Student Orientation Handbook: Short Courses



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Misconduct


  1. Consumption and/or possession of illegal drugs.

  2. Smoking or alcohol consumption by persons under 18 years old.

  3. Excessive drinking by students over age 18 in programs not involving minors. If the group is made up of minors and legal adults, drinking is prohibited. Excessive drinking is defined as having a negative impact on student academic performance, on group dynamics or on the community.

  4. Driving a motorized vehicle if under 18 years old. (MVI prohibits this for all students regardless of age).

  5. Riding or driving a motorcycle without a helmet. (MVI prohibits motorcycle use for all students, regardless of age).

  6. Use of all-terrain vehicles if under age 18 and/or without use of a helmet. (MVI prohibits this for all students, regardless of age).

  7. Willful obstruction or disruption of any MVI course teaching, organized activity, study, research, examination, meeting, or ceremony.

  8. Discrimination or harassment against any person based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, political conviction, religious belief, disability, physical or medical condition.

  9. Willful damage, misuse, or misappropriation of private and public property.

  10. Abusive, threatening, lewd or obscene behavior.

  11. Repeated tardiness to classes and activities.

  12. Repeated late night returns to homestay family.

MVI is proud to say that we have never had to send a student home for misconduct. By being respectful, using good judgment, and being a thoughtful member of your group, your time here will be even more rewarding. We wish you an exciting, educational and safe experience!


Making the most of the Institute facilities


Depending on your particular course, you may be spending anywhere from a few days to a whole semester in Monteverde. While in Monteverde, the Institute campus is your home campus. There may be multiple groups using the facilities, so please be friendly and mindful of others. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet other students and residents when at the Institute!

Classrooms


Classrooms are located in different parts of the Institute. Be aware that others may be using the classrooms after you, and would appreciate if you left the space clean and neat. If you need one of the classrooms for group work or a meeting, please check with your course coordinator or reception to reserve space.

Auditorium


The auditorium is reserved for large group presentations, forums, and lectures. Check with your course coordinator if you would like to use the auditorium.

Audiovisual and other equipment


MVI has LCD projectors, a slide projector and screen available for your use. To reserve any of these please check with your course coordinator or reception. If your course might require interviews, we suggest you bring your own voice recorder as we do not have this equipment.

Receiving and sending mail


You may receive mail at MVI while participating on a course. Note that it can take up to three or more weeks for U.S. mail to arrive in Monteverde. We suggest that you do not have large packages sent while you are here as boxes are subject to random customs searches and may be held at the port. They must be retrieved personally, often with customs and storage fees. If a care package must be sent, a good rule of thumb is to send whatever can fit in an envelope package. MVI cannot return or forward mail or packages that arrive after a student has left Monteverde. Please use the following format to receive mail:
Your Name

Name of your program (e.g., Goucher/Mt. Holyoke)

Instituto Monteverde

Apartado 69-5655

Monteverde de Puntarenas

Costa Rica.
Outgoing mail can be sent from the Santa Elena post office, open weekdays from 8:30 am to noon, and 1 pm to 4:00 pm. Mail sent from Costa Rica to the U.S or other countries may take from one to three weeks to arrive. Mail that is already stamped can be sent from MVI at reception or from several other locations in the zone (e.g., grocery stores); look for the blue correos boxes.

Kitchen, bathroom and other facilities


The kitchen is open for student and staff use. We ask that you wash everything you use for cooking and eating. In our Kitchen you will find a refrigerator designated for students. Please remove your food if you decide not to eat it. During peak times, there may also be a designated refrigerator and microwave for student use. Like many homes and facilities in Costa Rica, cold is the only temperature of water that comes out of the faucets at the Institute, even when using the tap labeled “hot.”

We ask that you dispose of toilet paper and other hygiene products in the wastebaskets which are emptied throughout the day. While this will take some adjustment most septic systems are not designed to quickly break down paper, and fibrous materials can cause unpleasant backups.



Campbell Library


The Campbell library was completed in 2002 through the support of John and Doris Campbell, who were among the founding Quaker families in Monteverde. Other members of the Campbell family have also contributed to the library. The goal of the library is to be an information resource for both the local community and international students and faculty, and to be a clearinghouse for research conducted in Monteverde. Toward this end, you will be asked to contribute an electronic and hard copy of whatever research project you conduct during your course. Because of limited number of copies, not all books can be checked out. The librarian can provide you with more information.

Normal library hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. During the months of June through mid-August, the library may have extended hours. Check with the librarian or your course coordinator for the schedule.


Computers, internet and telecommunications


The computers in the library are available for student use. All have internet connections and commonly used programs installed. It is possible that during peak season and hours your group will have an assigned time to use the Institute computers.
High-speed wireless access is available throughout the main building and on all Institute computers. Nevertheless, be prepared for cuts in service due to the weather, local overload of the telecommunication lines, server problems, and power outages. We recommend that you bring your own laptop if you have one. We highly encourage you to insure your laptop and to bring a lock, as neither the Institute nor your home institution will be responsible for theft or damage. Check your study abroad office for more information on laptop insurance.
The advent of voice-over-internet (e.g. Skype), has made it easier and cheaper to call internationally. The bandwidth these calls use greatly impact internet speed for everyone, including other students, faculty, and MVI staff. For these reasons, voice-over-internet use is prohibited during business hours (8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday).
There are two printers, a plotter, a photocopy machine, and two scanners used by both students and staff. During peak hours there may be a wait time for your documents. To cut down on both backlog and paper use, we ask that you print up only those documents that you really need and in black and white, unless it is vital to print in color. Please consider reading the 46-page PDF article on the computer.
There is a pay phone located outside the library. International calls can be made using calling cards. These cards can be purchased at stores and pharmacies throughout Costa Rica. You may receive emergency calls at the Institute; however, we ask that you do not call out on MVI phones, as we have limited lines available. Fax service is available on a per page charge, both for national and international transmission. Please check in reception for assistance.

Bulletin boards


Bulletin boards are located throughout the Institute. They provide information on local activities and nightlife, bus service, potential group outings, and other information that will help you connect to the Monteverde community. Please check them regularly, and feel free to post on them if you have information to share.

MVI land and trails


In addition to the main campus, the Institute has 32 acres of land that adjoin other private reserves, including the original Quaker reserve known as the Bosque Eterno. The MVI reserve is considered a pre-montane ecosystem and is made up of non-native pine stands, former pastureland, secondary growth forest, and primary forest at the higher elevations.
The land is available for field experiments, but you must first check with your course coordinator for approval. We encourage you to walk the Monteverde Institute Reserve trails. Laminated maps and a trail guide are available at reception – please return them when you are done.



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