color picture of your class) and weekly CD of the
program.. Approximately $150-$200 may
be enough. You can also use ATM machines and Travelers checks.
I
came to a program and now want to purchase my class photo, what
do I do?
Central Photo, who does our group photos, has negatives archived
dating back to 2000. You can call them at 202-544-6065. If you have been accepted into a program week, the deposit is nonrefundable (as stated on the application that you submitted). We can roll this deposit over to a later week or the next year if you have not graduated. However, even if the deposit is applied to the next year, it is nonrefundable. For other refund policies refer to the Student Handbook. My schedule has changed and I can not attend this year. I have paid my
deposit/tuition and would like to come next year. What do I do?
You will need to notify our admissions department of your change. If you have not graduated, we will
transfer over any monies paid to the next program year. In the fall, you will receive a letter and new
brochure stating that the funds have been transferred to next year's program. You can then select a program
and submit it according to the instructions you will receive. You can let us know about this change by
calling admissions at 1-800-441-6533 or e-mailing
info@presidentialclassroom.org
See Shuttle Schedule for details on times and refer to your Student Handbook,
pages 11 & 12 to find where to meet our representative. The representatives are easy to recognize --
they will have on red t-shirts or sweatshirts with "Presidential Classroom" on the front. They
will also have a "Presidential Classroom" sign.
I need to arrive a day early, what do I need to do?
Presidential Classroom does not provide accommodations before or after the attended program week. Please call the admissions department at 1-800-441-6533 for more details
If you
arrive close to 5 p.m. or a little after, go to the location listed in the handbook. If the PC staff has
left, we suggest you take the Super Shuttle to the hotel (a stand is located at the airport). The cost is
less then a taxi and the service is door-to-door. If you need assistance, call our Student Services Office
202-464-5580 and our staff will help you through the process. This applies to any student who arrives later
in the evening also.
Preparing for Presidential Classroom Can you provide me with names of other students or schools
in my area that have or are sending students?
We do not give out students' names and addresses. However, we can provide you with contact information for
schools in your area that have recently sent students to PC. We need your area code, state, and zip code in
order to process your request. You can e-mail this information to admissions at
info@presidentialclassroom.org or call 1-800-441-6533.
No. Our staff will set up appointments for you. Do not call congressional offices in Washington directly.
Refer to the program brochure in your Welcome Packet or see the
Program Overview for the specific program you
registered for. A good rule of thumb is to look at Crossfires as an exchange of ideas. There is no right/or
wrong opinion. Once you pick the topic you are interested in under each session, follow the news and refer
to the resources listed in your program brochure. Also, don't forget to return your Crossfire selections at
least two weeks before you attend. See the scheduling form included in your packet.
A government-issued ID - a driver's license, military ID, state ID or passport are good choices.
When is my final payment due?
This is normally 6 weeks prior to your participation. The invoice enclosed in your Welcome Packet lists the
due date. See your invoice for the exact date.
Financial aid applications must be postmarked by the following date:
Financial assistance applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), and must demonstrate financial need in order to be eligible. Please complete the 2007 program application (also in the student brochure) and submit the following materials along with your completed application:
Do I have to submit all my financial aid materials at the same time?
No. You may send in the items separately, but we must have them all postmarked by the respective deadlines.
We are unable to notify applicants of missing material.
We cannot consider incomplete financial aid applications.
Do you accept late financial aid applications?
No. All applications must be postmarked by the respective deadline.
What income level will I need to "demonstrate financial need"?
Each year the income level of successful applications varies. It is based on the number of applications we
receive and the amount of funds we have available. The actual income amount will not be determined until we
evaluate all financial aid applications, after the deadline.
If we receive your completed application more than four weeks before the scholarship deadline, you will receive written notification. We encourage you to start the fundraising process as soon as possible!
Do I have to send a deposit if I'm applying for financial aid?
No. Once the financial aid decisions are made (after the deadline), you will receive written notification and
an acceptance form. At that time, you decide whether you want to attend the program or not. At that time
you will return the acceptance form with your $150 deposit.
If I decide not to attend after I send in my deposit, will it be refunded?
All deposits are non-refundable once you are accepted into
the program. We can roll your deposit over to next year if you have
not graduated. However, even if the deposit is used for next year
it is nonrefundable. For other refund policies refer to the student
handbook.
How much financial assistance will I receive
Need-based financial assistance ranges from $100 - $600.
When
will I be notified about financial aid?
You will receive written notification approximately 4 weeks
after the financial aid deadline.
Will
I get my first choice?
Your first choice is not guaranteed. We only have a limited
number of funds available for each week. We encourage you
to indicate your top three choices. If we cannot put you in one
of those choices you will be contacted.
What
if I am unable to attend the week that I received a financial assistance
for?
Do
you have college scholarships?
No. Our scholarships are only for students to attend Presidential
Classroom.
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