By, For, and About the MIT Community

IAP, Independent Activities Period, is a special 4-week term at MIT that runs from the first week of January until the end of the month. IAP 2001 runs from January 8 through February 2.

For students and faculty, IAP provides a welcome break from the academic routine of the fall and spring semesters. It offers opportunities for creativity and flexibility in teaching and learning. Students are free to set their own educational agendas, pursue independent projects, meet with faculty, or do many other things not possible during the semester. Many faculty try out innovative educational experiments as IAP activities, and most faculty are available for informal contact with students.

Participation and Eligibility

IAP classes and non-credit activities are generally only open to the MIT community and MIT affiliates: faculty, students, staff, and MIT alumni. Activities should not be organized primarily for non-MIT groups or for the public at large but be open to the entire MIT community. The number of participants may be limited, but the ability to participate may not be limited to members of a particular group.

All members of the MIT community can join the non-credit activities found in the IAP Guide. Some activities require advance sign-up, but in most cases you can simply show up at the stated time. Employees need to check with their supervisors when activities they wish to attend conflict with their work schedules

Profit-making or promotional events for a private enterprise are not appropriate IAP activities. Off-campus advertising, e.g. newspaper listings in the Boston Globe, or posting notices outside the MIT campus, are also inappropriate. IAP activities are for members of the MIT community. All postings to the IAP 2001 listing of subjects and activities are reviewed by the IAP office before appearing in the on-line guide.

Standards for Activities

Inclusion of a non-credit activity in the IAP Guide does not imply MIT endorsement. Responsibility for a non-credit activity lies with the sponsoring MIT individual or group. All subjects for credit have been approved as academic offerings. All activities are required to meet safety, health, legal, and general regulations governing the use of MIT facilities.

The MIT Bulletin lists policies concerning credit, tuition, food, housing, veterans' benefits, special students, and student exchanges. They should be reviewed by students and faculty involved in activities.

Safety and Liability

Institute Guidelines for health, safety, and legal regulations, as well as policies for the use of MIT facilities, must be met for all activities. The Safety Office must be consulted if your subject or activity involves any of the following: high voltage, pressure vessels, ballistics, aircraft, large balloon structures, use of hazardous materials, equipment, or machinery, explosives, open flames, hazardous wastes, public art displays or performances, building, tower, or bridge construction on MIT property, or anything that might endanger life, limb, sight, or hearing of participants or bystanders.

Activity Costs

Unless the description states otherwise, activities are free. In some cases, organizers ask participants to pay a share of the costs, mainly for materials, transportation, or food. The fees are approved by the IAP Policy Committee. All honoraria and wages must be paid through the MIT accounting system, not paid directly by participants.

Credit Policy

Only students registered in the fall or spring terms of the academic year may receive credit.

The number of credit units awarded for each subject and the grading policy are specified in the subject listing. Students may not submit grades for other students. Many activities offer credit as "special topic" subjects. In these cases, official descriptions may be obtained from faculty members in charge of the activities.

All students are limited to 12 units of credit during IAP. Credit received by freshmen is not counted towards their fall or spring semester limits. (See Participating in Subjects for more information.)

Finding Activities and Subjects in the on-line Guide

Subjects

Subjects (taken for credit) are organized according to academic department number and then by subject number (e.g. Course 1, 1.01, 1.02). See IAP Subjects (Credit Listings) coming soon.

Activities

Activities (non-credit) are organized in three ways:

• By category, see Activities by Category (coming soon)
• By sponsor, see Activities by Sponsor (coming soon)
• By a daily schedule available on the IAP Home Page,
  see IAP Home