1. ALPHAS ACADEMY STUDENT HANDBOOK
An Alpha’s Guide to Alpha Academy !
Presentation by Sommer and Bella

2. About AAR
Alphas Academy Roleplay is a roleplaying site based on Lisi Harrison’s hit new novel “Alphas”.
Every member RPs as a student on Shira Brazille’s Alpha Island and enjoys life in the exclusive school by making friends, creating drama, and earning points.
This site was created and worked on by sommerset and The_Board, two real life BFFs to encourage girls just like you to build on-line friendships and to bring out the inner Alpha in all of its members.
At AAR, you’re encouraged to step away from your everyday and embrace a side of you that is creative and original.

3. More About the Site
This site is host to several characters that are unlike the person who plays them. That’s okay! At AAR, we encourage you to be whoever you want to be and to have fun while doing it. Want to be the sporty chick? The mathlete? The model? Go right ahead! But you may see that life isn’t always greener on the other side.
AAR’s real mission is to show it’s members that there are girls just like them out there. And through roleplaying, each student will be able to see how other girls would interact with the other Alphas of the world besides themselves.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, read on.

4. Student Registration and Expectations
To register your student into the Academy, simply message sommerset with your CHARACTER’S NAME, AGE, RESUME, LIKES, and DISLIKES. You may include the CHARACTER’S ETHNICITY and a PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION to better describe your character. They are recommended.
Our expectations for the students of Alphas Academy are simple: that all attending Alphas follow the rules of the site, do their best when participating, and have fun while doing it. If you are not satisfied with something going on in the AAR community, then we expect you to let us know.

5. Expectations (continued…)
Each student is automatically given three classes. It is there job to keep up with the homework assignments and their grades. Completing homework assignments earn them points and points help them to move up on the social ladder and claim Alpha leadership amongst their classmates.
We do not expect every student to be on-line 24/7 but we do expect regular attendance. The two of us KNOW that Real Life is way more important than being on-line and we encourage you to have as much of an off-line life as possible. But being a student of AAR is making a commitment--- it’s creating a bond with other determined and outgoing girls.

6. Why (and how) is AAR Changing?
The preliminary Fall Semester was filled with important hits and misses. This Winter Semester and for the semesters to follow, we will be continuing to improve AAR and to expand its many features.
There will never be digression… only progression. AAR will only have things added to it to make it better and if things are taken away it’s only because we feel it is not making any progress.
Our goal is to make AAR a site that lasts. In order to do this, we need you.
There are several new ways things will be done. Read on for more information.

7. Social Rank
Starting in the Spring Semester of 2010, AAR will be introducing Social Ranking. All students who enter the Island are considered Alphas but to make things interesting for the Vets of the Academy, order must be set. Any Alpha who is enrolled in the Academy before Spring Semester are in the 2nd Rank
Level One: Scrubs
Level Two: Academy Alphas
Level Three: Alpha As
Level Four: Academy Vets
Level Five: ALPHAS
Social Rank is based on the amount of points, number of badges, and how long you’ve been participating on AAR

8. More about Social Rank
Social Rank is not a right. AAR is a democracy, not a monarchy. You aren’t born into Queenship (or Kingship) and just because you were here longer than someone else, doesn’t mean that a Newbie can’t surpass you.
Your Social Rank can be put on Suspension if you suddenly become inactive for a long period of time (over 45 days). If your character is absent for 90 days, they will be dropped down one rank but if your character comes back before the three month grace period, then the Suspension will be released and he/she can continue on in their current rank.
The last level of Social Rank is the Ultimate prize. You do not need to have reached this level, though, to become ALPHA of the semester. They will be considered first for this honor as soon as a group is formed. It takes hard work and lots of participation to reach this level at the Academy.

9. All about Points
Points are accumulated by completing challenges, participating in events, doing homework, and things of this nature.
Points are used to determine the Alpha of the Week--- the Alpha with the most points at the end of each week wins this honor.
Points are also used to earn cash. Every point earned equals $1. Students can cash in points for money at the Alpha Academy Bank, but there is a 20 point minimum for withdrawals. To learn more about using the Bank forward to the Alpha Academy Bank section of this presentation.

10. More about Points
Earning points moves you up in Social Rank. A tally of the points you earn throughout your entire career at AAR will be kept track of in the Alpha Academy Hall of Fame. After reaching the required number of points to move from one level to the next, a moderator will change your social rank.
If you think you haven’t been given the appropriate amount of points, please alert an admin or moderator immediately so that the situation can be rectified. Please do not attempt to give yourself more points. This could result in serious consequences and mistrust with you and the moderators.

11. All about Badges
Badges are earned by completing certain tasks and by participating on the Island.
Earning Badges can earn you points but they are more like symbols of your accomplishments on AAR.
Badges can be found in the Photo Gallery portion of the site. In the description, you will find how each badge is earned.
Once a badge is earned, the student will be notified via message and they may add the badge to their profile.
If a badge has been earned but you have not been notified, you may not be receiving the points you deserve. Please notify a moderator to rectify the situation.

12. Badges… A Preview!
Here are examples of a few badges to try to earn for yourselves:
Alpha of the Week: for the AAR student who earns the most weekly points
Benchwarmer: for AAR students who participates in two games.
Academy Shopper: for AAR students who spends $100 in the ALPHA Mall.
Polyvore Contester: for AAR students to participate in three Polyvore Challenges.
Employed: for AAR students who take on five shifts for their first job.

13. Classes and Homework
Each student at the Academy is required to take three courses: The Art of Excellence class, A Hone it of Shira’s choosing, and a specialty course.
Students may take more than one specialty course upon request but they are responsible for all of the courses they’ve signed up for.
Classes meet on certain days of the week and have class lectures posted in threads on their host page.
Usually, the class will have a homework assignment posted on the chalkboard. Homework will not always appear in a thread.
Homework will be a mandatory part of passing classes in the upcoming Spring Semester.

14. Grades and GPA
Grades will be determined by averaging class participation and homework scores. Because tests are hardly ever administered, any tests or quizzes will be considered part of your participation. This means that half of your class grade is based on participation, and the other half is based on the completion and quality of homework assignments.
Grades accumulated make up your overall GPA. Alphas taking three classes have the opportunity to be 4.0 students if they get As in all of their classes. Alphas taking more than the three required courses have the opportunity to be 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 students.

15. More about GPA
Every A earned in the three required classes are worth 4 points. Bs are worth 3; Cs are 2; Ds are 1; Fs receive 0 credits.
If you’re taking more than the required classes, though, than your GPA can be much, much higher. As earned in non-required electives are worth 3 points; Bs are worth 2 points; Cs are worth 1 point; Ds and Fs receive no credit.
Your required elective is the specialty course given to you by Shira when given your schedule. You will not be able to switch required electives without talking with sommerset.
To calculate your GPA, add up all of your points and divide the total by three.

16. Signing up for Sports and Classes
At AAR, every student has the ability to sign up directly for classes and sports. To do this, simply hit Easy Edit button at the top of the page hosting the event or class you want to sign up for and type your name into the table.
Do not mess with anything else on the page. Simply fill in your information and save your changes.
Our Athletic Department is in the early stages of development but if you’d like to sign up for games you have the ability to do so by following the aforementioned procedure. Please do not replace anyone else’s name for your own. Do not take your own name off a list without notifying a moderator, either.

17. The Athletic Department
Each game is played after a winner is chosen.
A winner is determined by a pre-game contest that tests each team captain’s creative and/or mental ability. The winner of the contest will be chosen by a random and unbiased panel of judges chosen by Sommer and Bella. One of the judges will be one of us every time.
The winner is announced before the game, however, both teams are encouraged to play it out. A sport is chosen for every semester; the roleplaying is all in fun.
The Athletic Department was designed to give AAR students a sports-like outlet on the Island. Use it wisely.
The idea was given by our dear AlphaGurl. Thank-you!

18. ALPHA--- The Alpha Academy Mall
Thanks to ahmazingmissy and several other AAR students who were having mall withdrawals, the Island has introduced ALPHA, the one and only Alpha Academy Mall.
While RPing at the outlets and designer stores in ALPHA, students have the opportunity to actual shop for clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Because the money you earn on the island can’t exactly be used in your off-line life, you might as well have a little fun with it. New designs and stores will be added to the mall every semester.
And if you ever start running low on cash, you can always visit the ICE Lounge to get considered for a job.

19. ICE: The Intern Center of Employment
At the ICE Lounge, you’ll be able to find out which stores are hiring, getting new clothes shipped in, or holding events.
Jobs are given on a first ask first get basis: because job availability is limited, you have to know what industry you’re trying to get into.
There are three basic services: Food, Clothing, and Entertainment.
Your Social Rank gets you into a certain level for the industry you decide to work for. But as you advance in social rank, you’re offered more job opportunities in that field. (continued next slide…)

20. ICE (continued…)
If you decide that you want to be in another industry, you’ll have to start at the bottom of it’s food chain regardless of your rank and force your way to the top. By staying in one industry, you guarantee your immediate success and promotion based on your Social Rank.
Employees in different industries have different codes of conduct. We’ll give you a brief preview of each in the next three slides.
The Lounge is basically a place for employees of all fields to get together and gossip, pick on the newbies, and get a taste of what work experience kind of feels like.

21. Food Services
Level One Interns in the food industry get to work at places like Jamba Juice and Pinkberry as employees, while Level Five Interns are working behind the grill as chefs of ALPHA’s fine dining restaurants.
This service is mainly for the Alphas who enjoy hard work and culinary arts.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to learn HOW to cook working in food services, but everyone gets hungry. You may earn a lot of money in this industry.
Lingo to Learn: a shift---when someone starts a thread on your page. a tip--- bonus cash for every page that thread accumulates.

22. Clothing Services
Level One interns start out working for cheap pay in this industry while Level Five interns get to design looks for fashion shows and get paid bank.
This industry is better suited for the Alphas who enjoy fashion and shopping.
Although you will not be able to model the clothes you sell, every Alpha enjoys a good shopping spree. Money will not be an issue in this industry.
Lingo to Learn: a shift--- when someone starts a thread on your page; commission--- bonus cash for every page the thread accumulates.

23. Entertainment Services
Level One Interns start out helping Clarisse give manis and pedis in the Narcissus Day Spa, while Level Five Interns plan parties, events, and host shows for the Academy Students.
This industry is recommended for students who want to be involved in making things happen at AAR.
Although scrubbing toes isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, students in this industry get to model, sing, and perform. Event threads are usually very popular so overtime is big.
Lingo to Learn: a gig--- when someone posts a thread on your page; overtime--- bonus cash for every page each thread accumulates.

24. Alpha Academy Bank
The Bank holds each Alpha’s weekly points and the current amount of money they hold in their account.
Points earned for the week can be turned into cash. To change your points into money, simply withdraw however many points you’re interested in taking out, and deposit the same number into your bank’s money account. This can all be done the same way you sign up for classes. Hit the Easy Edit button, and put the appropriate information into the table.
Do not mess with other people’s accounts when in the Bank. If this becomes an issue, we will shut down the bank to public access and appoint a bank teller. We are trusting you will be honest while dealing with fake money.

25. Alpha Academy Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame is very much like the Bank but it’s also very different. The Hall of Fame is off limits when it comes to student editing: only Moderators and Administrators are allowed to edit this page.
The Hall of Fame keeps track of every point and dollar you earn in your entire AAR experience. When using the Bank, you may not use points accumulated in the Hall of Fame. It (the Bank) only works for the Balance of points you earn in the week.
The Hall of Fame also keeps tracks of the most recent honors awarded to members of your House. Honors are not only Badges, but they are mostly seen in this form.

26. Events and Voting
AAR hosts many events and parties. At each one, we try to include categories for you to be nominated for so that each event stands out in a different way.
Participation in these events is not mandatory but they are like site parties: only the Elite are seen at every single one.
Eventually, there will be exclusive, by invitation only, events at AAR, but this may not happen until Spring or Summer Semester of 2010.
AAR also has regular opportunities for the members of the site to vote for things. You are always able to vote for yourself. To vote, message the appropriate moderator.

27. The Mainland
The Island is located miles away from the Mainland (where you lived before being invited to the Academy). The Mainland portion of our site is designed for you to add any content you want as long as the Moderators deem it appropriate.
The only rule about adding content to the Mainland, is that you do not change a member’s Blog It page or a member’s Back Home page. The only reason to change a Back Home page is if you live in the same town and would like to add your own touch to it. We believe that you would enjoy the same courtesy from other members.
Roleplaying on the Mainland is the same as RPing on the Island but there are no jobs available for cash there.

28. The Brazille Boys
Anyone can RP as the Brazille Boys Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin, Taz, and Dingo however it would be nice to have real guys on the site. Of course things still must be kept PG-13 but guys in general have always been welcome on the island.
Each student to invite a guy to the Island will receive 25 points and $50. This isn’t bribery, it’s an incentive. I’m sure you’d all love to have actual guys to RP with and to have classes with and to talk about movies with so let’s get them here!
The first guys will have dibs on the Brazille Boy of their choice. Singular :)

29. The Alpha Chronicles and Newsboards
The Alpha Chronicles is the school’s official Newspaper and it’s updated and edited by AAR’s Journalism Team (headed by The_Board).
In order to have a column on the Paper, you must belong to the Journalism specialty course. Contact Bella (The_Board) for more information.
Newsboards are posted all around the site. There is an official site Newsboard that gives general information, an employee Newsboard in the ICE Lounge, Class Newsboards on the Chalkboards of each Hone It Page, and Resident Newsboards so that any resident drama can be posted in your Dorms. This is to cut down site notifications and inbox flooding.

30. Admins and Moderators The Admins and Mods RP as site Muses.
The Muses act as counselors for you and the other Alphas in your on-line, drama filled lives and for your more serious off-line life.
If you seriously want to talk with one of the Muses, one-on-one about something personal, give her a message and she’ll help
But if you want to cry on her shoulder because Taz left you for your best friend Olivia, you go right ahead! She’s there for that too.
You can ask to be a moderator but just know that your request will not be answered right away. That is a serious process and must carefully be considered. We may ask the AAR public what they think about it, too.

31. Affiliating with AAR
AAR is not an advertising site but if you would like your site to be an affiliate you must go through a process.
First, message sommerset with the name and URL of your site. We will check it out and then get back to you.
If we approve you for affiliation, you must give us permission to reach out to members on your site and let them know about AAR.
You must also post us up as an affiliate.
Then, Bella will add you to our Affiliate page and rate your site on her Wetpaint rating site.

32. Contact Us
If you have questions or suggestions about the site, please contact either sommerset or The_Board for immediate help and attention. We love hearing from you!
To reach us via , send all messages to
All of the moderators are happy to help as well. You can message any of them for help.