Vanderbilt vsa tools

If placed in a lower ranked course, the student will remain on the waiting list for higher ranked courses; however, a spot may not open in a higher ranked course. Rank thoughtfully to ensure an enjoyable VSA experience! Vanderbilt Summer Academy instructors are drawn from the wealth of talented faculty and scholars here in the Vanderbilt University and Nashville communities and include many distinguished professors, scientists, and researchers.

All instructors are carefully selected not only for achievements in their fields, but also for their commitment to excellence in classroom teaching.

Our outstanding VSA instructors serve as academic role models, providing instruction and insights into their areas of study. In addition to the instructors, a teaching assistant TA with demonstrated experience in the content area or pedagogy supports each class. The TA serves as a resource to the instructor and to the class—sharing their perspective on the subject matter while helping to promote a learning environment that encourages academic risk-taking and relationship building.

In order for students to best experience the joy of learning within a group of true intellectual and social peers, VSA is a non-graded program and does not offer credit for course work. This design allows VSA students to take part in accelerated learning in an environment tailored to promote academic risk- taking.

We encourage students to push their intellectual limits without fear of failure. Instead of a grade, students receive a performance evaluation. This thoughtfully prepared, constructive feedback from the instructor will help students accurately assess their achievements in the course work. More than a number or letter, this rubric is designed to help students understand their performance and abilities and to guide them in charting future academic endeavors.

In addition, because Vanderbilt Summer Academy realizes that parents are important partners in the intellectual growth of their children, instructors make themselves available to parents for an optional end-of-session virtual conference.

If placed in a lower-ranked course, the student will remain on the waiting list for any higher-ranked courses regardless of whether they have paid the deposit to secure their spot in a lower-ranked course.

Once a completed application has been submitted within the priority window, a student can typically expect an admission notification via email on or before February 15, For students applying outside of the priority window, an admission notification within three weeks after the application submission date can be expected.

For families who have applied for financial aid, financial aid information may be included in the admission notice if financial aid materials have already been submitted. The tuition deposit for financial aid applicants will not be due until the financial aid materials have been processed and the award communicated to the family. Only complete applications are fully processed, so if any items are missing e. PTY can only process complete applications, so an incomplete application can negatively impact placement in a course.

A waiting list notification is due to space availability only and is no indication of student ability or merit. Even if we place a student in a lower-ranked course due to availability , they will remain on the waiting list s for a higher-ranked course s.

If a seat becomes available in a higher-ranked course, we move the first student on the waiting list into that seat. Waiting lists are held until close to the start of the program session. No tuition deposit will be owed until the student is placed in a course that was ranked in the application.

The application fee, however, is nonrefundable. If your student has been placed on a waiting list, and you have questions about their status, please contact PTY at or vsa. After admission into the program, families will receive instructions concerning required forms. Required forms include, but are not limited to, emergency contact information, participant permission, medical information, immunization records, media release, etc.

Once the student is admitted and placed in a ranked course, an email notification will be sent. If no tuition deposit is paid within the week, the student forfeits their space in that course. A student who has been admitted into the program but not placed in any course will remain on the waiting list and will not be asked to submit a tuition deposit unless placement in a course can be offered.

No refunds will be granted after the tuition deadline for the session. If Vanderbilt University determines that it is in the best interest of VSA participants to delay or cancel the VSA program, VU staff will issue a timely statement to participants via email and the PTY website to advise of the delay or cancellation. No tuition reimbursements will be given for delays. In the event of a cancellation during a program, VU may, in its sole discretion, elect to provide partial tuition reimbursements.

As is the VSA application policy, the application fee and deposit are nonrefundable. Whether you are a motivated young learner, the parent of a gifted child, or an educator who works with high-achieving students, there is something for everyone at PTY. Join us! Join Us This Summer! Here is a description of the required and recommended application components that are helpful for PTY when determining fit: 1. Our VSA program is designed for students who have performed well based on the opportunities and experiences that are available to them.

Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated. We also ask that all students who apply for classes with prerequisites make sure to submit a transcript. We will explore the metaphorical arms-race between a pathogen and its host to further understand the individual components of each organism. You will have the opportunity to think creatively about what would make a pathogen successful in any given environment and the counter measures that would be necessary to contain an outbreak.

By the end of class, you will gain a deeper understanding, and hopefully appreciate, the complexity of host-pathogen interactions.

She is currently a Ph. Her research focuses on innate immune defenses within the lungs, specifically how the innate immune system detects and responds to bacterial pathogens. Throughout her graduate training, she has mentored visiting students in her lab and served as a teaching assistant for the medical school and the undergraduate course in Microbiology and Immunology.

This year she will be combining her love for science and her years of training to bring together a course that will hopefully encourage students to pursue a deeper understanding of the world around them. What is a microbiome? Did you know you house an entire ecosystem of bacteria in your body? Multicellular organisms are colonized by a diverse range of microbes that influence physiological homeostasis.

This recent area of scientific study promises to change standard practices in medicine, psychiatry, and psychology. Through modeling, experimentation, and discussion learn how microbes communicate with and supply the host with environmental cues and information, and how this impacts overall physical and mental health as you take a journey into the amazing world of the many microbiomes living inside of you!

In this course you can learn how and why understanding the microbiome is critical to your well being! His current research examines the gut-brain axis focusing on how palatable diets alter neuroendocrine signalling and influence feeding behaviors. Prior to attending Vanderbilt, he conducted research in how alterations in the gut microbiome promote colon carcinogenesis and received his Masters degree in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Did you know that when you are reading your favorite book, watching television, or working on a math problem, you are interacting with symbols? Symbols can take many forms, from caveman drawings, scale models, numbers, and even apps and video.

But what exactly are symbols? What kind of information do symbols tell us? How do we learn to interpret and make sense of symbols? By taking on the role of a developmental psychologist, you will investigate how the human mind processes and makes sense of the symbols we interact with every day. Through hands-on experiments, scientific investigation, and a visit to Vanderbilt labs to see research in action, you will uncover how symbols are helpful in our lives and learn how psychologists use numbers and theories to draw conclusions and answer important questions.

You will then have a chance to test your own hypothesis as you design a study, collect and analyze data, and present your findings. Experience psychology in action as you use your new knowledge to discover new ideas! Israel Flores is a Ph. Candidate in Developmental Science at Vanderbilt University.

In another line of work, Israel is investigating how translanguaging practices such as language brokering can support learning in young students from Spanish-speaking, low income homes.

A main focus of this research is to explore the role that technology can take in supporting those navigating multiple languages. Emily Conder is a Ph. Emily is interested in the development of social cognition in early to middle childhood, as well as in adults.

Do you want to be a better public speaker? Do you ever wonder how society determines what is true and what is hyperbole? Do you want to be able to effectively research and organize arguments out of the massive amounts of information you are exposed to into something that makes sense? In this class, you will learn how to research, develop and organize arguments, adapt persuasive appeals to specific audiences, and, perhaps even change minds.

We will also analyze arguments as we learn basic rhetorical theories and apply them to historical speeches. Be prepared to engage in discussions and critically analyze arguments and texts so that you can become a more involved and informed citizen, a better public speaker, and a critical consumer of information.

John P. He has a Ph. His primary research interests include argumentation and debate, citizenship, democratic theory, and presidential rhetoric. Other areas of interest are public memory and the intersection of political culture, rhetoric, and sports.

In this class we will examine the economic, human, and environmental cost of the current fast fashion industry, and specific eras of the history of fashion, through the lens of sustainability.