My school/district requires proof of attendance. Do you provide something officially?
We provide a certificate specifying the professional development hours you earned at the institute. These are emailed 1-2 weeks after completion of the institute. If you signed in every day and attended every session, you will receive a certificate stating as much. If you missed a day, you will receive a certificate minus the hours from that day. New York State teachers are eligible to receive CTLE credit hours for these institutes.
Will breakfast or lunch be provided at the institute?
No. We do not provide breakfast or lunch for participants. We have, however, made some helpful suggestions for meals on our Places to Eat page. We encourage you to review our suggestions before the institute begins.
What is the dress code at the summer institutes?
Casual. Please dress comfortably with shoes you can walk in. Some classrooms are upstairs and many sessions will be held in different areas of Columbia’s campus throughout the week. We suggest bringing a light sweater or cardigan as some classrooms get a little chilly.
What should I bring with me to the institutes?
Plan to bring a notebook and a pen or pencil. Laptops are also welcome—Teachers College has a WiFi network (“TC Guest”) that you can connect to while on campus. No password is required but you will need to register with your name and email address to access the network; you will need to re-register every 24 hours. Connection is free of charge. If you take notes on a laptop, please be aware that not all classrooms come equipped with outlets for a power source. Other than that, we will provide you with everything you need at registration.
I have luggage but cannot check into my hotel yet. Is there a safe storage for it at the college?
Yes. During registration and the keynote speech on the first day of the institutes you can store your things on the 8th Floor of Thorndike Hall, TCRWP’s main office (ask a staff member for assistance with this). If you need storage after this point or throughout the week, please inquire at the front desk of our main office. We will find a suitable place for your things. Please be mindful, however, that we don’t have unlimited space—it’s first come, first served. Also, we cannot assume responsibility for your things while in our office, although we have never had issues with theft of luggage in the past.
I need to plan my travel schedule, evenings, or childcare needs. What time does the institute start/end?
The institutes run from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm for all participants; the last day ends a bit early around 2pm. On the last day of the institute, there won’t be a very long break between sessions, maybe 20 minutes. This is probably just enough time to get from one area of campus to another, to use the restroom, or to make a quick call. We suggest you grab some snacks to bring with you to your sessions so that you don’t get too hungry.
Where can I buy books?
We hold our own book sale throughout the week. If you are interested in a book, particularly a professional text, we suggest you stop by our book sale before looking elsewhere as we mark down the prices considerably. However, depending on demand, we may run out of some books. If there is something you know you’d like to purchase, come by sooner in the week rather than later. Check the morning announcements (before the keynote speech) or Trail Guide for the days, times, and location of our book sale. Other book shopping options:
Barnes & Noble at Columbia University
2922 Broadway at 115th Street
Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am- 6pm
Bank Street Bookstore
Broadway and 112th Street
Open Mon-Wed 9am-7pm, Thurs-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm
Book Culture on Broadway
2915 Broadway
Open Mon-Fri 9am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, Sunday 10am-10pm
Book Culture
536 West 112th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam
Open Mon-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm
Will there be homework?
Yes, there is homework, but nothing too strenuous. Of course, if you are taking the institute for graduate credit, you will have work that is due. The details about this will be discussed at a lunch meeting on the first day.
