SPI Classes

SPI participants are expected to attend all class sessions, engage in class activities, and complete the basic reading assignments.

SPI classes generally meet from 8:30am to 5:00pm each weekday, with a 90 minute lunch break. Classes also gather daily for an all-SPI coffee break from 10:00-10:30 am and have a short afternoon break at the instructor’s discretion. There are no scheduled evening or weekend classes, although there may be optional seminars or workshops offered at these times.

Participants may take courses for training or for academic credit. Additional requirements for those earning academic credit will be included in the course syllabus. Coursework for full-time students is due August 20, 2022. For part-time and non-resident students, coursework is due October 1, 2022. It is possible to receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Continuing Education Hours (CEs) for some SPI courses. Applicants must inform SPI of their desire for CEUs or CEs when they fill out the online application for admission, at least a month before the course begins. Additional fees may apply.

Educational Philosophy of SPI

SPI is an educational experience in the context of community. There is much diversity within the SPI community. Participants represent different ages, life experiences, nationalities, races/ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, economic classes, educational levels, and belief systems. In some cases, people come from opposing sides of an ongoing conflict. It is our hope that the SPI learning community will be a place that is safe for everyone to truly be themselves and express their thoughts and opinions. You can help nurture a secure and respectful community by coming prepared to listen, even to those you disagree with, and engage in ways that honor each other.

Plan to:

Interact respectfully with people whose cultures, religions, and/or traditions may be different from your own.
Listen carefully to the experiences and beliefs of others in an effort to learn more about your differences and commonalities.
Be considerate of all individuals, regardless of their opinions and experiences, even if you disagree with them.
When you are speaking or interacting, watch for body language as a clue that your speech or behavior may be making others feel uncomfortable.
Be aware that various cultures have sensitivities about dress that are important to them.
Recognize that views about relationships between men and women vary greatly from society to society.
Sexual harassment, defined broadly as unwelcome sexual advances or language, is not acceptable in the SPI community.
Acceptable conduct may differ from culture to culture. If you become uncomfortable with anyone’s behavior toward you at SPI, we encourage you to talk with an SPI Community Assistant or another staff person. We are here to help you feel safe in this learning community.

SPI reserves the right to remove participants from a course early if, based on our experience and judgment, his/her conduct jeopardizes the educational experience of the class as a whole, or jeopardizes the emotional or physical safety of any individual and/or the group.

Graduate Credit Information

Taking SPI courses for graduate credit?

If you are, please take time to review the following documents: