Verrazano School
 Program Requirements

I. Grade Point Average (GPA) and Full-Time Status

End of Freshman Year: Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75

End of First Semester Sophomore Year: Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

After First Semester Sophomore Year:  To remain in The Verrazano School, a student beyond the first semester of sophomore year must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

All Verrazano students must maintain full-time status throughout their four years at CSI.  Full-time status is defined as enrolling in and completing a minimum of 12 credits each semester excluding winter and summer sessions.

II. Verrazano Courses

Entering freshmen must enroll in a Verrazano learning community in their freshman fall. 

All Verrazano Scholars must take a minimum total of three Verrazano courses, not including courses taken in a learning community, throughout the remainder of their undergraduate studies at CSI. 

Notes:

• Verrazano courses are identified each semester and course lists are available on the Verrazano Blackboard site and in the Verrazano office (5N-113).  These courses are generally not listed on e-SIMS.
• For science-based courses with labs and lectures, the Verrazano lecture section and Verrazano lab section must be taken concurrently to be counted as one of the three required Verrazano courses. 

III. Verrazano Experiential Learning Activities (VELAs)

Verrazano Scholars must attend at least one VELA during their freshman, sophomore, and senior years and at least two VELAs during their junior year for a minimum total of five VELA events.  Students are strongly encouraged to attend more than the required number of VELAs.

VELAs are typically held during club hours on Wednesdays or Thursdays.  They feature talks by, and conversations with, faculty and staff members on a wide range of topics.  They may also include musical performances, creative arts discussions, and leadership activities among other things.  Some events are co-sponsored by The Verrazano School and other departments at CSI.  The listing of VELA events will be available on the Verrazano Blackboard site, on the Verrazano website, and in the Verrazano office.

Students must sign the VELA attendance sheet (or CLUE attendance sheet where applicable) to receive credit for their attendance.  Attendance at VELA events will be recorded in the Verrazano student files.

Students who graduate early are responsible for attending the total number of VELAs required for a four-year student.  For example, a student graduating one year early must attend three VELAs in the third year prior to applying for graduation to meet this portion of the graduation requirement.

 

IV. Career Academy*

Freshman Year: Verrazano freshmen must attend the three workshops that comprise The Pathfinder Program, and the workshops must be attended in sequential order beginning with Part 1.  These workshops are as follows:

Part 1: Pathfinder Overview
Part 3: Self-Directed Search
Part 3: Career Research

The Pathfinder Program is part of the Verrazano Career Academy.  Freshmen must attend the three workshops before they will be permitted to register for courses for the fall semester of their sophomore year.  A stop will be applied to the record of any first-year Verrazano student who does not complete the Pathfinder Program. 

The Pathfinder workshops are designed to help students understand themselves and the major and career options available to them, and participation can help students become more focused in their career goals.  The workshops are offered several times each month, and schedules are available in the Verrazano Office (5N-113), in the Office of Academic Advisement (1A-101), on the Academic Advisement website, and on the Verrazano Blackboard site.  All workshops are CLUE-certified. 

Students must sign the attendance sheet at each workshop to receive credit for their attendance.  After students attend Pathfinder workshops the Verrazano office receives confirmation of that attendance and it will be noted in the records.  It may take up to two weeks to receive attendance records, so students must plan accordingly and complete the workshop series at least two weeks before priority registration begins. 

Sophomore Year:  Verrazano sophomores must have their resume approved by a Resume Writer in the Career and Scholarship Center (1A-105).  

The resume writing and approval process helps students become prepared to apply for internships as they conclude their sophomore year.  Students can create and have their resume approved by submitting it through Optimal Resume.  Optimal Resume is an easy-to-use online software linked on the Career and Scholarship Center homepage, and it allows students to quickly create essential professional documents such as resumes and cover letters.  Students must register for Optimal Resume, and the access code for Verrazano students is verrazano@csi. 

Sophomores must have their resume approved before they will be permitted to register for courses for the fall semester of their junior year.  A stop will be applied to the record of any second-year Verrazano student who does not have their resume approved. 

After students have their resume approved, the Verrazano office receives confirmation of that approval and it will be noted in the records.  It may take up to two weeks to receive the approval notification, so students must plan accordingly and have their resume approved at least two weeks before priority registration begins. 

Junior and Senior Year: Upperclassmen are encouraged, though not required, to attend Career and Scholarship Center events on topics such as interviewing, internships, job preparation, networking, and graduate school applications. 

The Career Academy was developed for students in The Verrazano School, and it is a supportive program designed to help students develop a focused and comprehensive career plan.  As the job market becomes ever more competitive, it is increasingly important to be prepared.  Those students who develop clear, concise career goals, create professionally-prepared resumes, complete an internship, and acquire a thorough understanding of interviewing and business etiquette, will be the most successful in achieving their goals.

* Pathfinder and Resume requirements apply to all students accepted into the Class of 2012 and later. The resume requirement alone applies to all students accepted into the Class of 2011.

V. Community Service Requirement**

All freshmen, either incoming or entering in the second semester of the freshman year, must participate in one Volunteer of the Month activity offered through the Office of Student Life before the end of their freshman year.  The students must then complete a minimum of 30 additional hours of community service prior to applying for graduation. 

All students who enter The Verrazano School after their freshman year must complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service prior to filing for graduation.

Notes:

• The Volunteer of the Month opportunities are posted on the Student Life website and will also be available on the Verrazano Blackboard site.
• A list of potential partner organizations for the 30 additional hours of community service will be posted on the Verrazano website, the Student Life website, and the Verrazano Blackboard. 
• Students will be encouraged, though not required, to participate in community service with two different organizations and preferably at least one off-campus. 
• Students must submit forms indicating that they have completed the hours required.  These forms will be available on the Verrazano Blackboard site and must be signed by a supervisor at the host organization.

** Verrazano service requirement applies to all students accepted into the Class of 2013 and later.

VI. Communication

All Verrazano students must attend at least one personal meeting with the Director of The Verrazano School before applying for graduation.  Appointments can be made by calling 718-982-4171 or e-mailing Cynthia Palumbo at palumboc@mail.csi.cuny.edu.

All e-mail communication with students is done through CIX e-mail – the official college e-mail system.  Students are responsible for checking their college e-mail on a regular basis for information from The Verrazano School and CSI.