Academic Commitment

SRG SMART schools and our students share a commitment to student success. Eligible students are 18 years or older (depending on the local age of majority) and have functional English communication skills. Students agree to an academic contract (specific to local jurisdiction) summarized as follows:

The Student Commitment: For the duration of their program students agree to the following:

Academic Ethics: Students agree to be forthright and honest with all faculty, SRG staff, Champions and partner organizations. Acts of academic dishonesty or unethical conduct by students are grounds for expulsion from the program and termination of any contract.

Attendance: Students agree to attend the program six days per week, eight hours per day. This eight hour program day does not include a forty five minute lunch, two thirty minute meal breaks, commute time, official holidays and personal absences pre-approved by faculty. Attendance is not simply presence on campus. Students in attendance must actively engage in their current projects and follow the instructions of staff. Allowances for illness or emergencies will be made. We support students and their families, so students choosing to attend campus on holidays and their away days they are welcome. Students must select their weekly away day quarterly and maintain this for the entire quarter. Some projects will require alternate daily start or finish times and students will be assigned these projects on a voluntary basis.

Content, Data & Projects: Students agree that all content, data, information and project materials resulting from any program activity is the property of SRG or the SMART school. All media content and data becomes the intellectual property of SRG for all intents and purposes.

English Immersion: Students agree to communicate only in English while on campus and during all program activities. Essential communication during an emergency or during faculty approved circumstances are valid exceptions to this rule. We intend that all students attain full English fluency.

Legal Activity: Students must not commit illegal acts during the course of their program or association with SRG and any SMART school. Acts deemed or suspected as being criminal by SRG are grounds for expulsion from the program and termination of any contract.

Project Completion: Students agree to finish all assigned projects in a timely fashion and to reasonable quality standard as agreed on per project proposals. Failure to do so twice is grounds for expulsion from the program. Exceptions for emergencies and situations outside of student control will be made at the discretion of senior SRG staff.

The SMART School Commitment: While eligible students remain in good standing, as per the terms above, SRG and our SMART schools agree to provide the following:

Academic Support: SMART Schools provide approved students their program spots with zero tuition required. This support is negotiated as certain spots are dedicated to specific program foci and to our Tala Center initiative. Equipment will be provided on a case by case basis as determined by assigned projects or by student needs. In exceptional circumstances students may be permitted to reside on campus.

Campus Meals: Every student in attendance is provided with three daily campus meals and occasional snacks. Menus are pre-planned and meals are served at regularly scheduled times. Students are provided with meal breaks. Every student is expected to rotate through meal service tasks such as preparing food, serving and cleaning.

Career Opportunities: Students who complete a full five year program in good ethical standing will be offered contracts (or employment) based on their level of expertise. We at the Sunhaven Research Group (SRG) are looking for motivated individuals and our own students already have first hand experience – a natural fit. This is also incentive for consistent, high quality performance during the program. Our organization, like the SMART program on local campuses, is also project driven. SRG is an international social enterprise so contracts with our central group will have excellent compensation packages that local non-profit campuses may not be able to offer. Whether a local or international opportunity, qualified students always have right of first refusal.

Career Spinoffs: SRG operates as a social business and each school operates in a non-profit capacity as allowed by local law. This is done to ensure that our students get the most benefit from our program. All subscribers, supporters and customers of SRG and SMART Schools can be confident there there are no staff or investors becoming wealthy – local people come first. The downside of this policy is a lack of investment capital available to create opportunities for students. In the event outside investment for a private spinoff with significant student ownership becomes available SRG may be an equity investor and / or consult. Though such a spinoff would not be a social business given it is taking for-profit investors we will make the exception in order to provide career opportunities for our students.

Equipment & Supply Access: SRG provides resources required for all program related tasks. Students will begin a program day or project period by signing out and taking responsibility for any equipment and / or supplies allocated. At the end of the period or day they will be personally responsible for returning that equipment in good working condition. Students will also be required to account for use of supplies.

Family Care Packages: Supplementary grocery packages are provided weekly to students in good standing. These are intended to help support student families so that students are not pressured to work instead of attending the program. In the event a student has no family we will still provide the standard care package. On the occasion there are leftovers from campus meals at the end of a day staff may distribute those for students to take home.

Health & Wellness Guidelines: The ultimate goal of any educator should be student success. We want our students to thrive. Overall our program is conducted to further the health and wellness of each and every student.

Team Assignment: Students will be assigned to a permanent team in their second program year. Operating in a team is essential to student skill development. Students with exceptional capabilities may be assigned to a Faculty Team. Exceptional circumstances may merit merging or migration between teams as a team size between 5 and 7 students is optimal.

Quarterly Evaluation of Standing: For up to the full program duration of five years faculty and SRG staff will review the performance of each student four times per year. Abbreviated versions of these reviews will be publicly posted on campus. Full evaluations are provided to students individually but are available to all SRG staff, Champions and SRG associates as determined by SRG.

This is not a contract: As is the case with any material published by SRG this summary does not constitute a legal contract or agreement unless explicitly presented as such. Each student will sign a formal legal agreement on their acceptance into a SMART school program. This is necessary as contract law varies by region.

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