You should check in at the lobby of your residence hall. You will receive residence hall and room assignments in a later mailing. Please complete the check-in process before the Opening Ceremony, which begins at 1:00pm.

Humanities (HUM) students should plan to arrive Sunday, July 5, between 9:00am and 10:30am for check-in to the residence halls.

Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) students should plan to arrive Sunday, July 5, between 10:30am and noon for check-in to the residence halls.

During the check-in period you may move your personal belongings into your room. Signs will be posted designating unloading only areas. After unloading, follow signs to designated parking. At check-in you will receive your room key, access card, and identification button. You will also receive directions to local restaurants, if requested. There will be no dining service on campus for lunch, so you will want to plan to have lunch off campus before the Opening Ceremonies.

An orientation program for all students will be held at 1:00pm in the Ferguson Center for the Arts Concert Hall. This session is designed to acquaint you and your parents/guardians with the staff who will be working with you and to introduce you to the month’s activities. Although parents/guardians are not required to remain for the ceremony, they are warmly encouraged to do so. The ceremony will conclude at 2:00pm. Faculty and staff will linger following the ceremony in order for you and your parents/guardians to visit with them. Parents/guardians may depart for home at any time but must leave campus by 4:00pm.

The general weekly schedule can be found here. Specific weekly schedules will be distributed to you at the beginning of each week listing special activities along with their times and locations. All scheduled activities are required unless otherwise noted.

 

Core classes (9:00am-12:30pm) meet within disciplines. HUM students take a HUM course during this time, while VPA students take a course in their appropriate art form. Refer to course descriptions for specific details.

 

Seminars (1:30pm – 2:30pm) are small classes (12-15 students) designed to explore in-depth a discipline-specific subject. This course will employ discovery and discussion and will meet Monday through Friday. Refer to course descriptions for specific details.

 

Interdisciplinary classes (3:00pm – 4:30pm) are composed of HUM and VPA students. Classes have a team of instructors from the HUM and VPA teaching faculties. Refer to course descriptions for specific details.

Optional Opportunities (4:30pm – 6:00pm) are offered most weekday afternoons and include workshops, master classes, discussions, and recreational opportunities. Participation will be open to all on a first come, first served basis. The day’s offerings will be posted in the residence halls each morning.

The Governor's School attempts to provide a broad spectrum of cultural events. The Special Events Calendar, posted on each hall, specifies these events which occur on and off campus. You will travel in buses to off-campus activities.  RAs will supervise all off-campus trips, and all Governor’s School guidelines apply.  Check the weekly schedules for specific locations and loading times for these trips.

 

Certain classes may go on field trips during normal class time. Specific meeting times and locations will be announced.

In order to receive a Governor’s School certificate, you are required to be in residence from the Opening Ceremony on July 5 through the Closing Ceremony on August 1. You will not be excused from campus during the session for any reason other than an emergency. If you accept appointment to the Governor’s School you must be prepared to forego other activities, however commendable they may be, for the duration of the program. The overall program (as well as your own course of study) is too greatly compromised by absences to make exceptions to this rule. Please understand that this guideline is in place to ensure that all students derive the maximum benefit from the Governor’s School program.

You have been chosen to represent your school. Act as an ambassador of your area. Your attendance is a privilege that can be revoked.

 

Failure to comply with any of the following standards will result in immediate dismissal from the program:

1. You may not possess or use alcohol or illegal drugs.
2. You may not smoke, use, or possess any tobacco product.
3. You may not leave campus at any time without permission.
4. You may not visit the residential areas of the opposite gender at any time. You may not enter residence halls occupied by other groups on campus.

 

You are expected to comply with the following guidelines:

1. You must be in your residence hall and on your floor by 10:30pm. (The main doors will be locked at this time. Student access cards for admittance to the building will not function after 10:30pm.) Campus Security will not permit any door to be propped open. You should lock your door at night and any time you leave your room. These rules exist for your safety.
2. You must be in your room by 11pm (i.e., not in the bathroom or your suitmates' room). You must reamin in your room until 6:00am.
3. Because your access card for entry into the residence hall will not function until 6:30am, you must remain in your residence hall until that time.
4. You must participate in all scheduled activities, including morning announcements. In case of illness, notify your Resident Advisor (RA). You must arrive on time to all classes and activities, including morning announcements.
5. When you walk at night, please travel in groups. The Great Lawn and other areas as identified are off limits from 8:00pm until 6:30am.
6. Off-campus visitors are not permitted at any time.
7. Your Governor's School identification (button) must be worn above the waist on the front of your body and be visible at all times.
8. Burning incense and/or candles, and hanging material from ceilings, are considered fire hazards and are not allowed.
9. You are personally responsible for all medications (over the counter and prescription) that you bring with you to Governor's School. You may not distribute medication to fellow students.

 

You are expected to display common courtesy in the following manner:

1. Please keep noise levels to a minimum in residence halls, practice areas, the library, and near University offices.
2. Please keep your room and bathroom clean and the lounges free of clutter. Empty your room trash can into the large trash can on each floor. Clean up after yourself in shared or common spaces. Recycle in the bins provided.
3. Please limit your phone conversations to five minutes when others are waiting. A limited number of phones are available throughout campus.
4. Please limit your personal time on University computers to 10-minute sessions when others are waiting.
5. Please be aware that University resources such as phones and computers are being shared among 400 students as well as other groups on campus.
6. Please wear clothing appropriate to the climate and to the activities in which you will participate. Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times.
7. Please do not bring personal listening devices (iPod, CD player, etc.) to class or any scheduled activity.

 

Failure to comply with these standards and expectations will result in appropriate consequences. The form of the consequence depends on the nature and frequency of the offense(s).

To help ensure a respectful community of learners and an environment conducive to learning, the Governor's School establishes these guidelines for student dress:

 

• Outdoor temperatures are usually warm so bring light, mostly casual clothing. You will have a couple of occasions to "dress up."
• Air conditioning keeps academic spaces well chilled, so warmer attire is recommended indoors.
• Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times.
• Avoid clothing that reveals mid-driffs, backs, or undergarments.
• Clothing should be neat, comfortable, and modest.

 

If you question the appropriateness of your attire, you may visit our website or contact the office for more specific guidelines.

Roommate assignments will be made very carefully to ensure that you meet as many fellow students as possible. You will receive the name and address of your assigned roommate in June. Male and female students are housed in separate living spaces and visitation between male and female rooms or halls is never permitted. All male students live in York River West. Most female students live in York River East, however a random selection of female students live in a well-separated section of York River West. Male and female students may meet in designated areas. The RAs live with you on the halls and are available at all times. You must be in your residence hall at 10:30pm every evening and in your rooms and quiet by 11:00pm. Other specific residence hall regulations will be explained when you arrive.

 

You are responsible for the care and preservation of your room while at Governor's School. Any damage to rooms or other University property will be repaired at your expense.

Watch, camera, umbrella, alarm clock, watch, radio, pens, pencil‚ paper, musical instruments, props and costumes for the variety show and dances, iron, detergent, quarters for laundry, hangers, clothes, mattress pad and sheets, pillow, pillowcases, blanket, bathrobe, towels, washcloths, shower shoes, soap, and other items of a personal nature.

Alcoholic beverages, drugs (other than medications) or tobacco products, weapons (including "look alike" toys), televisions, DVD players, telephones (including wireless phones), computers, pagers, laser pointers, expensive stereo equipment or jewelry, pets, cars, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, candles, and incense.

Absolutely no visitors are allowed for the duration of the program. To appreciate this rule you must understand that one of the purposes of the school is to achieve a cohesive, self-contained environment in which students can study and come to know one another with a minimum of external distractions.

 

At any time during the session, packages for you may be dropped off between the hours of 8:30am and 10:30pm in the Governor's School office located in York River West. A member of the staff will deliver the package to you. This should not be seen as an opportunity for you to visit with your parents/guardians or any other off-campus person.

The Governor’s School seeks to promote community among its members, helping students discover the person they are, not just the person they’ve been expected to be. This means fostering an environment with limited distractions. Over the past 20 years, we have found that students appreciate the ability to concentrate on relationships within the community and leave behind, if only for a brief time, the demands and interruptions that everyday life imposes.

 

We believe that wireless phones impede the fundamental goals of the Governor’s School experience. To that end, we expect that you will respect our community formation process by leaving wireless phones at home. We expect full compliance by you and your parents with this policy.

You must wear your button at all times, on and off campus, to allow University personnel and Governor's School staff to identify Governor's School students easily. Your name and the Governor's School logo must remain legible. Governor's School staff and faculty members will also wear their buttons at all times to model expected behavior.

When the fire alarm sounds, you should calmly evacuate the building immediately through the appropriate exits. You will then gather as halls or classes at the meeting place designated by your RA or faculty member. at which time attendance will be taken and instructions will be given. To ensure safety, you are expected to comply with all instructions given by Governor’s School, University, or emergency personnel.

After 8:00pm you may be in the following areas:

 

• your residence hall;
• on the York River Green between the residence halls and Student Union;
• practicing or working in designated areas in the Ferguson Center for the Arts;
• the Governor's School office area;
• the library;
• the Student Union first and second floors (not the third floor or stairwells);
• the Ferguson loop, in well lit areas away from the street;
• moving on the way to or from any of the above places (no congregating in parking lots.

These areas will be explained and pointed out upon your arrival.

All residence halls on the Christopher Newport University campus have 24
hour card access. Entry into the living areas of the residence halls is not
permitted without a key card. When you arrive you will receive an access card
for meals and library privileges and a key card. The key card allows you into
your residence hall only and denies entry into other residence halls. It also
allows access to your room. Because these items provide access to residential
areas for their possessor, losing them carries both a fine and a breach in security.
Contact your RA immediately if you lose your key or access card.

You will not leave campus except during official Governor's School activities or with proper authorization. During any Governor's School off-campus trip, you are required to wear your button above the waist and visible at all times. Should an emergency arise, the button will identify you and a Governor's School staff member will be notified. Please travel together in groups of two or more whenever we are off campus.

Any illness, whether slight or severe, must be reported to your RA. If you are ill, do not remain in your room; report to the nurse, if able, for assessment and treatment. In the event of an emergency, contact an RA or other Governor's School staff member immediately. If you suspect the injury or incident to be life threatening or a matter of extreme emergency, dial 911 immediately. All non-emergency incidents will be evaluated by the nurse and treated or sent to the appropriate medical facility. A local rescue squad will transport emergency cases to a nearby emergency room. RAs will take all other cases to a local physician for treatment.

 

We must be aware of your current medical health and history, including medication you need to take, so your parent or guardian MUST complete the medical information forms. These forms, along with an attached copy of your insurance information, prescription card, and driver's license or other photo identification must be submitted by May 18, and must be updated afterward should medical conditions change.

In order to provide a safe and disciplined environment conducive to learning and to protect the safety and welfare of students, staff, and faculty, Governor's School personnel may search a student's person and/or personal effects whenever there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the student possesses illegal or unauthorized materials. (Please refer to the section entitled, "What Not to Bring.") The Governor's School adheres to the Virginia Department of Education's guidelines and standards for student searches.

The residence hall rooms are air-conditioned and will be furnished with two
desks, two extra long twin beds, wardrobes, window coverings, a microwave,
refrigerator, and in-room sink. The residence halls are equipped with laundry
rooms, a few TV lounges, and drink and snack machines.

You are welcome to use all library services during your stay at Christopher
Newport University. During the first week of Governor’s School, you will
receive instruction on how to use the Library Catalog, electronic indexes, and
how to find materials in the libraries. You must present your access card to
check out library materials. Materials will be checked out for a one-week
circulation period. All materials are due Wednesday, July 29. All overdue fines
and/or replacement costs for lost or damaged materials are ultimately your
responsibility. Room key deposits may be held if materials and/or fines are
outstanding as of Friday, July 31. Additional information about the libraries
may be found online at http://library.cnu.edu/.

 

Trible Library (Main Library)
Monday - Thursday, 8am - 7pm
Friday, 8am - 5pm

Saturday, 9am - 1pm
Sunday, 1pm - 5pm

 

Media Resource Center
Weekdays, 8am - 5pm

 

Reference Desk
Weekdays, 9am- 5pm

Practice facilities and studios, separate from residence halls, are provided for VPA and HUM students. In general, facilities are available:

 

• Monday - Friday, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• Saturday, 3:30pm - 5:00pm, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• Sunday, 1pm - 5pm, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

 

Availability is limited; facilities are reserved for VPA students when needed. These times are subject to change daily. Actual times will be clearly posted and facilities monitored. On evenings in which an activity is not scheduled, facilities may be available at additional times.

The first meal served is dinner on Sunday, July 5 at 5:00pm. Thereafter, three meals are served daily except Sunday, when brunch and dinner are served. The last meal served is a continental breakfast for students on Saturday, August 1. Only limited lunch and dinner service is available on Family Day (Sunday, July 19, 2009).

University recreational facilities will be available on a limited basis for your use. You should bring any basic equipment that you might wish to use (e.g., tennis racquet and balls, tennis shoes, softball gloves, Frisbees, aerobic attire, lacrosse sticks, field hockey sticks). Some specialized equipment such as volleyballs and basketballs will be provided.

Each residence hall has its own coin-operated laundry facilities (washers and dryers). Washers and dryers cost $1.25 per load. Bring plenty of quarters as change machines are not available. Keep in mind that at least 200 students and staff will share 10-12 washers and dryers in each residence hall, so prompt removal of laundry from machines displays common courtesy.

The University provides computers and Internet access for educational use to Governor’s School students. In using computers and the Internet, you must act in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner and follow the University’s Policy Regarding the Use of Technology and Information Resources.

 

Computers and Internet access are available in the University library and select University computer labs. Library computers in the Reference area are available for research purposes only and should not be used for e-mail access. Student rooms in residence halls do not have active network connections during the summer.

The Governor’s School and Christopher Newport University enables e-mail access to students with pre-existing Web-based e-mail accounts. (e.g., Yahoo! and Gmail.) Neither the Governor’s School nor CNU provides e-mail accounts. Computers in select University labs may be used to access Web-based e-mail accounts.

 

Parents/guardians may e-mail messages to you at the Governor’s School address. These will be printed out and delivered to you.

Campus phones for your use are available in the residence halls and in various buildings around campus. Long distance calls require a calling card or toll-free access number. These phones will be shared by 400 students and other campus groups, so your conversations must be limited to five minutes if others are waiting and be completed by curfew (10:30pm). Family and friends may leave phone messages for you at 757-594-0769. Messages will be checked regularly throughout the day, written down, and delivered to your room. Parents and guardians may phone the Governor’s School office at 757-594-0768 if they need to speak to a staff member directly. This number is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your RA delivers mail to your hall between 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Monday - Friday. Your mailing address for the duration of the program will be:

 

York River West or East # ___
Governor's School Program
1000 University Place
Newport News, VA 23606

 

It is very important to specify the full residence hall name (East or West) and to
include your room number. Please inform your friends/relatives that this will be
your address until July 30. Your mail cannot be forwarded after this date.

You may place outgoing mail in a bin near the offices in York River West.
Many RAs collect outgoing mail in a designated place on their halls. Stamps
and envelopes are available at the bookstore in the David Student

The Governor's School staff includes two nurses who will make every effort to alleviate your discomfort on site, and if necessary arrange an appointment with a local doctor to assess your condition. We will be utilizing the services of a local pediatric and adolescent medicine practice for non-emergency medical needs. A local rescue squad will transport emergency cases to a nearby emergency room.

 

The Governor's School staff also includes two licensed counselors who are available at any time for conferences.

The David Sutdent Union provides recreational games and television. Note that the Student Union is open to the entire University community, so facilities are not generally reserved for Governor's School students' exclusive use. Please display common courtesy by picking up after yourself.

The Governor's School encourages free expression of religious beliefs and encourages students to share their religious beliefs and experiences in a true spirit of interfaith fellowship. Facilities will be provided for students who wish to organize their own worship services.

All of your educational expenses are paid for by the Virginia Department of Education and participating schools.* Textbooks and reading materials needed for class will be provided at no expense to you. However, a small amount of money for personal expenses will be needed (do not bring large sums of cash; an ATM is available in the David Student Union.) The University Bookstore sells basic toiletries, books, and stationery. We suggest that you bring about $175 for personal expenses, which includes a $75 activity fee to cover a Governor’s School T-shirt, yearbook, and various off-campus admission fees, including a trip to Busch Gardens. (Busch Gardens season pass holders should bring their passes and $40 for their activity fee.) In cases where this may be a hardship, please contact the director. It will be helpful if you pay cash (not a check) for your activity fee.

 

A T-shirt design contest among the students will be held during the first week to select a graphic for the Governor’s School T-shirt.

 

*Private schools may choose to pass on the cost of their share to your parents/legal guardians. The Virginia Department of Education still pays a substantial portion for those students who attend private schools as well as for those who attend public schools.

The Governor’s School program will conclude on Saturday, August 1with a final community meeting of all students, faculty, and staff. Family and friends should arrive at the conclusion of the meeting (10:30am) to assist you in moving out of the residence hall.

You should be checked out of the residence halls by 1:00pm. Check out is conducted by your RA and must be completed before departure. Loading only signs will be posted near the residence halls. Upon turning in your original key and access card to your RA, returning all library materials and/or paying applicable fines, and having all of your belongings removed from your room by 1:00pm, your $50 deposit check will be returned to you. Students who lose a key, have it replaced, and then find the original still must forfeit the deposit as the University bills the Governor’s School for each new key produced.