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 Theresa Lynn, biology with Robert Drewell, mathematics with Talithia Williams, computer science with Zachary Dodds, and HumSoc taught by Darryl Wright &  Charles Kamm. Workshops also include one on collegiate level writing with Wendy Menefee-Libey of the Writing Center.

Personal and Social Benefits:
SI students get an early feel for the campus, classes, professors, workload, lingo, folklore, independence, and self-responsibility of Mudd. There is also time to investigate the campuses and resources of the other Claremont Colleges and the village of Claremont. Perhaps more importantly, SI students develop a long-lasting bond with other SI students and mentors.

It’s really amazing to make friends with people from all over the country with such different backgrounds, who share the same interests with you. They will continue to be close companions in your four years at Harvey Mudd.  And the best part is that this is all away from academic stress. Therefore, students have nothing else to do except to have fun!  SI is not a summer school program to get a head-start in academics; it is an opportunity to develop the maturity and sociability to excel in college life and beyond.

I don’t think I stopped smiling for 2 ½ weeks… with 27 new friends and a staff dedicated to helping us have fun, it was impossible to! Bonding over suite decorating contests, talent shows, trips to amusements parks and museums, and an overnight retreat brought me really close with everyone involved in SI. Starting college was a much easier (and more fun!) experience knowing I already had friends and staff members I could go to for support.
-Sarah Ferraro, SI '08 & Mentor for SI '09 (left)

I remember on the first day we were all going to bed after our scheduled activities were done. But every activity we did helped make us better students and brought us closer together. By the end of SI I almost never went to bed after our activities, instead spending time with friends I could hardly believe I'd only known for two and a half weeks.
-Steve Matsumoto, SI '08 & Mentor for SI '09 (second from left, top row)

Schedule:
SI participants will arrive at HMC on Sunday, August 9 (yes, we know it'll be hard to wait until then!). Between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM that day students should check in at Atwood dorm and move into their dorm rooms. Most students will live in single rooms. For those living in doubles or triples, the five 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 (in fact, if you can, have someone bring or send the rest of your stuff later). At the end of the program, SI students will move from Atwood to their 2009-2010 rooms.

At noon, an opening lunch 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 icebreakers and teambuilding activities, including an overnight ropes course program at the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education, located in the nearby mountains. For the rest of the program, students will be in class during weekdays. Evenings will involve activities such as a games night and scavenger hunt, and weekends will be consumed with field trips to places like theme parks, museums, and the beach (which in California is phenomenal during the summer). 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.

The day 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. After a closing ceremony in the afternoon, students will have the rest of the day to themselves. The following day, August 27, all first-year students will arrive for Orientation 2009. You may download a PDF version of the schedule at the sidebar link above.

Housing and Dining:
Summer Institute students live together in Atwood dorm with Roque 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 evening activities, excursions to the sights of LA, and meals on weekends. Throughout the year, mentors continue to help SI students and organize mentoring groups which meet several times a semester.

This year's SI mentors are:

Roque Muna Head Mentor (SI '07)
Mira De Avila-Shin (SI '08)
Sarah Ferraro (SI '08)
Hayden Hatch (SI '08)
Nick Hill (SI '08)
Steve Matsumoto (SI '08)

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