Frequently Asked Questions

Please take the time to read this document in its entirety!
It contains valuable information critical to a great experience.

For contact information, including our mailing address & fax number, please visit here.

What if I forgot the email address I used to create my account?
Simply email director@meangreenworkshops.com and ask what email address was used to complete your workshop registration form. Please do not create another workshop application on a new account! Also, keep in mind that your user account is case sensitive. If you used any capital letters in the email address when creating the account, be sure to do the same when you request your password.

What is included in the cost of my tuition?
Many workshops add hidden fees such as printing charges, application fees, etc.  We roll everything into one convenient price that we believe is the most competitive in the country for the level of instruction we offer.  Your tuition cost includes room, board, tuition, lab fees, any mass-produced copies, printing in the PC lab, and of course a variety of camp "goodies" to take home including a t-shirt, bumper stickers, etc.  The only items not included cost us money and are optional: renting a refrigerator or microwave or providing transportation to/from the airport.  Click here for more details on dates, deadlines, and fees.

How do I register for a workshop?
Login to your account and click the "Register & Update" link.  The workshop registration form is located there.  You may log back in at any time and update your information.

I'm ready to apply, but I don't have my transportation information yet.  What should I do?
All information in your application may be edited at any time.  You are invited to apply now and submit your transportation information by June 15.  Don't forget to add a transportation charge to your shopping cart in the online store and pay the applicable fee.

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How do I know my child will be safe?
We completely understand this concern, and we know we would not survive as an institute unless students remain safe.  Most rising sophomores and some older students have never been away from home for long periods, or parents simply want to know that we have made the proper considerations to ensure the safety of our workshop.  There are several ways we can offer this assurance. 

• First, UNT is quite familiar with hosting minors on campus.  In addition to the dozens of summer conferences held on campus, the university is host to TAMS (Texas Academy of Math and Science), a year-round boarding program for high school students. 
• Second, our schedule is very tightly confined to allow for minimal time during the day without adult supervision.  At night, students must be back in the dorm by 10 pm, after which time the dorm doors are locked.  A staff member works the front desk of the dorm 24 hours a day. 
• Third, we have a full time staff whose only job is to secure the dorms at night.  Adult counselors will reside in the dorm with students in a ratio no greater than 1:10.  Supervision is very important to us.  For details on workshop rules and regulations, click here.

What about financial aid?
For more information on financial aid and other discounts, please visit here: http://www.meangreenworkshops.com/page.php?s=dates-deadlines.

Is there a commuter option?
Unfortunately, we have eliminated the option for students to commute to the institute.  We find that commuting creates an unacceptable risk for the safety of our students, creates disruption within the lab setting, forces students to miss valuable instruction time, and that the minimal discount we were able to offer for housing in the past ($100 per week) did not attract many students to the option. 

Are the dorms co-ed or single-sex?
The dorms are separated by floor according to sex. We have strict regulations that boys are not allowed on girls' floors, and vice-versa.

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Are there any events off-campus to which students will travel?
No. Students may be allowed to watch fireworks from campus on July 4 and may, with staff permission and supervision (if necessary), visit restaurants that adjoin the campus. Otherwise, students may not leave campus unless escorted by a parent/guardian.

How do I know if you have received my payment/forms by mail?
Simply login and click "Register & Update" to check the status of mailed payments. Be sure to note the student's name in the memo line of all mailed payments! Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing of mailed forms/payments.

May I have an invoice?
Simply email director@meangreenworkshops.com and request an invoice indicating payments/forms received and your current balance. 

Can I fax my documents to you?
No! Due to the sensitivity of information in these documents and requirements that an original Network User Agreement be received by the University, we must ask that your required documents be mailed to us.

What about internet/computer access? Should I bring my laptop?
We encourage students to bring computers if they are comfortable doing so. We find that a vast majority of students bring a laptop with them. UNT offers wireless access in every building, and students will have a login based on information completed with the Network User Agreement. Please note that:

-the internet at UNT is not filtered in any way,
-students use their own computers at their own risk -- we cannot be held liable for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items,
-use of the internet is subject to the terms of use agreed to by the user, and
-the dorms will NOT have ethernet cords available. Bring your own or plan to connect wirelessly!

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I have no speech or debate experience.  Are the Mean Green Workshops right for me?
We welcome students of all skill levels, including novices who have never competed or students switching events.  Students are divided into lab groups by skill level so that instruction will be tailored to individual needs.

When is check-in/check-out?
Check-in will occur from 10am to 3pm on the first date of each workshop in the dorm lobby.  Directions may be found below. Parents may not arrive early and expect to be checked in.  Orientation will occur at 5pm on the first day of the workshop.  Flights must be scheduled to arrive DFW or Love by 2pm on the first schedule day of the workshop. 

Check-out will occur from 7am-12pm on the final date of each workshop.  Students must return dorm keys, library books, and clear all other workshop checkout procedures before leaving.  Departing flights should be scheduled between 8am and 2pm on the last scheduled date of the workshop.  Airport shuttle transportation may not be provided outside posted arrival windows.  Students must check out on the last day of their institute session by noon. We ask that parents arrive to pick up students between 7am and noon.

What is the process for registration?
Students should complete all required forms available online and mail payments before arriving. Registration will occur from 10am to 3pm in the lobby of the dorm. Students must submit any missing forms or payment before being admitted to the workshops.

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What dorm will we be staying in?
This year, we will be housed in Clark Hall. Contact information, directions, and mailing information is available below.

***Please remember that you may not mail USPS items to the dorm!  Mean Green Workshops will not be held responsible for lost packages.  Also, please note that the amenities listed on the dorm website, including the workout room, pool tables, and piano are for student use during the school year and will not be available to Mean Green Workshops students. 

Where are you located? or Could I get directions?
This year's workshops will be housed in Clark Hall. From IH-35E, exit McCormick (Ave A) and turn north toward campus. Turn left on Eagle. Turn right on Ave C. Take your next left on Maple. Clark is at the corner of Ave C and Maple.

If you are interested in scheduling a campus tour, please visit the university's tour page.  Or click for an editable campus map.

Can I mail items to my son/daughter? At what address?

There are different addresses based on what you want to send.

First class letters only, NOT packages, may be sent to your child via US Postal Service at:

Student Name
MGW Debate Workshops
1155 Union Circle #305268
Denton, TX 76203

The only acceptable package/special transit deliveries (overnight, express, etc.) are to the dorm via UPS, FedEx, DHL, or other professional carriers.  The US Postal Service does NOT deliver packages to the dorm, and ANY items sent via USPS requiring a signature or pickup may be returned to you.  Mean Green Workshops will not be held responsible for lost or unclaimed packages.  For ALL PACKAGES/special transit deliveries, please use the following address to ensure proper delivery:

Student Name
MGW Debate Workshops
1717 Maple Dr.
Denton, TX 76201

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I'd like to arrive a day early or leave a day late.  Is that possible?
The institute is unable to provide housing or take responsibility for students arriving early or staying late, but we are happy to grant written requests from parents for students to be transported to and/or from a local hotel, and we will still provide transportation services to those arriving early or staying late.  Flights scheduled early or late are not the responsibility of workshop staff, and students will be released from our care at each workshop's completion.

What are my options for workout/activities?
UNT has several outdoor basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, and open fields for soccer, ultimate, etc.  Also, students may visit the new state of the art recreation center on campus for $5 per day (with staff member escort).  This facility features two pools, numerous gyms, weight and workout machines, a climbing wall, etc.

What are the workshop rules and regulations?
A list of workshop rules and regulations is located here.  We will also spend time in orientation (after registration) discussing workshop rules, regulations, and procedures.

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When is checkout?
No activities are scheduled for the final day except check-out procedures.  Students will checkout the last day before Noon. After having their rooms checked by a staff member, students will return keys to the front desk of the residence facility and must depart campus between 7:00 am and 12:00 pm. Lost keys are subject to a charge of $75, and students will be responsible for any damages to their rooms and/or library fines. Students may NOT check out earlier than the last day of their institute!

I'd like to take a break during institute.  When would it be best to leave with our parents?
Please note that this policy reflects a change from recent years. Due to the rigorous and detailed schedule for each of our workshop sessions, parents may not check out students for extended periods or during scheduled activities. If you choose to visit or attend dinner with your parents, please choose Sunday between 7 am and 1 pm. We have deliberately left Sunday's schedule open until early afternoon in order to accommodate the family needs of our students and staff. 

NOTE: Parents who wish to check out students at another time MUST make arrangements with a Dorm Supervisor (see our contact page) 24 hours in advance and may only depart during meal hours.  Meal breaks are deliberately lengthy to allow for appropriate breaks through the day. Students will be held responsible for tardies incurred due to late return. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are students allowed to return to the dorm after 10pm.

How do I make online payments?
For all online payments, including deposits, tuition, transportation fees, and refrigerator or microwave rental fees, you must add items to your shopping cart and checkout through the store.  Or, to make a workshop payment, login and click "My Account." 

Will transportation be provided from the airport or bus station?
Yes.  During available windows, the institute will meet students and transport them from and back to either Love Field, DFW, or Greyhound Denton.  Students will be met in baggage claim by a staff member wearing an official institute shirt.  Be sure to log in after applying and complete the transportation portion of your application form.  A $70 fee and all necessary information are due by June 15 to secure transportation.  You must either place a transportation fee in your store shopping cart and checkout with a credit card or mail payment to our address (here) by June 15 to be eligible.  Flights should be scheduled into DFW or Love Field (DAL) only. 

***Due to the difficulty of meeting airline personnel at the gate, it is HIGHLY ADVISED that
parents DO NOT send students as "unaccompanied minors" if given an option!

Available shuttle windows:  Arriving flights should be scheduled for the first scheduled date of the workshop session to arrive between 8am and 2pm.  Departing flights should be scheduled between 8am and 2pm on the last scheduled date of the workshop session. 
There are no exceptions to this policy! 

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Are refrigerators or microwaves available for rental?
You may rent a refrigerator and/or microwave for $60 (each) for the duration of your stay.  You must either place a refrigerator rental in your store shopping cart and checkout with a credit card or mail payment to our address (here) by June 15 to have your refrigerator delivered on time.  Be sure to note the student's name in the memo line of all mailed payments! You may also rent both/either of these items at registration.

Instead of renting a mini-refrigerator or microwave, may I bring my own?
Yes, of course. Just keep it small; there are no elevators.

Is there a health clinic available to students?
Yes. The UNT health clinic provides emergency services to all students during normal business hours, and students are housed only minutes away from Denton Presbyterian Hospital, a major trauma center.  In the event that the Health Clinic is closed, we will arrange transportation to the ER.

What happens if a child becomes sick at institute?
While we take great measures to protect the health and safety of our residents, it is impossible to watch students in the dorm who become ill for an extended period of time.  Proper medical treatment will be provided, and students will be given a 24 hour opportunity to get well.  If students miss any workshop sessions beyond 36 hours, parents will be asked to check the student out of the workshop permanently.

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What meals are provided by the institute? Will I need to take extra money for meals?
All of the meals are included in the cost of tuition. Students are welcome to purchase their own meals away from the cafeteria.  There are several places to eat on and adjacent to campus.

What does the typical daily schedule look like?
A typical daily schedule looks something like this:

7:30-8:30:  Breakfast
8:45:  Roll Call
9:00-12:00:  Morning Session
12:00-1:00:  Lunch (hour varies by session)
1:00-5:00:  Afternoon Session
5:00-6:30:  Dinner (varies by session)
6:30-9:30:  Evening Session
10:00:  Dorm outer doors lock
11:00:  Room Check (students must stay on floor after this time)
12:00 am:  Room Check (students must stay in rooms after this time)
12am - 7am:  Quiet hours

Sunday's schedule has no official workshop activity during the morning hours.

Could I have some specific help getting started with research at UNT?
For a PDF document to guide you through the start of your research on campus, click here.  Be sure to change your view options in Adobe for easy reading.

Are there any special plans for July 4?
This year, July 4 will be considered a standard Sunday instructional day to include the morning off and special sessions the remainder of the day.

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What do I need in my dorm room? What supplies will I need for the workshop?
Please note that linens will not be provided. Refer to the What to Bring With You link for more information.

Are the dorm rooms air conditioned?
Yes!

Does the cafeteria offer special dietary options?
We are happy to accommodate special dietary requests. Please email director@meangreenworkshops.com if your child will have special dietary needs.

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What plans should be made for the last couple of days of institute?
Students will compete in a practice tournament at the end of each session. On the last day of each session all students will be expected to depart campus by 12 pm.

When is it okay to have visitors?
Never!  In order to maximize the safety of our staff and students, visitors will not be allowed in the dorm during the workshops. Students may be signed out of the institute during meals by a parent/guardian with 24 hours notice or on Sunday mornings between 7am and 1pm but will otherwise be under the supervision of institute staff.

I'm driving my own car to the institute.  Can I use it during the workshops?
We invite students to drive themselves; however, we'll have to ask for your keys upon arrival, and all students must stay within the designated proximity for students during the entirety of the workshop session, with the exception of prior written parental approval to depart with a designated adult.

Will the workshop accomodate the religious preferences of students?
The institute staff will make every effort to ensure that students particular religious needs are met. This may require special parental permission to allow a senior staff member to drive student(s) to a particular place of worship.

Will the workshop meet the needs of students with disabilities?
The workshops will comply with any and all requirements for accommodation, including those outlined by the IDEA and the ADA. Special concerns should be expressed in writing to the director prior to the workshop's start.

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