Frequently Asked Questions
Academics
How
do I gain approval for my new W&M in Washington Program courses?
Once you have been selected to teach a semester with the W&M in Washington Program, it is a good idea to get started on the approval process. Most often, your department chair will allow you to use a topics course with variable credits for one or more of the new courses.
If you cannot get the courses/credits you need through existing course numbers, you will need to petition EPC to create new courses. Visit the EPC site at http://web.wm.edu/as/committees/educationalpolicy/ for more information on how to proceed and an online "New Course Application." Please note: It is your responsibility to petition EPC. Program Administrators cannot do that for you.
Please note, the total credit for all three courses must total at least 12 and no more than 14. The Program Director will work with you to ensure the necessary credits are achieved.
Can I propose new classes or do I need to have them previously?
We actually encourage you to create new classes that use DC's unique educational opportunities.
One course should be a broad survey of the topic and the second a more focused seminar using guest speakers and/or site visits.
How many students will I work with through the Program and will they take all of my classes or can they choose to take just one?
W&M in Washington is currently capped at 18 students. These 18 enroll in both of your courses and the internship; they have no options.
What kind of academic work should I assign for the internship credits?
While the specifics are up to you, typically Program professors ask students to complete a research paper, portfolio, or online journal that allows them to discuss what they learned on site.
We encourage you to speak with past professors or the [[roadle, Program Director]] to see examples and syllabi that worked especially well.
Departmental Obligations
How will teaching courses in DC affect my course load obligations to my department?
You are technically teaching 3 courses here in DC. As long as all three are listed in your department, your semester in Washington will count for your 3-course load.
How will my department cover my usual classes while I am in DC?
Your home department will receive up to $25,000 to cover the cost of hiring a replacement instructor.
Application Process
What is the process for me to apply?
We strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your Department Chair to let him/her know of your plans to apply to teach in the Program.
Once you are ready to begin your proposal,
please visit our online system to create a profile. More information and a link to the system may
be found here.
What type of themes is the Selection Committee most interested in accepting?
W&M in Washington is committed to providing topics that will appeal to students from many different disciplines. From the Arts to International Relations, and areas in between, the varying semester topics allow students with all areas of interest to participate during a semester that appeals to them.
For this reason, theme titles are incredibly important. The broader a title sounds, the more students will look into it and consider applying.
Topics that draw the most student interest tend to involve some element of public policy and/or government. Past themes include Courting Politics, Politicking the Courts: The Intersections Between Law and Politics, U.S. National Security in the Twenty-First Century, International Politics in Economic Hard Times, and Post-Conflict State Building. Even our Spring 2007 theme, Washington and the Arts: The Intersection of the Global and the Local, still included visits to the Library of Congress and National Endowment for the Arts.
Who selects the proposals? When will I be notified whether or not I've been selected?
A Selection Committee makes the final decision on which proposals to select. This committee is made up of Program administrators from the Washington Office, former Program professors and a representative from the Dean of Arts & Sciences Office.
A specific Request for Proposals (RFP) is announced each Fall. Proposals may also be submitted without an RFP and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Proposals not selected may be held for future consideration.
Can I apply to teach more than one semester?
Yes! If you are interested in teaching more than one semester, please submit proposals for distinctly different themes.
Recruitment
Am I responsible for recruiting students?
Once your selected topic is announced, the Washington Office administrators will need your help to advertise on campus.
While they do the bulk of the formal recruiting, you will be given the opportunity to speak at an Information Session to answer students' questions. Of course, you will also want to encourage your own students to apply and your colleagues' students to apply.
Your semester in DC is only guaranteed if it has enough students, so the more you can do to recruit students, the better.
Click here for a more specific guide to planning for a fall semester or a spring semester in DC.
