Academic Benefits  |  Personal and Social Benefits  |  Application and Selection
Schedule  |  Housing and Dining  |  Mentors  |  Coordinators

The HMC Summer Institute (HMCSI) is an engaging, two and a half week program for students about to enter Harvey Mudd  College. It runs from Sunday, August 10, 2008 to Thursday, August 28, the first day of Orientation for students in the HMC Class of 2012. HMCSI is open to ALL members of the entering class, and is designed to help ensure the academic and personal success of those who participate. The program also targets students who are underrepresented in science, math, and engineering programs (i.e., women, first-generation students, and students of color).  Between 20-25 incoming, first-year students may participate in SI each August. The program, including room and meals, is free.


Academic Benefits:
Students will take a series of non-credit workshops that will present conceptual and practical tools for solving problems across the disciplines of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and Humanities and Social Sciences (HumSoc). The chemistry section will be taught by David Vosburg, with physics by Tom Donnelly, biology with  Karl Haushalter, mathematics, computer science with Zachary Dodds, and HumSoc taught by Marianne de Laet. Workshops also include one on collegiate level writing with Wendy Menefee-Libey of the Writing Center.

Personal and Social Benefits:
SI students arrive on campus prior to the rush of Orientation. Upperclass students and professors doing summer research are relaxed and able to leisurely chat and answer questions. Institute students get an advance feel for the campus, classes, professors, workload, lingo, folklore, independence, and self-responsibility of Mudd so they are comfortable and well prepared for the start of the academic year. There is also time to investigate the campuses and resources of the other Claremont Colleges and the village of Claremont.

Most importantly, SI students share an engaging experience during a difficult and exciting period of life transition. Students leave the program with a core group of multicultural peers who can provide mutual support throughout their time at Mudd.

Application and Selection:
Application is open to all entering first year students, with special consideration for students who are underrepresented in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology at HMC. The application (doc) is available here or through the sidebar link above and requires a one-page essay addressing why you want to participate in the program and why you should be chosen for it. All applications received by June 10, 2008 will be considered for participation. Notifications of acceptance will go out very soon thereafter so that families may complete their summer plans. President's Scholars are automatically enrolled in the program but should still complete the application.

Schedule:
Institute participants will arrive at HMC on Sunday, August 10, 2008. Between 8:00am and 12:00 noon that day students should check-in at Atwood dorm and move into their dorm rooms. The five upperclass SI Mentors (see below) will have chosen a suitable roommate for you before your arrival, based on your Roommate Matching form for Orientation. You need not bring or unpack everything you need for your regular year room (if you can, have someone can bring the rest of your stuff later). At the end of the program, SI students will move from Atwood to their 2008-2009 rooms.

At noon, an opening picnic for participants, parents, friends, and relatives will be held in the Green Room of the Platt Campus Center. A session outlining the program will follow. After a brief good-bye to parents and families, students will move directly into their activities.

For the first week of the program, students will participate in a variety of activities, including a “ropes course” and overnight trip to the nearby mountains. For the rest of the program, students will be in class during weekdays. Most evenings and substantial parts of weekends will be consumed with homework, field trips, and “group bonding” activities. Because participation in all facets of HMCSI is educationally beneficial, students should not expect to be able to visit home or have friends or relatives visit them here. Essential prior commitments (e.g. weddings) can be accommodated.

During the weekend before Orientation, SI students will move into their regular academic year rooms. Most people will have different roommates than the ones they had in SI. The following day, August 28, all first-year students will arrive for Orientation 2008.

You may download a PDF version of the schedule here.

Housing and Dining:
Summer Institute students live together in Atwood dorm with Donna and the Mentors (a new band?!). Atwood is air-conditioned and therefore should be quite comfortable for the hot Southern California August. Students will eat in Hoch-Shanhan dining hall on weekdays. On weekends, Mentors will coordinate the preparation of, transportation to, or delivery of meals.

Mentors:
HMCSI Mentors help with the academic work of the program and introduce students to the culture and social life of the college and Claremont community. Academically, they attend workshops and tutor on homework. Socially, they are the primary source of information on the "real” Mudd during SI. They also organize study breaks at night, excursions to the sights of LA, and meals on weekends.

This year's SI mentors are:

Donna Phu Head Mentor (SI '05)
Anna Cunningham (SI '07)
Esther Wang (SI '07)
Jeffrey Lym (SI '07)
Roque Muna  (SI '07)

Coordinators:
Questions about the program may be directed to:

Gary Kelly, Associate Dean, Institutional Diversity (909)607-8875, gary_kelly@hmc.edu

Angelica Ibarra, Diversity Programs Coordinator (909) 607-3470, angelica_ibarra@hmc.edu

Donna Phu '09 (SI '03) HMCSI Head Mentor donna_phu@hmc.edu