Climate Resilience Institute — Spring

• Excellent interdisciplinary academic experience at a leading research university
• A more sophisticated understanding of how interacting ecological, social and political systems can hinder or promote climate resilience.
• Enhanced data analysis, visualization, and communication skills. 
• Learn about diverse pathways for an academic or professional career in the environmental arena.

Orientation

Our orientation will begin on the Tuesday of the program start. During this required orientation, we will review the overall program schedule for the week, discuss policies and safety, and answer questions. Staff will be on-hand to address any issues.  

Program Topic Breakdown

*These topics are examples of past topics covered. Topics are subject to change based on the instructors expertise and syllabus creation year over year. 

• Environmental Justice Module (from local to global) 
  • Climate refugees
  • Differential impacts 
  • Climate change litigation 
• Sustainable Food Systems Module
  • Diversified farm landscapes: Barriers and opportunities. Lessons from the past. Innovating for the future. 
  • Food sovereignty: Agroecology movement. Resilience for whom? 
  • GMO debate: Adding nuance
  • Consumer power: The role of culture in embracing cultured meats and insect proteins
  • Sustaining pollinator communities
• Resilient Planning and Infrastructure Module
  • Sea level rise: from science to planning
  • Island nations and continental coasts
  • Wetland ecosystem services
  • Infrastructure and technology
  • Coupling mitigation and adaptation
  • “The Green Collar Economy” - Van Jones 
  • Bioengineering
• Climate Change Action Module
  • Climate policy and negotiations (local and global)
  • Engaging scientists in policy 
  • Science journalism
  • Youth education and engagement 
  • The psychology of effective communication
• Capstone Project and Data Lab Workshops
  • Spatial analyses
  • Climate projections 
  • Interdisciplinary research and synthesis 
  • Environmental communication and data visualization

Final Project Showcase and Closing Remarks 

On the last day of the program, students will participate in a final project showcase that will give them the chance to share their finished work products and program experience. Family and friends will be invited to join to celebrate the students' accomplishments! The showcase will occur on the last day of the program, and will conclude by 2pm. Exact details and invitations will be forthcoming.

*This schedule is subject to change 

Program Eligibility

General Requirements

• Entering high school grades 10-12 *or* a Spring 2025 high school graduate
• Students will need a laptop to participate in the program.

Non-Native English Speakers

If you indicate that English is not your primary language, you will be asked to submit evidence of English Language proficiency. Please see our "How to Apply" page for details.

Application Requirements

Step 1: Complete an Online Application

The online application will ask you for the following information:

• Basic personal information, including parents/guardians and emergency contact (if you are under 18, we will contact a parent for permission to enroll)
• Program preferences (e.g., whether you would like to be a residential or commuter student)
• Contact information for 1 individual to submit a Letter of Recommendation - this individual can be a teacher, counselor, or mentor. We will contact this individual on your behalf.
• Test scores - optional, unless you must submit scores as evidence of English proficiency
• Warrants and signatures

If you need to log back into this application after starting, click here: return to my application.

Step 2: Upload Your High School Transcript

During your application process, you will be asked to provide us with contact information for an official from your high school. They will receive an email with further instructions to upload your transcript.

Step 3: Parental Consent and Letter of Recommendation

As a part of your application, you will be asked to provide contact information for both a parent/guardian and a recommender. Once you submit your application, our systems will automatically email the parent/guardian and recommender you listed in the application with instructions for how to fill out the online permission or recommendation form.

Please note your application will not be considered submitted and review of your application will not begin until the materials from Step 2 and Step 3 have been received by Tufts Pre-College Programs.

Pre-College Admissions Decision

Once an applicant has submitted an application and all required admissions documents are received, the applicant will be considered for admission by the Tufts Pre-College Programs review committee for the specific program(s) to which they applied.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis and students will typically receive an official email informing them of their admissions status within 10 business days of Tufts receiving all required materials.

If you do not receive your email within two weeks of all materials being submitted, please contact us at precollege@tufts.edu or 617-627-2926.

Disclaimer: This program is not related to Tufts University Undergraduate Admissions. Participation in this program does not result in admission to a Tufts University degree program. Tufts reserves the right to admit as requested, to deny admission, or to offer provisional admission. The program will not provide feedback to applicants if admission is denied.

Post-Enrollment Materials

Admitted students must do the following prior to the start of the program:

• $550 deposit must be received within 10 days of admission until the payment deadline (March 15) or until the program fills, at which time enrollment is secured only by full tuition payment
• Complete all enrollment forms and/or follow-up requests prior to the stated deadline

Should the above not be completed prior to the stated deadlines, the student will be automatically withdrawn from the program.

Program Fees - Spring 2025

Key Financial Policies

Refund Policies

Billing & Payment Policies

All Policies

Commuter Program Fee: $2,195

• Includes: all program activities, materials and supplies, 1 meal per weekday (lunch), opening/closing events, use of select campus facilities, included program excursions and daily activities.
• Excludes: residential accommodations, breakfast/dinner/weekend meals, airfare/transportation to and from home city or residence, courses and activities shown to have an extra fee, laundry, spending money, souvenirs, meals eaten away from program, trip cancellation insurance, medical insurance, required vaccinations, medical and dental expenses, any non-program-related transportation needs, and anything not explicitly stated above.

Non-Refundable Program Deposit: $550

• A pre-payment on program fees is required to reserve space in the program within 10 business days of admission to the program
• This deposit will be applied toward program fees and is not an additional fee
• The balance of payment for program fees is due upon notification of charges, and no later than March 15
• This deposit is non-refundable in the event of withdrawal from the program

Availability of Awards

Tufts Pre-College Programs are committed to aiding students from all backgrounds. Although we have only limited need-based financial aid available, we do our best to distribute the funds to students for whom it can make the greatest difference in their ability to attend.

Financial Aid awards are made on a rolling basis to students with demonstrated need. We aim to provide enough aid to eligible students so that they are able to successfully enroll and participate in the program. Seasonal aid awards are as follows:

• Fall: We currently do not offer aid for the Fall term
• Spring: We will typically distribute awards monthly and will continue until the enrollment deadline or until aid is fully distributed.
• Summer: We will typically distribute awards twice monthly beginning in February and will continue until the enrollment deadline or until aid is fully distributed.

If financial assistance is essential to your ability to attend the program, we recommend that you wait to pay the $550 non-refundable deposit until you have received your financial aid decision. Award decisions will be issued twice per month.

Students with undocumented status are considered for financial aid like any other U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are undocumented or have DACA status and want more information about how to apply for financial aid, please call our office at 617-627-2926.

Please note:

• International students are not eligible for financial aid at this time. Families should expect to contribute to the remaining portion of the program cost as well as other expenses like travel, books, etc.

Process

1. Complete the Admissions Application for the pre-college program you would like to attend.
2. During the application process, you will be asked to indicate whether you are interested in being considered for financial aid.
3. After submission, you will have the option of completing a financial aid application in your student portal.
4. We will review your financial aid application. Your financial aid application will be considered for the next monthly aid award(s). Award decisions will be issued twice per month.
5. If you receive an award,
   1. You will be notified by email of the amount of the award.
   2. You will have 6 days (including weekends and holidays) to accept the award by completing your Financial Aid Award Form. If you have received a full financial aid scholarship you are not required to pay your deposit, as it is covered by your scholarship.
   3. Tufts Pre-College Programs will then credit your student account with the amount of financial aid you received.
   4. Please note: Your enrollment in the program is still contingent on payment of any remaining balance after the award is applied to your account, and on receiving your enrollment forms.
6. If you do not receive an award you will be notified via email.

Please see the Policies section of this website for a complete list of applicable policies.

University Facilities

Students will have full access to the university’s facilities including the libraries, computer lab, and Student Center. Students will also have full access to Tufts’ Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center, featuring racquet courts, a swimming pool, and cardio and weight-training equipment.

In addition, SMFA Studio Art Intensive students will have access to supervised studios and resources, including the W.Van Alan Clark Library, the media stockroom (where you can borrow any equipment necessary for your art), the School Store, and the computer lab. See more details about our studios.

Health & Wellness

Tufts works hard to ensure the health and well-being of all of its students. Once accepted to the program, Tufts will ask all students to submit information related to their health and will collect details regarding allergies and accessibility concerns. Tufts and Residential Life staff will work together to ensure students’ routine medical needs are met.

Tufts also has procedures in place for students with urgent or emergency needs, illnesses, or injuries. Our procedures combine on-campus and hospital-based care depending on the nature and severity of the issue. A student’s emergency contact will be notified, if one is provided, in the event of an issue.

In any type of health & wellness emergency, students should immediately contact Tufts University Police at (617) 627-6911.

Please note: Medical fees of any kind will be billed to the student and are not included in program fees.

Campus Security

Tufts University is considered very safe among U.S. college campuses. Although crime on campus is unusual, we do have an open campus in a major metropolitan area, and we expect our students to exercise good judgment and responsibility as they navigate the campus. Tufts University maintains its own police department, on the job 24 hours a day, if an emergency arises. Each location is equipped with an emergency blue light phone system, and residence halls require a current and valid Tufts ID card for entry and a mechanical key for access to bedrooms. Emergency processes and protocols will be reviewed during orientation.

For more information, please visit our Campus Safety page.

Tufts takes the safety of its students seriously. All programs are staffed with resources appropriate to care for the size and nature of the program. Tufts makes reasonable efforts to secure background checks and provide Title IX training to every staff person responsible for students in its Pre-College Programs.

Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously. As such, our current policy for Pre-College students states that students cannot be in a lab or leave campus during their program without the supervision of a staff member or explicit parental permission received through official processes.

Some elements of our supervision plan vary depending on how the student is interacting with our campus. Below is a brief overview of where to find information about this. Please note that not all programs offer residential/commuter/virtual options, but the below applies when they do:

• Residential Students: Safety in the dorms is also paramount. Please see the Residential Students section below for more information about how our Residential Life program is staffed.
• Commuter Students: The commute to campus and time outside of the program will not be monitored by program staff, although the Tufts University Police Department and other safety protocols (in which students will be trained) are available to Tufts community members at all times. Detailed information about traveling to each of our campuses, including details on parking, can be found here. Please check the course list if you do not know the campus on which your course meets. Please note: Commuter students are not permitted to enter any residence halls on campus.
• Virtual Students: Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously, even in the virtual environment. Students who enroll will receive more information about our virtual safety protocols.

High School Summer Program for Commuter Students

Commuting to the Program

We know that for some students, living on campus is not the best option. We welcome you to our program! For commuter students, the program will begin at 9:00am on the first Monday of the program with an orientation and end at 2:00pm on the last Friday of the program with a closing event. Saturdays and Sundays are not program days and commuter students are not expected on campus on these days.

Medford/ Somerville: For more information on commuting to the Medford Campus click here.

SMFA: During each day of the program, commuter students should arrive on the Fenway (SMFA) campus at 9:30am, and proceed directly to their program's location. Students must depart from campus at 4:30pm. Students remaining on campus past 4:45pm, arriving before 9:15am, or on non-program days will not be under the care of program staff (parents accept responsibility). Detailed information about traveling to the Fenway (SMFA) campus, including details on parking and public transportation, can be found here. Alternatively, commuter students may opt to take the bus with residential SMFA Studio Art participants travelling between Tufts Medford/Somerville campus and the SMFA Fenway campus. Commuter students opting for this option must arrive at the Somerville/Medford campus by 8:45am and be picked up at the Somerville/Medford campus at 5:15pm. No alternative transportation will be provided for students who arrive to campus after the bus departs. Specific meeting location and updated times (as needed) to be provided closer to program start.

AVM: During each day of the program, commuter students should arrive on the Grafton campus at 9:00am, and proceed directly to their program's location. Adventures in Veterinary Medicine students have the option to meet at Medford and take the bus to the Grafton campus, or meet at the Grafton campus. Students must depart from campus by 6:00pm at the latest, though students may leave at the end of their afternoon sessions at 5:00pm on most days. Students remaining on campus past 6:00pm, arriving before 8:45am, or on non-program days will not be under the care of program staff (parents accept responsibility)

Commuter students and their parents are responsible for ensuring their student travels to and from campus safely and on time each day. Detailed information about traveling to the Medford / Somerville campus and the Grafton campus, including details on parking, can be found here.

Please note: commuter students are not permitted to enter any residence halls on campus. Breakfast / dinner are not provided for commuter students.

Dining

Students can purchase breakfast or dinner onsite at the Medford / Somerville campus with credit card, debit card, cash, or JumboCash. All meals on the Medford/Somerville campus will be at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, conveniently located a few minutes from student housing. Dewick-MacPhie provides a wide variety of menu choices, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and an organic salad bar. All meals on the Fenway (SMFA), Boston Health Sciences, or Grafton campuses will be provided through boxed lunches or by Tufts staff. Tufts staff will also provide meals for program related activities taking place off-campus. Tufts dining is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions and preferences. Please advise us of dietary needs during the application process.