Summer Institute Admitted Students

Enrollment

All admitted students must complete an Enrollment Form and submit a non-refundable initial payment of $1500 per course to guarantee their place in Sotheby’s Summer Institute. Students and parents will be sent an acceptance email containing a link to complete the form and select the course(s) they would like to attend. At the end of the form, the system will prompt you to submit your first payment and enroll.

Tuition Payment:

• If you have already submitted your tuition payment, you may ignore this section.

Payment Plans & Due Dates

• For those preferring to pay in installments after submitting the deposit, non-refundable initial payment of $1500, installments may be paid at this link.
• All payments must be made directly in the portal. Accepted payment methods may include Credit Cards & Debit Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Local Bank Transfer and Bank Payment: Checking Account or Saving Account
• For those who prefer to pay in installments, students will be automatically charged after the initial payment of $1500. If the initial payment of $1500 is not received by the designated date on your acceptance letter, the offer of admission will be revoked. If space becomes available after a student’s application has been withdrawn, the student may contact the Admissions Office at precollege@sia.edu.

Refund Policy

• The first initial payment of $1500 for Sotheby’s Summer Institute is non-refundable. To withdraw from the program for any reason before the start of the term, the student must notify Sotheby’s Summer Institute in writing via email, and, depending on the date of withdrawal, a portion of the tuition and fees previously paid may be refunded. No refunds will be given for early departures from a program, once it is underway, whether voluntary or otherwise.
• Date of receipt of written cancellation notification
• Amount of program fees refunded (less non-refundable initial payment of $1500 and processing fee of $250) *
  • Before February 1, 100%
  • February 2 – March 1, 60%
  • March 2 – April 15, 30%
  • After April 15, 0%

Term Dates

The term(s) you have been accepted into can be found in your acceptance email. As a reminder, here are the dates for each term:

• Term 1: July 5-July 17, 2026
• Term 2: July 19-July 3 1, 2026

Program Form:

• You will receive a Program Form link via Pre-College from SchoolDoc (noreply@schooldoc.com) approximately 10 weeks prior to your move in date to the registered enrollment email used.
• SchoolDoc is used to collect important information such as emergency contacts, immunization records, dietary restrictions and accommodations. Note: Students cannot begin program without a completed Program Form
• If you are unsure of your login information, please go to the SchoolDoc login page and click “Forgot Password” to receive a new link. If you remain unable to log in, please let us know immediately.

Student Handbook

The Student and Family Handbook is available to you for you to thoroughly review prior to your arrival. It contains all program policies and expectations of the pre-college program.

Program Overview

a. Campus Location: Financial District neighborhood in New York City

b. Daily Schedule:

7:00am-9:00am – Breakfast (residential students) ​

9:30am-12:30pm – Academic Morning session​

12:30pm-1:30pm – Lunch (all students)

1:30pm-4:30pm – Academic Afternoon session​

4:30pm-6:00pm – Homework & Dinner (residential students)​

6:00pm-9:00pm – Co-Curricular events/Residential Life programming​

9:30pm – Curfew (Sun-Thu), 10:00pm-Curfew (Fri-Sat)

10:00pm-Bed Checks (Sun-Thu), 10:30pm Bed Checks (Fri-Sat)

Travel and Arrival/Departures

Check In Details: 

When: 1st Sunday of Term  

Time:

1:30-2:00 PM Last names A-F

2:00-2:30PM Last names G-L

2:30-3:00PM Last names M-R

3:00-3:30PM Last names S-Z

3:30-4:00PM Day Student Check-In

4:30-5:30PM All Student Orientation Presentation

5:30-7:30PM Living/Learning Community Group Meetings/Dinner

Location: Financial District neighborhood in New York City 

*Note: If you will arrive after check-in time, please notify the student life team at studentlife@sia.edu  

• New York City Airports: JFK, LGA, EWR 

• Transportation: Uber Teen, NYC taxi 

• Travel Passes in NYC: 

Students cover their own transit during their stay and have two options: 

• Tap-to-pay via phone (recommended) 

• MetroCard (OMNY Pass starting 1/1/2026) are both options. Please budget ~$6 per round trip 

• Should be purchased prior to moving in  

Travel Safety 

• Students will be accompanied daily by academic staff during the day and residential and program staff for co-curricular activities. 

• Students should wear comfortable shoes and travel with refillable water bottle. 

• When traveling throughout the city, students should wait for light to change at intersections. Do not jaywalk. 

• When traveling in the subway do not stand at the edge of the subway platform. 

• We recommend that students and parents/guardians discuss safety and guidelines prior to their arrival to the program. 

• Parents/guardians should feel comfortable allowing their students to move unsupervised throughout New York City during their off time.  

Program Departure

• Students depart the program on the second Friday, and last day of the term, after the Closing Ceremony. Please allow students to return to their dorm rooms, collect their belongings and tidy up their spaces. All students must depart the residential facility by 1:00pm EST the latest. Please plan for travel arrangements accordingly. Additionally, due to campus policy and to avoid congestion in the lobby and elevators, parents, guardians and other family members are not allowed inside the residence halls. We ask that families please remain outside while your student retrieves their belongings from their living spaces.

*Please remember to check policies for unaccompanied minors when making travel and transportation arrangements. 

**Summer Institute does not endorse and is not affiliated or associated with any transportation company or agency.  

ABC’s of Student Support

A. Academic Resources and Office Hours 

• Each class will have Office Hours, run by the Academic Specialists, on certain nights throughout the term. They will be held in a designated classroom from 4:30-5:30. During Office Hours, you can ask questions about your class assignments, work together in small groups on homework, or ask the academic staff any questions you may have about college applications, presenting your projects, or the art world in general.  

• Please review your course syllabus, located in your academic course, to see when Office Hours for your specific class will take place.  

 Accommodation 

• The Institute wants every student to succeed and strives to create a safe and inclusive environment that can support each student’s individual needs. We welcome requests for student instructional accommodation (academic, physical, assistive technologies or other), for students with disabilities, which may be required inside and/or outside of the classroom.  

• We ask that students and their families submit instructional accommodation requests, any supporting documentation, and any other relevant important information that may shape a student’s experience at the program as early as possible in the enrollment process. To allow sufficient time to make any necessary arrangements, if appropriate, and ensure that all students have a fulfilling, enjoyable and safe experience. 

• All instructional accommodation requests and notifications should be submitted using the Program Form 

• The Institute values and is sensitive to individual needs and will work to accommodate reasonable requests where possible and practical. 

C. Canvas 

• Students will receive access to Canvas, our Learning Management System, to review important resources and complete prework before arriving to the program. Invitations will be sent from notifications@instructure.com directly after pre-orientation (about 2.5 weeks before the term starts). You will then be able to:  

• Access The Community Course, The Gallery, will be available to you directly following the pre-orientation, prior to the start of the term. The Community Course is your one-stop shop resource for all your program details from move-in day to the end of the term.   

• Complete the Art Talk!   a pre-arrival survey to let us know about your art tastes and how you get your art world news.  

•  Complete Pre-Arrival Course Work: Your Academic course will also be published one week after pre-orientation. Course Pre-Work may include readings, videos, podcasts, or assignments to complete before your first day of the course. You can find your pre-work in the first module of your academic course, on the “Complete Course Pre-Work” page.    

• Access classroom schedules, syllabi and course assignments.  

• Sign up for Co-Curricular activities 

• Access Certificate of Completion and Narrative Evaluation 

• Request loaner equipment: If you require a Google Chromebook loaner laptop for the duration of your term, you can fill out the Loaner Request Form that can be found on the Student Equipment Loan Form Page before you arrive on campus. Please note, requests are considered on a first-come first-served basis.     

  Checking Off Campus 

• Any time students leave campus they must request the leave through Orah and our staff will approve/deny the request.    

• Off- Campus Checkout Privileges (Residential Students):  

1. Off-Campus Checkout privileges begin on the 4th day of the term (Thursday) after academic session at 4:30 pm.   
2. Students must return by curfew: 9:30 pm Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday.   
3. To request Off-Campus Check out privilege, student must submit request via Orah with the following required information: Location, Buddy, Time.  
4. Special leave Request (Please see Special Leave Request for details) 

Closing Ceremony 

• The closing ceremony will take place on the morning of the last Friday of the term, prior to check-out.  Please plan your travel plans accordingly to accommodate for the closing ceremony. More information will be released closer to the start of the program. Parents/ guardians will be sent a Zoom link so that they can view virtually.  

Community Values Pledge 

As a member of the Summer Institute Community, I will: 

Practice personal and academic integrity 

Be accountable for my own actions 

Be a responsible, honest, and active member of my residential and academic community 

Respect and care for myself, my peers, others and their property 

Follow all residential and programmatic policies and procedures as outlined in the Student Handbook and the Code of Conduct and those of our partner institutions 

Value and embrace The Institute’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity by seeking to learn from differences in people, ideas and situations 

Regard The Institute’s residences, buildings, activity spaces and classroom facilities as a safe space to live, study and work with students, faculty and staff 

Foster a living and learning environment that is free from harassment, discrimination, victimization, bullying, drugs, alcohol and any other disorderly conduct described in the Student Handbook 

Recognize and respect the role and authority of all Summer Institute staff, faculty, and program affiliate staff/teams 

Respect and abide by curfew guidelines 

Understand that my participation in The Summer Institute program is a privilege and as such, I will conduct myself with the highest standards as a representative of the program and school. 

Co-Curricular Activities and Events 

• Our co-curricular and residential life activities take place daily after dinner usually begin at 6pm and consist of carefully curated programming ranging from small group local neighborhood activities to program-wide outings. Events will focus on arts, culture or unique New York experiences. These activities are open to both residential and day students and will be supervised by the Residential and Student Life staff. Saturdays will be designated Exploration Days, with optional programming.  

• List of activities and their descriptions can be found in The Gallery. 

• Students can sign up for co-curricular activities using the form linked in The Gallery activity page.  

Curfew 

• Sotheby’s Summer Institute does strictly enforce a program curfew for safety and security protocols. Residential students must be in their assigned room each evening by 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Residential staff will conduct room checks at curfew. If a student is late for curfew, parents/guardians will be called immediately. Students are expected to be in their assigned room during curfew hours between 9:30 p.m.-7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. If students need staff assistance during curfew hours, they should call the emergency line. Curfew hours are also established as quiet hours to allow students to sleep and study undisturbed. 

D. Day Students 

• Day students are students who join the program without residing in the dorms.  

• Check-In: Day students are expected to arrive each morning at least 15 minutes prior to their start time and check in at the Welcome Desk. 

• Absences: Day students who know that they will be absent on a particular day should have their parents/guardian notify The Institute staff in advance of the start of the term by requesting an excused absence for that day. 

H. Health and Wellness 

• All students must provide health information, including proof of immunization for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Meningitis, through the Program Form after enrollment.  

• COVID-19 vaccination is not required, but we strongly recommend that students follow CDC guidance, which advises keeping up to date with vaccines and boosters.  

• Summer Institute reserves the right to require additional vaccinations if recommended by the CDC, FDA, WHO, New York State or City agencies, or the housing provider, if necessary to prevent or control communicable disease outbreaks.  

• A designated nurse and health and well-being specialists will be available to students during the duration of the program, Contact information and schedule will be shared with students upon arrival to program. 

 Housing 

• Dormitories include air-conditioned, traditional-style residence hall rooms with a private en-suite bathroom and bedding is included. 

• At Sotheby’s Summer Institute we believe in the value of communal living and the holistic benefit that having a roommate provides students in our precollege program. The roommate experience affords students the opportunity to grow and nurture life skills such as communication, tolerance, and compromise, among others. We encourage our students to embrace the experience of roommates with an open mind, and heart-roommates tend to lead to long, lasting friendships. 

• Students are typically roomed according to their age or grade and self-identified gender listed in the program form sent after enrollment. Sotheby’s Summer Institute may consult with students on an individual basis as needed to find appropriate accommodation. Students will learn their room assignment upon arrival to the program. 

• Note: Students will not be able to request room changes upon arrival or during program duration. 

• Laundry facilities are onsite at residence halls. Students must bring their own detergent (liquid and/or powder only) 

L. Lanyards/IDs 

• Lanyards are distributed to (residential and day) students at the beginning of the program to carry their room keys and the Sotheby’s Summer Institute – Pre-College ID. Students are expected to always wear their Institute lanyard during the program. The charge for lost or unreturned keys and/or IDs is $25. Families are responsible for these fees, which must be paid to The Institute directly.  

M. Meals 

• Meal plans include vegetarian and vegan options for both residential students with breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays, and weekend breakfast (Saturdays and Sundays) and Day students, with daily weekday lunch. 

• Students and families must indicate any other necessary dietary restrictions on their Program Form prior to arrival. Families with specific dietary concerns are encouraged to contact the program office at studentlife@sia.edu  as early as possible to discuss accommodation options. 

 O. Orah 

• (For both students and parents/guardians) Orah is an app that Sotheby’s Summer Institute uses to track student whereabouts, medical alerts, student information, and other important notes about student care. Any time students leave campus they must request the leave through Orah and the staff will approve/deny the request. 

P. Packing List 

• Clothing: light summer clothes, jacket/sweatshirt, raincoat, swimsuit, sandals, walking shoes, one nicer outfit  

• Weather gear: sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella, reusable water bottle  

• Tech: A laptop is strongly recommended for coursework but tablets with keyboards are acceptable. There are limited Chromebooks for borrowing (first-come, first-served). U.S.-compatible phone/plan, alarm clock, hair dryer, headphones, chargers, adapters (if international)  

• Other: towel, shower caddy, shower shoes, photo ID, copy of insurance card, spending money  

• Toiletries: Body wash/soap, shampoo/conditioner, face/skincare items, haircare items, toothpaste and toothbrush 

Pre-Orientation 

• Families are highly encouraged to attend a virtual pre-orientation for students and families two weeks prior to move-in day. This orientation will outline details of the program including technology demonstrations and Q &A as well as policies, academic expectations, co-curricular events and more. 

•  Families will receive virtual meeting details via email.  

R. Requirements for a Certificate of Completion and Narrative Evaluation 

• To receive a Certificate of Completion for your course, you are expected to: 

1. Attend all class sessions (unless you are granted an excused absence by the program due to illness or extenuating circumstances) 
2. Complete all homework and in-class assignments 
3. Complete and present the Final Project  

S. Special Leave Request 

• Special Leave requests are available for students to take longer leaves from the program (e.g., overnight, more than 4 hours etc.) but are highly discouraged. 

• Special Leaves can be requested in Orah within 48 hours of planned leave and will first be sent to the student’s parent/guardian for approval, or and then to The Institute staff.  

• Students who are caught attempting to fabricate approval of their own Special Leave request by their parent/guardian will be subject to immediate expulsion. 

W. Welcome Desk 

• Welcome Desk Staff are the program point of contact for all communications for both students and families.  

• Welcome Desk number is distributed prior to your arrival to program 

After the Program 

Receiving Your Certificate of Completion 

• After completing your course, the Certificate of Completion will be found in the final module of your academic course on the “Certificate of Completion” page. Please allow 3 weeks after the course ends for the Certificate of Completion to be published. The Certificate can be downloaded as a PDF for your safekeeping.   

• Please note that you will have up to 90 days after your course ends to download a copy of your certificate. After the 90-day period, the course will be closed and you will no longer have access to Canvas, including all content and the certificate.   

Program Ambassador 

• If students are interested in becoming program ambassadors for Sotheby’s Summer Institute, please contact academics@sia.edu after their term has ended. 

Letters of Recommendations 

• If students wish to request letter of recommendations, please contact academics@sia.edu with name, course, term and name of faculty member. 

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Questions?  

We look forward to providing you with a truly rewarding learning experience this summer. We know you will have questions as the program approaches. You are likely to find the answers on our comprehensive FAQ page.  

For all other questions related to the student experience, please feel free to contact us at studentlife@sia.edu