Independent Degree Program: Residency—Overview

The four-day residency for the Independent Degree Program (IDP) is held at the beginning of each semester at a local conference center in Burlington, located directly on the shore of Lake Champlain. The residency typically begins on a Friday, with all students registering throughout the day and staying until Sunday evening or Monday morning. Lodging and meals are provided and are included in the tuition. There is always plenty of food, and accommodations are simple but comfortable. Students who are either vegetarian or vegan, or who have specific dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Coming from all over the United States, Alaska, California, Florida and the East coast, students most often fly directly to Burlington International Airport. Other means of travel include Amtrak, Greyhound bus and cars.

The residency is the heart and soul of the IDP. It is at the residency that students will meet individually with their advisor and faculty, discussing their courses of study for the semester ahead. Students will have communicated with both their advisor (to discuss the degree plan) and faculty prior to the residency in preparation for their meetings; typically, arrangements to complete the design of each module (the course syllabus) together at the residency, or alter what has been developed thus far, are made. Some of the beginning learning modules (Gateways to the major) are designed ahead of time by the faculty, with the majority of the learning modules co-designed by student and faculty.

In addition to the faculty meetings, students will participate in a number of workshops; throughout the weekend, that are geared toward helping the independent learner with writing and study skills (Library and database, academic writing, narrative evaluation writing, working with faculty as an independent learner, Ethics in Social Sciences, Public Speaking, Degree Project 1 and 2 workshops). New students attend a New Student Orientation on the first day of the residency, and all students gather together Friday evening to get to know one another. On the second night of the residency, students participate in a ceremony honoring those students who have completed their degree projects from the previous semester as well those students entering the final phase of degree project work. All degree project students will offer half-hour presentations of their work throughout the weekend; students are encouraged to attend these presentations.

While the schedule will be busy, there is ample time to rest and relax. Surrounded by woods and several walking trails overlooking Lake Champlain, students enjoy this peaceful setting. Downtown Burlington, with its various bookstores, shops, and restaurants lining the Church Street Marketplace, is only a short drive or bus ride from the conference center.