Program Policies and Recommendations

All SHARP Trainings are designed to be attended live so that participants can fully engage with instructors and peers. However, we know that things sometimes come up, and we will do our best to accommodate when they do. If you know you will miss all or part of your training, please let our team know as soon as possible by emailing the training's dedicated email address (listed in your confirmation email and on the specific training webpage).

Cancellation notices must be received via email at least 30 days prior to the training start date in order to receive a full refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Cancellation notices received via email 14-29 days prior to the training will recieve a 75% refund, minus a $75 administrative fee. Due to training capacity and preparation, we are unable to refund registration fees for cancellations less than 14 days prior to the training.

If you are unable to attend the training, we encourage you to send a substitute within the same registration category. Please inform us of the substitute via email at least one week prior to the training so we can include them on attendee communications, gather registration details, and provide materials. Should the substitute fall within a different registration category (e.g., you are a faculty member and they are a postdoc), the credit card on file will be credited/charged respectively. Registration categories are listed on the training website, under the registration fees table. 

There are three payment routes available for registration fees:

• Online payment via credit card at the time of registration. Note: we cannot issue official invoices for credit card payments, however, participants will be sent a confirmation email/receipt immediately upon registering. 
  • Deposit Option: At the time of registration, you will be given the option to either pay in full or pay a 50% deposit. If you select the deposit option, the balance will be automatically charged two weeks before the training. Please reach out to us at the email address listed on the specific training course page if you need to set up a custom payment plan. 
  • Canceling after making a deposit: Cancellation notices must be received via email at least 30 days prior to the training start date in order to receive a full refund of your deposit, minus a $35 administrative fee. Cancellation notices received via email 14-29 days prior to the training will receive a 75% refund, minus a $35 administrative fee. Please email your cancellation notice to the email address listed on the specific training course page. Due to workshop capacity and preparation, we regret that we are unable to refund registration fees for cancellations less than 14 days prior to the training.
• Payment via invoice and check/wire transfer (non-Columbia affiliates only). To pay via invoice, please go to the specific training course page you would like to register for, scroll to under the registration fee table to where it says “Invoice Payment” and click the link to submit the form and receive registration and payment instructions. Note: Multiple trainings and participants can be included on the same invoice request.
• Payment via internal transfer of Columbia funds (Columbia affiliates only). To pay via internal transfer through ARC, go to the specific training course page you would like to register for, scroll down to under the registration fee table to where it says "Columbia Discount", and click the link to submit the form to receive registration and payment instructions. Note: Only one attendee can be included per request, but multiple trainings can be selected.

All SHARP trainings offer the following discounts:

• Early-bird discount if you register before a specific date (navigate to the registration fee table on the specific training webpage for this date).
• 10% Columbia discount for active Columbia affiliates from any Columbia School (not just Mailman). Use your Columbia email address during registration to automatically have the discount applied. 
• 10% Mailman Alumni discount for any individual who graduated from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. To access this discount and receive a registration code, email sharp_program@cumc.columbia.edu your graduation year and degree. 

Most trainings also have Professional Development Scholarships available for early-stage researchers and professionals from any institution. Awards cover 50-100% of participant's registration fees. 

• All registration fees include course material, which will be made available to participants both during and after the conclusion of the training.
• About a month before the course, participants will be added to the training’s Canvas page which will be their go-to location for all course details, including materials, the agenda, location information/Zoom links, how to prepare, etc. More details on how to access will be shared at that time.
• Since attendee access to Canvas will eventually expire, all final versions of materials will be shared via a downloadable folder within 7-10 days of the conclusion of the training.

• All virtual and hybrid SHARP trainings are recorded as a technical backup, but recordings are only shared when instructors have given consent. In-person trainings are not recorded.
• When sharing is approved: recordings will be made available about 1 week after the training concludes and will remain accessible for up to four weeks. To protect privacy, live recordings are not downloadable, and access is restricted to enrolled participants. Participants may not copy or share recordings with anyone.
  • If you’d like to know whether recordings will be shared for your training, email the training's dedicated email address (listed in your confirmation email and on the specific training webpage). 

To get the most out of your virtual experience, we suggest the following: 

• Use the Zoom app: For full functionality, use the Zoom app instead of a browser if possible. The app ensures better stability and access to interactive features.
• Two screens for labs: If possible, use two screens during hands-on lab sessions. This allows you to follow instructions on one screen while working on the other.
• Online Etiquette:             
  • Camera On: We encourage turning on your camera (if appropriate and when bandwidth allows) so everyone can engage face-to-face.
  • Mute When Not Speaking: Mute your microphone when you are not speaking or asking a question. Use features like “Raise Hand” or wait to be invited to speak.
  • Attend Live: Sessions are designed for real-time interaction.
  • Join Early: Consider joining the Zoom room early to test your audio/video and connect. We typically open Zoom training rooms 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
  • Breakout Sessions: Some virtual trainings may use breakout rooms to facilitate smaller group discussions. Be prepared to participate and collaborate in these settings.  

These recommendations will help make the sessions more engaging, interactive, and effective for everyone. 

To get the most out of your in-person experience, we suggest the following:

• Arrive Early: A light breakfast will typically be available starting 30 minutes before the first session begins, so feel free to arrive early to settle in and enjoy some refreshments before we get started for the day.
• Bring Charged Laptop: All hands-on sessions will be completed on your own device, so be sure to bring your laptop and charger. Ensure your laptop is fully charged and ready to use during the training.
• Participate Actively: In-person sessions thrive on interaction and engagement. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, participate in large and small group discussions, and share your thoughts.
• Network and Collaborate: In-person trainings are an excellent opportunity to network and make lifelong connections with your peers and faculty instructors. Take time during breaks to connect with others!