Frequently Asked Questions

CONTACT INFORMATION

Who do I contact with general questions about the Institute?

Please write to linginst07@stanford.edu

What do I use for the mailing address and fax number of the Institute?

Margaret Jacks Hall
Building 460
Stanford University
Stanford CA 94305-2150
USA

Fax: +1-650-723-5666
Tel: +1-650-723-6476

My delivery company will only deliver to a street address. What should I use?

Please add "450 Serra Mall" after "Building 460" in the address above. (Normally the building number alone is sufficient to identify a location at Stanford.)

After the Institute

Will I still be able to access class materials on Coursework after the Institute?

You will not be able to access Coursework materials after July 28.

Will instructors return my written work to me?

Instructors are not obliged to return your written work.

When will I learn my grades?

Enrolled participants will learn their grades when they receive their transcripts. We are not able to release grade information in advance of this.

Who will receive a transcript and what information will it contain?

All enrolled participants will receive a transcript listing presession courses attended, as well as regular session courses taken for credit (either with a grading basis of Credit/No Credit or letter grade). The transcript will be accompanied by an explanatory page with general information about Institute courses and grading.

When will I receive my transcript?

We will be mailing you a hard copy of your transcript by the end of September. We will not be distributing electronic copies of transcripts.

How can I obtain an additional copy of my transcript in the future?

You should contact the Linguistic Society of America for additional copies of your transcript. Specific contact information will be included on the explanatory page accompanying the transcript.

Will I be able to get a list with contact information for all the other Institute participants?

For privacy reasons we are not able to make this information available.

Where and when will the next Linguistic Institute take place?

The next Linguistic Institute will take place in summer 2009 at the University of California, Berkeley. Information about it should be available in about a year.

ACADEMICS

Can I change the regular session courses that I am registered for or the grading basis for these courses?

You will be able to drop and add regular session courses or change the grading basis for these courses from June 30 until the add/drop deadline (see below). You will not be able to add courses that are closed during this time. If you drop a closed course, most likely you will not be able to add it back into your schedule, so please do not drop a closed course unless you are really sure you do not want to take it.

Is there a deadline for changing my regular session courses or the grading basis for these courses?

These changes must be made by midnight Pacific time on Sunday, July 8.

Should I contact my instructors to ask about readings or other forms of preparation I should do before I arrive at the Institute?

Please do not contact your instructors in advance. There is no specific advance reading you should do. You should simply be sure you meet any prerequisites listed in the description of the courses you have registered for.

When will I have access to the syllabus for each course I am attending?

Instructors will make the syllabi for their courses available at the first class meeting. It is up to the instructors to decide whether they want to distribute paper syllabi, make syllabi available on-line, or both.

When will I have access to the reading list and readings for each course that I am attending?

Instructors will make the reading lists and readings for their courses available once the class starts. It is up to the instructors whether they will make the entire reading list available at once or class meeting by class meeting. We expect that most required readings will be available on-line in pdf format and do not expect to make hard-copy readers for courses; the exception is books, as discussed in the next question.

Where do I buy books required for my courses?

If your course readings include a textbook, an entire book, or a reader, it will be available at the Stanford Bookstore.

Where do I find materials that instructors have placed on library reserve?

The materials will be available from the Circulation Desk at Green Library during the hours the desk is open. Each reserve item is available for a 2-hour period, and cannot be taken out from the library. Reserve materials must be requested directly via the call number. For books, the call number can be found by looking the book up in Socrates, Stanford's on-line library catalog. Alternatively, items can be found via the reserves catalog. Once on this page type LSA in the search box under "Search Course Reserves" and click on the "Course Number" button, then click on LSA-xxx, where xxx is the number of your course; this will bring up a list of reserve material available for the course.

Will presession courses require the completion of work outside of class time?

Presession courses are not graded and will not have required assignments, papers, or exams, though instructors may give you practice assignments to do, should you want to ensure that you really learn the material covered. Some presession courses will incorporate hands-on exercises into the class meetings themselves.

When will work have to be turned in for each regular session course that I am attending?

Those taking regular session courses for a grade will be required to complete some work that will be the basis for assessment. It is up to the course instructor(s) to determine precisely what work is required and to set the due date for the work; however, we expect that all work will be completed and submitted by the last day of class (Friday, July 27, 2007).

Will I be able to get a grade of Incomplete for a regular session class?

We will not allow instructors to assign grades of Incomplete, and we are asking instructors to turn in grades for their courses very soon after the end of the Institute. For this reason, it is essential that you turn in all required work on the due dates that your instructors announce and no later than the end of the Institute. If you fail to turn in some required work, you may not be able to receive a passing letter grade or Credit for a course.

Will instructors hold office hours where I can ask questions about course material?

We are asking all instructors of regular session courses to hold office hours; these should be announced in the first or second class meeting and included on course syllabi. A list of contact information for all instructors will be included in an information booklet that you will receive when you arrive.

I need to turn in an assignment to an instructor; where do I leave it, if it is outside of class hours?

Each instructor will have a mailbox in the Linguistics Department. The exact location of the mailboxes will be announced at the beginning of the Institute. Mailboxes will only be accessible during weekday business hours.

Where will my courses be held?

We will include information on where each course will be held in the information package you will receive when you arrive. This information will also be posted on the web at the same time.

LIBRARY

Will I have access to the Stanford libraries?

Your conference ID card will allow you to enter any Stanford library, but you will not have any borrowing privileges, so you must look at materials inside the library.

Which Stanford library contains linguistic materials?

Most linguistic material is in Green Library, though some education related material is in the Education Library. The Stanford Libraries primarily uses the Library of Congress cataloguing system. Linguistics material is found in two places in Green Library: the seventh floor of the West Stacks in the Bing Wing (P, PB-PF) and the third floor of the (East) Green Wing (PA, PG-PZ). Basically, general linguistic material and material on Romance and Germanic languages is in the West Stacks and material on other languages is in the (East) Green Wing. Psycholinguistics material is shelved under BF in the fifth floor of the West Stacks and anthropological linguistic material is shelved under GN in the lower level of the (East) Green Wing. All new periodical issues are shelved on the ground floor of the (East) Green Wing. There is a shortcut from the 6th floor of the West Stacks to the third floor of the East Green Wing, but you will need to have someone show it to you!

How do I access the library catalog on-line?

Socrates, the on-line catalog, is available from this page.

What hours are the libraries open?

Summer library hours may be found here.

REGISTRATION

What are the different categories of registrant?

Student participants enrolled in institute courses are classified as 'Enrolled Participants', and all non-student participants are classified as 'Affiliates'. Enrolled participants pay tuition and will receive a transcript from the LSA for their courses taken for credit. Affiliates pay an affiliate fee which is a primary source of funding for student fellowships. Affiliates supported by companies are Corporate Affiliates; those supported through non-profit higher education institution funds, or private funds, are Individual Affiliates.

Must I be an LSA (Linguistic Society of America) member to attend?

Yes, you must be an LSA member and your membership must be current. (See http://www.lsadc.org/info/ling-faqs-whyjoin.cfm for other reasons to join and benefits of membership.)

How do I become an LSA member or renew my membership?

Please go to the LSA web site at http://www.lsadc.org.

What are the fees for attending the Institute?

Enrolled participant tuition is $1300, and individual affiliate fees are $1000. For corporate affiliate rates, please see here. Housing and dining costs are additional.

How and when do I pay my tuition and/or housing fees?

Information about how to submit payment for housing (and tuition/affiliate fees) will be sent to registered participants via email. Final payments are due by June 6, 2007.

Are my payments for tuition or fees and housing refundable if I have to cancel?

Refunds for any overpayments are available until June 6th, 2007. There is an administrative fee for a refund which is approximately $10 plus 3% of the amount refunded. Please contact linginst07@stanford.edu for further details.

Do I really have to register as an Affiliate and pay fees if I simply want to audit courses?

Anyone attending the Institute must register and pay the appropriate fee. Affiliate fees are a principal source of student tuition fellowship support; these fellowships allow students to receive the many benefits of participation in an Institute, including exposure to a wide range of classes taught by experts in the field, many of which would not be available at their home institutions, and the opportunity to make contact with their peers from other universities. Student tuition, from both fellowship and non-fellowship sources, in turn, helps pay for the costs of putting on the Institute, including paying the costs of the instructors. As an affiliate, you will also have access to the internet and the Stanford Libraries and be eligible to apply for on-campus housing during the Institute.

When does registration close?

All registration will close on June 1st, 2007. The initial non-refundable application fee of $50 rises to $100 from April 2nd, 2007.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND LSA FELLOWSHIPS: GENERAL INFORMATION

Can I still apply for an LSA Fellowship?

Sorry, the deadline for applying for financial assistance has passed.

Where can I see information about the LSA Fellowship?

We have moved the LSA Fellowship FAQ to a separate page because we are on longer accepting applications.

INFORMATION FOR NON-US CITIZENS

What kind of visa do non-US citizens require?

Stanford University considers attendance at the institute to be appropriate to the J-1 visa category and strongly discourages attendance at the Institute on a tourist visa.

How long does it take to get a J-1 visa?

It usually takes 2-3 months to obtain a J-1 visa. Therefore, we are no longer sponsoring applications for J-1 visas if the process has not already been started.

What charges are involved in obtaining a visa?

The Stanford-related costs for a J-1 visa are $75 per visa, which you pay on our registration website. There will be other costs payable to the U.S. SEVIS in your home country related to the interview for the visa and the issuing of the visa.

I am currently a student (or postdoc) in the US; are there any special steps I need to take regarding my current visa if I attend the Institute?

You need to check with your host institution about their policies regarding your participation in the institute at Stanford. We strongly encourage you not to consider coming to Stanford without first receiving permission from your host institution.

I'm an international participant. Do I really need medical insurance?

If you are attending the institute on a J-1 visa, you will be required to have the appropriate level of insurance coverage. We know that this requirement adds another expense to what is already an expensive undertaking; unfortunately, we have no choice but to urge you to comply with the regulations of the U.S. government.

It is also very much in your own interest to make sure that you are adequately insured when you arrive here.

We are working with a local agent to provide insurance to our J-1 visa (or for Canadians, DS-2019) holders. We will work with this agent on your behalf if you choose to follow this route. If you would like more information about the insurance requirement or the terms of this insurance, please contact linginst07-admin@lists.stanford.edu.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND SELECTION

What is the presession?

The presession consists of three days (July 1-3) devoted to courses aimed at the teaching of practical or conceptual skills, and knowledge of formalisms or frameworks. Each of these courses will meet for 2 hours each day. The goal of the presession is to make the regular classes as effective as possible, so some classes will recommend or require particular presession courses.

Can I attend the Institute without attending the presession? And if so, will there be an adjustment in the fees I pay?

We expect all Institute participants, whether Enrolled Participants or Affiliates, to attend the presession and the regular session. As part of our negotiated rates, fees cover both sessions and the housing and dining packages are also based on attendance at both sessions. No adjustments can be made to these packages.

How many presession and regular session classes is an Enrolled Participant expected to take?

An Enrolled Participant is expected to take 2 or 3 presession courses and 4 regular session courses.

How many classes can an Affiliate audit?

We recommend attendance in up to 4 regular session courses, and up to 2 or 3 presession courses.

Where do I find a list of courses and descriptions of each course?

Click here for a list of courses, together with course descriptions.

Where do I find information about the instructor(s) of each course?

Click here for a list of instructors, together with brief biographical statements.

Where do I find the schedule of courses?

Click these links for the schedules for the presession and the regular session.

Why must I specify a set of alternate course choices in addition to a set of courses I want to attend?

Some courses will have an enrollment cap, for a variety of reasons. If any of these classes is oversubscribed by the April deadline, we will run a lottery on that day to determine which Enrolled Participants will be able to take each of the oversubscribed classes. The April deadline is currently set at April 2nd, but we may move it a few days later if notification of LSA fellowships are delayed.

What do I do if I want to change my course selection before the Institute starts?

You may reenter the course registration site using your SUNetID and password and change your selections. Currently, you may do this at any time until registration closes on June 1. After April 9, you will not be able to add yourself to any class whose enrollment has been closed.

What do I do if I want to change my course selection after the Institute starts?

Information on how to do this will be posted in early July 2007.

LSA COURSE CREDIT

How many LSA Institute Credits does each course carry?

Each regular session course is for 2 LSA Institute Credits; Enrolled Participants enroll in four courses for a total of 8 LSA Institute credits. Presession courses are not taken for credit, but will be listed on the transcript you receive from the LSA.

Can I transfer LSA Institute Credit to my home degree program?

The LSA is not an accredited institution of higher education, but all students who pay tuition will receive a transcript of their courses from the LSA, as well as a letter from an official at Stanford University indicating that the courses offered at the institute are equivalent in nature and content to standard university courses. Stanford University does accept LSA credit as transfer credit, but we cannot guarantee that this will be the case for any other institution.

What is a grading basis and which one should I choose?

You may audit institute classes (sit in on classes but not hand in assignments or get credit) or take them for credit. Affiliates of the institute are not permitted to take classes for credit, but may audit. Students who choose to take a class for credit may choose either the "Credit/No Credit" grading basis or the "Letter Grade" basis. Those who choose a Letter Grade will be given a grade (A, B, C, etc.) at the end of the course, whereas those who choose Credit/No Credit will either receive credit or not for the work they have done in the course.

CAMPUS INFORMATION

When can I move into campus housing?

You may move into your housing on Saturday, June 30 and you will be expected to move out on Saturday, July 28. In limited cases, early check-in and late stay housing will be available by prior arrangement with the institute. Please see the housing page for more information.

Will I have access to Stanford's athletic facilities?

Your Institute ID card will allow you to purchase an athletics pass if you wish to use the athletic facilities. Contact the Arrillaga sports center for information about passes and fees: (650) 724-9872.

COMPUTING

Should I bring a laptop to the Institute?

We strongly encourage affiliates and enrolled participants to bring laptops to the Institute, especially if you are planning to take any of the classes with hands-on or lab components or the computational linguistics classes.

All classes, including these classes, will take place in rooms that were not designed for the use of multiple laptops, so they have only a few electrical outlets. If your laptop battery does not stay charged for at least 2 hours (the length of a class), we recommend that you purchase a new one in advance of the Institute.

Will I be able to have computer access even if I don't bring a laptop?

Yes, there will be a few computer clusters open to all Institute participants. We will provide information on the location and hours of these clusters in the registration packets you will receive on your arrival.

Is there a wireless network available on campus?

Yes, there is a wireless network available on campus. We will send enrolled participants and affiliates instructions on how to get access to the campus network shortly before the Institute begins.

Short-term visitors will be eligible for one-week guest wireless access, which can be sponsored in July by our institute staff.

Are there printing facilities available?

We will make information on printing available in the registration packets you will receive on your arrival.

LOCAL INFORMATION

What child care options are there in the area?

Please see: the child care information on the local info page

How to I get to and from an airport to campus?

Please see the section on airport transportation on the local info page.