Faculty Schedule

FACULTY SCHEDULE

TEACHING FACULTY APPLICATION

MEDICAL FACULTY APPLICATION

Faculty Commitment

Block Schedule

JIRP operates on a block schedule, which means faculty rotate into the field for two weeks at a time. Below you will find information about the four blocks (plus Orientation Week) and what you can expect as faculty during each part of the summer. The faculty application will ask you to identify your preferred blocks, so below you will also find last year’s travel dates.

  • Orientation & Block 1

    Orientation & Block 1 is primarily focused on safety and skills training, so there is less time for academics. That said, there are some critically important lectures/workshops/fieldwork that happen during this block. We intentionally limit the number of faculty here. Faculty at all career stages may attend, but early-career faculty, new-to-JIRP faculty, and/or or faculty who may not have a strong backcountry background tend to appreciate attending Orientation/Block 1.

  • Block 2

    Block 2 is when students begin to engage with an array of more advanced topics and also access the heart of the Icefield. Academic topics and hands-on opportunities take center stage during Block 2, with opportunities in camp, day trips, and some overnights.

  • Block 3

    Block 3 is when student projects happen: faculty participating in Block 3 are expected to come to the Icefield with a student research project designed that enables students to collect data, process that data, and interpret it within a ~10 day span while on the Icefield. If you are applying for Block 3, make sure to detail your idea for a student research project (and what science gear you can/can’t bring) within the faculty application.

  • Block 4

    Block 4 is when students traverse off the Icefield and reflect on what they learned over the summer. There is limited space for fieldwork and small research projects to happen, so the focus of Block 4 is more on building context and connections. In addition, the long traverse days and range of skills required often make Block 4 a good fit for returning JIRP faculty.

Please also note that faculty with novice-level skiing and mountaineering skills are welcome and encouraged on JIRP, but that they should be prepared to (a) not be able to participate in all activities, and (b) design academic activities appropriate for their skill set. Many of the students appreciate seeing that faculty are also learning these skills along with them! If you are a novice skier, the most practical skill you could work on in the winter preceding JIRP is cross-country (i.e., Nordic or classic) skiing. 

Generally speaking, new-to-JIRP faculty should consider applying to Blocks 1 or 2. We usually expect to have returning faculty for Blocks 3 and 4, though there are exceptions.

2025 Schedule

It is important to note that the total amount of time faculty spend with the program is slightly longer than two weeks. Faculty spend two to three days in Juneau at the beginning and end of each block. This helps avoid frustration and allows us to accommodate lost luggage, frequent weather delays for helicopters, and the other common logistic complications of getting to and from the Icefield. The dates below take into account the JIRP-required buffer.

  • June 13 - June 21

  • Arrive in Whitehorse or Skagway

  • Depart from Juneau

Orientation Week

  • June 21 - July 5

  • Arrive & depart from Juneau

Block 1

  • July 3 to July 24

  • Arrive & depart from Juneau

Block 2

  • July 18 - August 5

  • Arrive & depart from Juneau

Block 3

  • July 27 - August 14

  • Arrive in Juneau

  • Depart from Whitehorse or Skagway

Block 4