Fewer than 25 individuals are accepted into each year's class. Associates are actively involved in learning. The focus is on dialogue and active learning, not lectures. Creativity and intellectual freedom are valued. Faculty seek to create an intellectually challenging learning environment and will create feedback mechanisms so students can express their needs and evaluate the faculty's performance.
Participants show respect for individual differences and points of view.
An element of the program involves self-directed learning with each associate working with a faculty mentor. Learning techniques emphasize participatory activities including interaction with experts in various fields, simulations, role playing, field visits, analysis of case studies, and discussion of reading materials.