Academics: The Curriculum
Practicum
The following guidelines are used to determine whether practicum credit is given:
- The student has exhausted all on-campus opportunities to pursue a specific, demonstrated interest. An exception is made for day students who have been pursuing voice, musical instrument instruction, or dance before enrolling at Emma Willard School. These students may continue with that teacher and receive practicum credit. Boarding students must enroll in our music program unless the school does not employ a teacher for the instrument.
- The school does not offer a course that would allow a student to pursue advanced level work in a specific area of demonstrated excellence.
- The student is not using this practicum to fulfill Emma Willard School graduation requirements in any department. Exceptions, which are granted by the athletic director and the practicum director, may be made for students pursuing competition-level sports training to fulfill a physical education requirement. Exceptions do not guarantee that the school will provide transportation.
- Students who pursue internships, other programs, or college courses that do not fit the criteria stated above, and who have not been granted an exception, will not receive academic credit nor will school transportation be provided. While under school jurisdiction, students must have parental permission and permission from the dean of students to leave campus to participate in any internship, college course, or other program not granted academic credit by the school.
Appeals Process
Any student requesting exceptions to these guidelines must do so in writing to her advisor, the Academic Office, the practicum director, and the chair of the appropriate department. This group will arrive at a joint decision. Requests must be resubmitted for each academic year.
Transportation
The practicum program provides subsidized transportation through the North East Shuttle service to local practicum sites. Student SmartCard accounts are billed a fee per semester based on distance from EWS. While every effort is made to accommodate students wishing to pursue local practicums, numbers are limited by the driving schedule. Because school vehicles are the only means of transportation for boarding students, their use of school transportation takes precedence over day students’ use. Transportation for day students is not provided after 3:30 p.m. or on weekends if doing so would require hiring a driver for one or more additional hours.
Off-Campus Study
Off-campus study programs offer Emma Willard students the opportunity to learn in a different environment for a semester or a year. The philosophy supporting off-campus study is grounded in Emma Willard’s mission statement and is based on the premise that students should be encouraged to seek learning experiences that foster personal and intellectual growth, that expand knowledge of other cultures, that cultivate an appreciation for diversity, that provide a clearer sense of self and one’s place in the world, and that inspire a commitment to service and leadership.
The practicum director is the coordinator for all off-campus study programs and serves as the point person and facilitator for communication among off-campus programs, students, parents, and the administration. The practicum director also coordinates the pre-application process and convenes the off-campus study review committee.
Students who wish to study away from campus are required to complete an off-campus study request form by February 15. This form is available from the office of the practicum director and must be signed by the student’s parent(s). Sophomores and juniors are eligible to participate in one-semester or full-year off-campus study programs. Seniors may apply for semester-length programs but may not participate in a full-year off-campus program. As an alternative, seniors seeking a full-year off-campus study experience before going to college are encouraged to consider taking a post-graduate year for this purpose.
All students applying for off-campus study must be in good academic and social standing and must demonstrate that participation in the off-campus study experience will not prevent them from satisfying all applicable graduation requirements on schedule.
In some situations, upon her return to Emma Willard, a student may need to demonstrate that she is prepared to move on to the next level in an academic department. In order to do this, she may be required to take a final test or exam, but in no case will this be used to generate a grade.
Students in residence for the fall term have priority in housing assignments. Boarding students choosing to be away for the fall term are not allowed to participate in the housing lottery and may not reserve a room (or roommate) in anticipation of their return. While Emma Willard guarantees housing to any boarding student returning from off-campus study at midyear, it may not be possible to provide a particular space of the student’s choosing. The dean of students works closely with the admissions office to anticipate housing needs at midyear and ensure that students away on spring or full-year off-campus study programs are included in the housing lottery.
While there is no specific limitation placed on the number of students who may study off campus in a given term, enrollment needs may be considered in reviewing requests for off-campus study. In cases where this necessitates that some requests for off-campus study be denied, factors such as strength of academic record, record of service and leadership, and seniority are considered.
The off-campus study review committee acknowledges the complex reality that each program has its own fee structure and payment mechanism. In cases where a student’s off-campus program tuition is paid through Emma Willard to the program, families are expected to adhere to the school’s payment policies and deadlines. In cases where a family pays tuition directly to the off-campus study program, the school will not assume responsibility or liability for the payment of fees. Given the limitations of Emma Willard’s financial aid resources, scholarship funds will be committed to on-campus enrollment needs. Unless Emma Willard has a contractual obligation with the sponsoring organization, institutional financial aid will not be available to defray the costs of off-campus study.
