Shad A+

This program provides the full Shad experience, including the exploration of a variety of postsecondary pathways, hands-on training and ongoing mentorship and networking opportunities to increase their skills and capacity around affecting positive changes in the world.

The difference between the A+ program and other Shad campuses will be that the curriculum will more heavily focus on how the arts, humanities, and social sciences can impact the positive changes we would like to see. There will still be exposure to STEM, including the sciences, mathematics, and technology, but these sessions will be intended to improve students’ capabilities in these areas, even if they are not their primary passions and motivators to do good in the world. In fact, Shad is designed to help to potentially awaken new passions in a variety of disciplines for participants.

Participants will engage in multifaceted learning experiences and opportunities that will increase their skills and capacity, including strategic thinking, policy development, leadership, and project management. They will explore concepts of the social change model of leadership, including: personal leadership, group leadership, and community leadership and develop strategies to express themselves through their work, creativity, entrepreneurialism, and engagement with others.

Shad Values
Our values are what make Shad the incredible program that it is. At our Shad campus, these values are vigorously embraced – just like they are at each of the other campuses across Canada. Our values are as follows:

• We cherish the freedom to explore, create, and innovate.
• We aspire to excellence in all we do.
• We are committed to the respect, cooperation, and shared fun that builds a powerful, supportive community, while remaining mindful of the safety and well-being of that community.
• We value diversity and open discussion.
• Our behaviour is always governed by respect for others and the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Being a Shad means accepting these values fully into everything you do! Adherence to these values determines how successful your Shad experience will be. They are sacred trusts. 

Diverse & Inclusive Community
A diverse and inclusive community is an important value of the Shad program. You will meet students from across Canada, with different lived experiences and backgrounds. Some of you have experience with complex, high responsibility activities such as traveling or being away from home, while for others, this may be your first time being apart from family. Respect for all individuals is a requirement for a successful community.

Community must be preserved and protected in the Shad program. There are no exclusive relationships at Shad, whether for the purposes of romance, clique, gender, ethnicity, or any other reason. Relationships that exclude (or attempt to exclude) others will not be accepted. Intentionally excluding others is a form of bullying and could result in dismissal from the program. The month at Shad provides you the opportunity to make connections with a community of other exceptional students. We hope that this tight-knit community that forms at Shad will continue for many years after the program. 

Supportive Team
The Shad team is here to support you. Your program team is made up of leaders who are committed to working with students to meet their needs. 

Supervised Community
Shad is a supervised community. Every member of the program team is charged with the responsibility of ensuring your safety and protection. We take this responsibility seriously! This means that we will need to know approximately where you are and what you are doing at all times. This level of awareness ensures that in case of an emergency, we can account for your whereabouts quickly.

You are also a partner in ensuring your own safety and the safety of the Shad community. You are expected to ensure that your behaviour is always aligned with the Shad values.

Just because the community is supervised does not mean that you won’t have freedom to engage in a range of activities across the university campus. We take advantage of many of the various programs, departments, recreational facilities and spaces on campus to ensure that you enjoy an exciting university experience.

Schedule
You can expect life at Shad to be busy, but don’t worry, we have downtime and recreational activities built into the program as well. Each day, you can expect a different combination of lectures, workshops, recreational and cultural activities, as well as unscheduled time that you can use to connect with your peers, rest, connect with family, work on your design project, and reflect on what you’ve learned and accomplished so far.

Tech-etiquette: Appropriate usage
The ability to rapidly access relevant information can be key to innovation. There is no question that effective use of technology can be a useful tool. That said, the appropriate use of technology is essential for an effective learning/teaching/cooperative environment. There is etiquette for the use of technology. Rather than provide a long list of rules that will define acceptable use of technology, our technology policy is governed by the same core values as Shad.

All use of technology — including cell phones, notebooks, tablets, translators and the like — must uphold the principles of excellence, responsibility and creativity. While you might be an exceptional multitasker, maintaining devoted attention to a task at hand is a hallmark of responsibility and maturity. When it comes to the use of technology, know what’s right, do what’s right and be respectful! 

Recreation at Shad

There will be opportunities for recreation throughout your time at the program including physical and creative activities. Each campus takes advantage of their unique surroundings and plans fun, exciting ways to engage within your Shad community.

Energy Management
Shad is most enriching when we have sufficient energy to be fully engaged in all program activities. After a long and busy day, everyone needs adequate rest. We also need to respect others and allow them to re-energize themselves by getting the rest they need. Please manage your energy levels appropriately and allow others to do the same by going to bed at the appropriate time.