All independent project approvals will be completed prior to the Registrar's assignment of any students to requested mini-courses. Thus, submitting a proposal for an independent project will in no way compromise a student's chances of being assigned her/his (first, second, or third) choice for a mini-course. Also, specified faculty from each academic department will be available throughout the First Trimester to advise students on developing worthwhile independent projects along with the preparation of potentially successful proposals.

Proposed independent projects will be carefully evaluated for their academic merit and applicability to the Mini-Term timeframe. The expectation is for a full eight hours of intensive effort on the project during each of the seven academic workdays. Students must have direct personal contact (not e-mail or telephone) daily with the NCSSM staff member acting as their Sponsor regarding their progress toward completion of the project.

Consistent with our past practice, students will be permitted to participate in extended travel for Mini-Term just once during their two years at NCSSM, and only under the auspices of a faculty led mini-course. Thus, students must plan to spend at least one year pursuing an independent project or mini-course on, or in close proximity to, our campus (i.e. travel may not exceed three nights during the entire period, including weekends). Seniors whose Mini-Term activity involved extended travel last year (i.e. more that three nights off campus) are not eligible to participate in extended travel for Mini-Term 2010.

Most of the extended trips (as indicated in the course description) call for an advanced deposit, and each of the mini-courses for which there is a specified fee require full payment in advance. Unless otherwise noted, details in regard to payment (method, timing, etc.) will be forthcoming after Mini-Term registrations are confirmed. As always, however, the majority of mini-courses will be at no cost to the student.

Official Mini-Term registration will be confirmed in January (approximately six weeks prior to Mini-Term 2010). Every effort will be made to accommodate student preferences. But due to the prescribed approval process for independent projects and the limited enrollment capacity of the mini-courses, first or second choices cannot be guaranteed to every student.