Future reviews should examine whether the prerequisites as currently set are sufficient to allow success on the program. Because there is no language prerequisite, beginning Spanish speakers can have a hard time, particularly with the home stay. The RD has instituted a more biologically oriented Spanish curriculum, and this seems to have diminished the criticism of the language courses. The principle concern outside of academics is the limited space at the field station in Monteverde, where the Council program sometimes has to share the station with other study programs. Sharing has worked in the past, and there is no reason to think this will be different in future, but it complicates the logistics for all involved, and needs continued monitoring.
Students evaluate the program as exceptional.
Similar results were recorded for the academic program, and again the students are more satisfied with the semester program than with the summer one. Alan Masters directs the semester programs and hires an acting director who manages the summer program. Dr. Masters is one of the most highly rated of all Council Resident Directors at all Study Centers and student evaluations of his performance are similar to their overall program evaluation. Mauricio Garcia is the Resident Director during the summer. Student evaluations of the resident director directly mirror their overall satisfaction with the program and, as indicated above, the short time of the summer program does not appear to the students to be as rewarding.