Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the NEW High School Student Registration 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 NEW High School Student Registration process? How can my student be nominated for an
event?
There are now two ways a student can come to an event:
The first method is by nomination and this is the same process we have used in the past. Links for nominations will
be sent via e-mail to rabbis, cantors, and educators, who are alumni of HUC-JIR, at the beginning of the year. A Student
needs 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. Congregations
may nominate as many students as they would like to attend each event. Please note that we look for the best and brightest
who demonstrate a commitment to Jewish learning. However, we do try to maintain diversity for our weekends so please only
nominate those students you feel are appropriate. After a student is nominated by a Jewish professional the Department of
Youth Programs sends a link to the application directly to the nominated student via e-mail. Students may fill out an
application online.
The second method is by the student's initiative. If the student feels s/he would be an asset to our program s/he can
register via our website. S/he must indicate a Jewish professional "sponsor" on this form in order for the registration
to be accepted. If there is no full time Jewish professional then the student should ask the congregational president or
someone else "official" in the congregation to serve as his or her"sponsor."
Submission of an application 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 e-mail from the
Department of Youth Programs. The College-Institute will not be responsible for non-refundable tickets.
Once a completed application is received by the Department of Youth Programs, a confirmation e-mail will be
sent directly to the student. The confirmation e-mail contains information concerning travel, accommodations,
and a required code of conduct and health form.
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.
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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 high school event, and a $80 non-refundable registration
fee for College Colloquium. The registration fee covers all food, hotel, 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 heavily subsidized
by HUC-JIR. We suggest that you speak with a Jewish Professional in your congregation to find out if there are funds
available 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 e-mail from the Department of Youth Programs. The College-Institute
will not be responsible for non-refundable tickets.
Confirmation e-mails 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?
High school and college participants 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, the cost of which is included in the registration fee.
For more information on the hotel check out their website at www.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.
(High school students and students under the age of 18) 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 and a chaperone present at the hotel all night. 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 and the hotel employs security throughout the night while we are there.
Upon arriving, the Youth Programs participants will receive a full briefing on measures taken to ensure a safe and
rewarding weekend experience.