UVA Credit

Many colleges and universities favorably recognize participation in Presidential Classroom as part of their college admissions process. The University of Virginia (UVA), one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, acknowledges the academic and leadership excellence of Presidential Classroom students.

The University of Virginia offers as an option one undergraduate credit hour for participation in one Presidential Classroom program. To register for credit, mail in the University of Virginia Registration Form with payment at least three weeks before your Presidential Classroom program begins. If you are paying tuition with a check, please make the check payable to the University of Virginia. If you opt to register for credit, please be sure to make a copy of both the UVA registration form and the Guidelines for the Credit requirements for your records.

In order to earn one undergraduate hour of UVA credit, you must:

• Fully participate in and graduate from one of Presidential Classroom’s week-long programs (including all seminars and crossfire sessions), and
• Write a five to six-page paper(guidelines below).

One hour of credit will be granted upon successful completion. (Please note that the maximum amount of UVA undergraduate credit you may obtain for Presidential Classroom is one credit hour, no matter how many separate Presidential Classroom sessions you may participate in.) The decision to accept transfer of this credit is made by the accepting college or university.

All students who successfully complete the program will receive a Graduation Certificate from Presidential Classroom to be included in college applications.

For University of Virginia registration and administrative questions, please contact Ms. Charlotte Partain at 703-536-1123 or cpartain@virginia.edu

Guidelines for the Paper

Presidential Classroom provides a stimulating academic environment where high school students exchange information and emotions about prominent issues confronting contemporary society. Crossfire sessions promote dialogue among students from across the United States and abroad and expose participants to new facts, ideas and attitudes pertaining to national issues. As the next generation of civic leaders, Presidential Classroom students analyze contemporary problems and offer solutions to those problems.

The 5-6 page paper will focus on your choice of Crossfire issues (Communique Issues for Summit participants) outlined in your Program Overview and Crossfires brochure.

The paper should be double-spaced in 10- or 12-point font and must include:

• A clearly defined issue that presents basic facts underlying the issue and relates how the issue affects individuals and groups holding differing viewpoints. The paper should be concise and focused directly on the issue.
• One or more clearly stated solutions that would resolve the issue for most Americans. Your opinions may be included in this section.
• A carefully constructed defense of your solutions while also providing objective information about opposing viewpoints.
• An explanation of how your resolution of the issue would impact American government and/or society in the near future.

Short title citations may be used (example: Newsweek, July 3, 2002) within the paper providing corroboration of your statements. Formal footnoting is not necessary. You may use the Internet, periodicals, books, and government documents as sources.

Deadline

The paper must be completed and submitted within one month following completion of the Presidential Classroom week. The written paper should be sent directly to the University of Virginia (see application for details).