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Living Arrangements Program Resources / Living in NYC • Bank Street Facilities • Health Insurance • Gettings Around • Safety Tips • Having Fun in New York • A Typical Day in the Program All program participants are required to live together in dormitory-style accommodations secured by The Venture Consortium. This group living arrangement is an integral part of the UES experience. Participants provide each other with support, friendship, and a sense of community as they adjust to the challenges of living and working in a new environment. Student participants live at the 92nd Street Y - de Hirsch Residence, located in one of Manhattan's exciting neighborhoods - three blocks from Central Park, the Museum Mile and numerous other treasures. Subway and bus lines are conveniently located within walking distance. Single or double rooms are subject to availability. Students can arrange for local and long distance phone service in their room. The floors are single-sex with shared bathrooms on each floor. The floors also have fully-equipped kitchen/dining areas with refrigerators, freezers, cooking ranges and microwave ovens. Laundry rooms are located throughout the residence, and the Y has 24-hour, 7-day a week security. The 92nd St. Y now has wireless internet throughout the building. The Y's staff is multilingual, and the residence provides several special activities just for residents, such as weekly movie nights in the Residents' Lounge. Students should keep in mind that securing affordable student housing in New York City is extremely difficult, and that rooms in New York City tend to be smaller than dorm rooms at Venture schools. The 92nd Street Y offers young adults more than a place to sleep. Residents enjoy the extraordinary activities that make the Y one of New York’s finest cultural and community centers – concerts, lectures, and classes in art, music, dance, and languages are held in their auditorium, dance studio, and on-site conference rooms. Some of these events are free to residents. Venture subsidizes access to their gym, featuring a 75-foot swimming pool, ultra-modern cardiovascular conditioning equipment, Cybex and free weights, aerobics classes, steam room, sauna, and more. All Y residents also have access to the facility's library. There is no meal plan offered with the program. The cooking facilities at the Y are good, and there are several markets in the neighborhood. Applicants should note that the program’s schedule requires that student participants bring self-prepared bagged lunches and snacks with them throughout the week to eat while at their classroom placement during the day and at Bank Street for classes during the evening. Participants must be willing to eat dinner that they prepare themselves late in the evening, after they arrive back from classes at Bank Street that they may have until 9:00 PM that day. Be aware that time management comes into play with regard to eating regularly if one does not want to overspend by eating out on a regular basis. See A Typical Day to get a better sense of the daily schedule. (back to top) > program resources / living in NYC
Library: The Bank Street Library contains a wide range of materials to support instruction and independent research: books, journals, reference sources and portfolios, ERIC microfiche, videotapes, audio recording, vertical file materials, and electronic databases. Single copies of heavily used materials, as well as files of photocopied articles arranged by name of course instructor, are available at the Circulation Desk for use in the Library. UES students also have reading privileges at Columbia University Teachers College library. Bookstore: The Bank Street Bookstore offers two floors of books, games, videos, and audiocassettes for children, parents and educators. Professional books, including all books required in courses, are on the second floor. (Students cannot return books as used books for reimbursement.) Computer Access: The College's computer laboratory is located on the first floor. It houses modern networked computer workstations and is used as a drop-in facility and a classroom. The rooms are available to students during late afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays. Computers are also available for use in the Library by graduate students. The College has become a full-fledged node on the Internet. It is important to note that Bank Street does not offer 24-hour computer access. However, the Urban Ed. program has purchased two laptop computers for students of the program to use. Cafeteria: The Bank Street cafeteria is open to the public as well as to the College community. The cafeteria offers a wide selection of wholesome foods, including homemade soups and breads, seasonal salads, hearty entrees and vegetarian meals. (back to top) There is no health insurance provided by this program, though the program is committed to helping participants access health care providers in the area on an as-needed basis. Several hospitals, as well as a clinic, are located in the neighborhood of the Y and Bank Street. Students should check with their family or their school to determine their coverage. If the clinic does not accept the coverage of the student’s health care provider, then the student must pay the clinic up front at the time of his/her visit and be willing to be reimbursed later by their provider. Bank Street College requires that student participants provide Bank Street with proof of health insurance. (back to top) Students travel to and from Bank Street, the 92nd Street Y, and their classroom placement three times per week, and to and from the field trips on Fridays. Student participants must factor travel expenses into their budget for the semester (see Additional Semester Expenses). New York City’s public transportation system is excellent and gets you easily to all parts of the city. (back to top) > safety tips
We recognize that New York City has been in the news often since the tragic events of 9/11. While much of the city is safe, we discourage students from traveling alone at night, and caution them to remain alert and aware of their surroundings at all times, and to take common sense precautions. Safety is an issue that is covered in the program orientation. (back to top) > schedule / having fun in new york
New York City is a great place to be - museums, cultural events, cafes, and tourist attractions abound! The local newspapers, "The Village Voice" and "Time Out" list what is going on in the area. Many places offer student discounts with a valid student ID card. Time management plays a key role in shaping the student’s successful participation in and completion of the Urban Education Semester. The program staff addresses developing time management skills during the program orientation and throughout the semester. (back to top) > a typical day
A typical day/week is as follows: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday days: 7:00 AM: Leave for placement via public transportation. 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM: Work at placement; bring and have lunch there. 3:30 PM: Travel back to Bank Street for class, depending on your course schedule. Wednesday day: Morning: Weekly conference group at Bank Street; Individual Advisement at Bank Street (every other week) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday evenings (depending on your course schedule): 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Attend one or two of your classes at Bank Street; have dinner in between classes, or when you get home after classes. Eat dinner; homework; prepare for the next day’s placement. Friday day: Morning-Noon: Field trip to a public school or policy site. Friday afternoon - Weekend: Relax! Sleep! Have fun! Participate in a UES group activity (About 2-3 times per semester, planned by the program staff). Do your grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Bank Street homework. Classroom preparation: grade papers, prepare presentation, etc. (back to top) page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 |
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