Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Nomination process? How can my student be nominated for an event?
- What are the costs of attending a weekend? Is there financial aid?
- I have already sent in my application may I start making travel arrangements?
- Where do the students stay? What are the accommodations?
- I have a relative in Cincinnati. May my relative visit with my son or daughter at the Youth Programs event?
- Are there chaperones or professional staff?
- Does HUC-JIR undertake appropriate security measures for everyone on campus?
1)
What is the Nomination process? How can my student be nominated for an
event?
All high school programs are by nomination only. Nomination forms
will be sent via snail-mail to rabbis, cantors, and educators, who are
alumni of HUC-JIR, approximately three months before an event. All URJ
congregations also receive nomination forms. A Student need to be nominated
by a Jewish professional in his/her congregation. If there is no full
time Jewish professional then the student may be nominated by the congregational
president or someone else “official” in the congregation.
Please understand that depending on the event, only two students may
be nominated from each congregation regardless of the number of Jewish
professionals.
If you would like to be nominated for an event please contact a Jewish professional at your congregation. If the Jewish professional has not heard of our events, please direct them to this website or ask them to call us at (513) 487-3232.
It is important to note that receipt of the nomination indicates that students will be sent an application to the particular event for which they are nominated for. This does not mean that students are guaranteed spots. Please do not confirm any travel arrangements for your students until they have filled out an application and receive a confirmation letter from the Department of Youth Programs. The College-Institute will not be responsible for non-refundable tickets.
After a student is nominated by a Jewish professional the Department of Youth Programs sends an application directly to the nominated student via snail mail. Students may fill out an application by hand or online. Students who choose to apply online must have the login and access code provided in the application material sent by the Department of Youth Programs.
Once a completed application is received by the Department of Youth Programs, a confirmation letter will be sent directly to the student. The confirmation letter contains information concerning travel, accommodations, and a required code of conduct and health form.
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2)
What are the costs of attending a weekend? Is there financial aid?
There is a $120 non-refundable registration fee for each event
except HUC Academy, which is $140 non-refundable. The registration
fee covers all food, room and board, and program fees. Each participant
is responsible for his or her own transportation. There are no other necessary
expenses.
At this time, HUC-JIR is unable to offer scholarships or financial aid, as our programs are already subsidized by HUC-JIR. We suggest that you speak with a Jewish Professional in your congregation to find out if there are funds available for you to attend a Jewish education program. In years past, individual congregations, congregational rabbis, cantors, educators and other Jewish Professionals have often helped participating students with the costs of registration and or travel. However, the decision to do so is up to the individual congregations and their Jewish professional staff.
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3)
I have already sent in my application may I start making travel arrangements?
We have a limited number of spaces on each of our programs. We accept
students into our program on a first come first served basis and do so
until all the spots are taken. Therefore, we do not give out specific
travel information until a student has a confirmed spot in the program,
thus alleviating the potential for non-refundable tickets.
Students or Jewish professionals should not confirm any travel arrangements until students have filled out an application and have received a confirmation letter from the Department of Youth Programs. The College-Institute will not be responsible for non-refundable tickets.
Confirmation letters
will include: preferred airport, driving directions, time of arrival,
time of departure, transportation to and from the Cincinnati airport,
and any other pertinent information.
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4)
Where do the students stay? What are the accommodations?
Participants of a Youth Programs weekend will be staying at the Vernon Manor Hotel in Cincinnati, a short distance from the HUC-JIR campus. The Department of Youth Programs will ensure shuttle and/or charter bus transportation for all weekend events.
For more information on the hotel check out their website at http://vernonmanorhotel.com.
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5)
I have a relative in Cincinnati. May my relative visit with my son or
daughter at the Youth Programs event?
Yes. However, there is a limited amount of free time on these
programs. If you have relatives or friends in Cincinnati it is our suggestion
that your son or daughter arrive a little early to have lunch and spend
the afternoon with them on Friday or, stay a little later and spend the
afternoon with them on Sunday. This way the relative or friend can pick
them up or take them to the airport.
Our staff needs a
signed, hand written note giving permission for your child to visit with
the relative or friend. Thus, to best coordinate the times for your relative
or friend to visit with your child please contact a rabbinical intern
at (513) 487-3232.
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6)
Are there chaperones or professional staff?
Yes. There are chaperones and professional staff with the students
from the moment they arrive at the airport, throughout the entire weekend,
to the moment that your child leaves the airport to return home. The chaperones
and professional staff are over the age of 21. The weekend staff is made
up of three rabbinical interns, other various HUC students and staff of
the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. There is ample
adult supervision throughout the weekend. For more information concerning
the rabbinical interns, please visit “Meet
the Rabbinical Interns.”
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7)
Does HUC-JIR undertake appropriate security measures for everyone on
campus?
HUC-JIR undertakes all necessary security measures to ensure the safety and
well-being of faculty, staff and students. Security guards are on campus 24
hours a day. Upon arriving, the Youth Programs participants will receive a
full briefing on measures taken to ensure a safe and rewarding weekend
experience.