Suffolk University

The Residential Summer Institutes are targeted at high school sophomores and juniors with a current GPA of 2.8 or higher. The programs tend to attract academically talented youth who have a passion around the topic they are coming to study.

Where do students in the Suffolk University Residential Summer Institutes come from?

In past years, students have traveled from throughout New England, but also from California, Colorado, Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and New York. We also had two students join us from Ireland!

Where is Suffolk University located?

Many colleges boast of having campuses near Boston, but Suffolk University’s campus is Boston. Our facilities are located on historic Beacon Hill close to the Massachusetts State House. Our air-conditioned 150 Tremont Street 11-story residence hall overlooks Boston Common and features incredible views of the Boston skyline. Our new 10 Somerset 19-story residence hall includes a glass atrium and breathtaking views of the Charles River and Boston Harbor. Suffolk students and guests have access to the wealth of resources found in the downtown centers of finance, health care, commerce, government and law. Guests also enjoy close proximity to some of the world’s top cultural and tourist attractions.

Who teaches the academic component of the Residential Summer Institutes?

The classes are taught by experience educators consisting of Suffolk faculty and staff, and industry professionals. Specific institute faculty will be posted on our website in March/April.

Faculty quotes from previous summers:

“It was a wonderful teaching experience, unique in the fact that there were no grades for students to worry about, the students were there because they were interested in the subject. I rank it as one of the better experiences of my teaching life."

Dr. Kenneth Cosgrove, Government Department Institute Faculty, Politics & Public Service

“Serving as an instructor in the Student Leadership and Service Learning Institute was an absolute enjoyable experience. The participating students were incredibly engaged, motivated and committed to exploring issues around leadership in the classroom and social justice in the community. Working with such a select and motivated group of high school students has been comparable to my work with college level workshops and courses.”

Aurelio Valente, Director of Student Activities & Services Learning Institute Faculty, Student Leadership & Service Learning

How many hours each day will I be in class?

Institute participants are in class Monday – Friday for 3-4 hours each day. When not in class, students are touring many of the cultural and historical sites. There is also time dedicated for course homework, projects and rehearsals.

How many students will be in my program?

There will be a maximum number of 15 students in each institute to keep the faculty to student ratio small. There are other institutes running simultaneously so while each cohort will only be 15 participants or less – there will larger numbers for socialization.

What will I be doing when I’m not in class?

Students experience Boston’s history though many different guided activities, such as tours of the State House, JFK Museum, and the Freedom Trail. In addition, students will also enjoy Boston’s cultural and entertainment activities like the New England Aquarium, Red Sox games, Blue Man Group and so much more!

What have some students said about their experiences attending Suffolk’s Residential Summer Institutes?

"The legislative work at the State House was truly a great experience; we got to see the State Legislature in action, and it was really interesting helping out the staff in the office. I definitely learned alot from that!"

"The institute provided a new outlook on current affairs."

“The GLBT Awareness Institute helped me shake off some insecurities I had about myself relating to homosexuality with the more knowledge I gained.”

"The living experience was great!"

An employee at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center of New York City wrote a ‘thank you’ to Suffolk stating: “From looking at the program (GLBT Awareness Institute) schedule it seems that the young people chosen for the program were given a real chance to learn about their history, their rights and their importance as queer people. (Students) raved about the Bible class, workshops on being queer in college, the amazing recreational trips and so much more. There is certainly talk of many from the group applying to Suffolk for their undergrad education. You’ve made a wonderful impression on them and the Y.E.S team.”

What is the value of attending this program?

Residential Summer Institutes provide participants with a college experience while still in high school. Students spend two weeks exploring the topic of their choice with experts in their field – some students they can try out a potential major course of study and others explore a new topic of interest. Students get first-hand experience of college life at an urban institution. Students meet and build friendships with other gifted students with a passion for learning from across the country. Pre-college experiences can help students clarify their choice of college/university, major field of study, as well as career aspirations.

Who chaperones the students?

Anytime students leave the building for classes, planned outings, etc., they are chaperoned at a ratio of at least 12 to 1. Chaperones consist of institute faculty, institute administration, institute leaders and summer conference staff.

Where may I obtain an application?

All application materials are available through our websites by clicking on ’forms’ or by calling our office at 617-305-2500 or e-mailing summerprograms@suffolk.edu.

Is the deposit refundable?

If admitted to the program, the deposit secures your space. Therefore, it is non-refundable unless you are not admitted to the program. Should a student not meet the qualifications or the program has reached capacity - deposits are returned.

When do you start to accept applications?

Applications are available each January for programs planned for the following summer. We begin accepting applications at that time.

Are there specific program deadlines?

The programs all fill on different timeframes. If you have any questions about availability, please feel free to call our office at 617-305-2500 or summerprograms@suffolk.edu.

Is there financial aid available for any of your programs?

Currently we do not have financial assistance available for our programs. As a growing department at Suffolk University, we currently operate our programs very close to actual costs to try to make our programs as affordable as possible to everyone.

Which Residence Hall will I be living in?

Currently residential summer institute participants are scheduled to live at the 150 Tremont Street residence hall. This is subject to change. Directions for arrival will be mailed two weeks prior to the start of the program and will confirm building.

Where are your Residence Halls located?

Our Residence Halls are located in the heart of Downtown Boston. Our 150 Tremont Street building is located across from Boston Common. The 10 Somerset Street building is located in the shadow of the State House. Both are just minutes from the Park St. subway station.

What meals are provided?

All meals are provided for residential summer institutes. Most meals will be served in one of the campus dining halls. Occasionally, we will offer events that require us to provide meals away from campus in form of meal vouchers (at Six Flags) or bagged lunches (on the Whale Watch). Students should bring some spending money should they want to order pizza in the evening or purchase snacks for their room.

How safe are your residence halls?

Safety of our guests is our number one priority. Each residence hall features 24-hour security by the Suffolk University Police & Security. Only registered guests staying at Suffolk University are permitted to enter the building. Depending on the living arrangement of your room, you will be issued a room/suite key and an access for the front door.

What materials do you provide in the room?

Room amenities will include:

Telephone and Local Service
Pillow and Blanket
Sheets and Pillow Case
Bath Towel and Hand Towel
Cable TV Jack (televisions are not provided)
Internet Jack (computers are not provided)
Trash Can

Building amenities will include:

Laundry Facilities ($1.25 each cycle)
Recreational Lounge with cable television and pool table
Exercise Facilities
Dining Facilities
Computer Labs with high speed internet and free printing

May I bring a computer with me into my room?

Internet access is provided upon request for any guests but takes up to one business day to activate. All guests who bring a computer and wish to access the internet may do so per the following conditions, all computers must sign a release form indicating that their computer has an anti-virus program installed with the latest virus updates. Computer lab facilities are also available in each building.

What are the rules?

Residential Summer Institute participants are subject to many of the same rules as Suffolk University students. These rules are spelled out specifically in the institute contract on the ‘forms’ page. Some highlights regarding policy include:

We have a zero tolerance policy for alcohol and drug possession or use.
Our buildings are smoke-free.
There is an evening curfew. Students are not allowed to leave the building without a chaperone or in groups of 4 or more during limited available ‘free time’.
All students are expected to fully participant in the classes and activities developed for the programs.

Is there a curfew at night?

Each evening there is an 11PM curfew. At 11PM, all students must be in their rooms for curfew. After curfew, students can hang out on the floor or in building common areas to socialize, work on group projects, watch movies, etc. (computer lab, exercise room, tv lounge, laundry room, etc.). If institute activities bring the students back after 11PM, curfew will occur at the time the group returns.

Are residential students allowed to go home on weekends or for family events?

Our preference is for students not to be removed from residence while the programs are in progress. However - Sunday, July 15th is a FREE DAY. While there many options available for students throughout the day, this is an ideal day to catch up with family / friends in the area. In order to leave the program for the day, written permission must be provided to Institute Administration by parents/guardians.

Who is responsible for cleaning the residence halls?

Suffolk University will clean suite bathrooms (150 Tremont) and cluster
bathrooms (10 Somerset) twice per week. Hallway bathrooms (150 Tremont) will be cleaned daily. New linens will be provided once per week. Guests are responsible for emptying their trash.

Are your rooms air-conditioned?

Yes. All of our rooms are equipped air-conditioned and individually climate controlled.

While I am staying on campus, am I allowed to have guests at the residence hall?

Because participants are under the age of 17, Residential Summer Institute students do not have guest privileges.

I am traveling Boston on my own, can someone meet me at the airport, train station, or bus station?

Yes! We will be communicating with you in the month prior to your arrival and if you’re traveling to Boston on your own, we will send someone to meet you at your arrival location (airport, train station, bus station) and they will accompany you to campus.

Is there parking available?

Since both of our residence halls are located in the heart of downtown Boston, parking facilities are not available. If you plan to bring a car with you to the city, several parking garages are available for a large fee. The Boston subway (T) is conveniently located between our two residence halls and is the preferred method of transportation for our students and our guests. Information on the subway may be found by visiting http://www.mbta.com

If there is no parking available, how do I move into the building?

Great question. If you are arriving by Logan Airport and are not carrying a lot of luggage, Suffolk University is easily accessible by subway via the blue and green line trains. Taxis are also available and one-way fares will cost between $20.00 and $30.00.

Both North and South Station are just a short walk from our Residence Halls. They are also located on the subway line.

If you are arriving by car, it is suggested that you park directly in front of our building and leave a passenger inside the car while you check-in at our office. Moving bins are available to unload boxes from your car and bring them to your building to minimize your time outside. It is strongly discouraged to leave your vehicle unattended. The Boston City Police Department will ticket parked cars in violation of local parking ordinances. Suffolk University is not responsible for any tickets incurred while moving into your room.

What about special needs?

Specific special needs can be addressed with the program administration by calling 617-305-2500 or emailing summerprograms@suffolk.edu.

What about special dining needs?

Our dining services can work with most special dining needs (with advance notice). There are always vegetarian / vegan options available. In addition, there are a variety of hot and cold options at each meal.

What should I pack?

This is very dependant on the program you will be attending. For instance, the Politics & Public Service Institute and the Business Organization & Leadership Institute will need professional dress (pants/shirt/tie, slacks/skirt/blouse) for several days while most programs will be more casual. Specific ‘what to pack’ guidelines will be sent to participants in June.