Academic Information & Planning

The New College Contract

New College’s Contract system serves as a comprehensive academic planning tool that documents each student’s academic journey. The academic contract is a written agreement between you and your faculty advisor that outlines your academic and personal goals for the semester. It is discussed and developed in collaboration with your advisor and is designed to give shape to your semester—including courses, tutorials, internships, Independent Study Projects (ISPs), and other academic engagements. Completing your contract is essential to maintaining good academic standing. Over the course of your time at New College, you will complete seven Contracts—each one contributing to the equivalent of the 124 credit hours required for graduation. Together, these Contracts offer a holistic view of your individualized curriculum and may include intensive research, study abroad, internships, employment, extracurricular activities, and other academic pursuits.

The Contract, drawn up jointly by the student and their Faculty sponsor, includes: a statement of educational goals; a list of courses, tutorials, internships and other academic undertakings to be taken, totaling at least three units (a unit being equivalent of 4 credits); a description of otherwise undefined projects to be undertaken; and a statement of certification criteria (e.g., number of satisfactory course evaluations/minimum passing grades) to be met in order that the contract be certified as satisfactory at the end of the semester.