March 11, 2011 - Applications Now Accepted for Free Summer Academies on College Campuses

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Middle and high school students can spend time at an Oklahoma college or university this summer and experience life on campus while discovering the worlds of aeronautics, engineering, environmental conservation, forensic science and much more at the free 2011 Summer Academies in Math, Science and Technology.

The free academies, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, are open to upcoming eighth- through 12th-graders. Each academy explores the latest trends in math, science and technology by using fun, hands-on activities and innovative software as students experiment both in the classroom and outdoors. Many academies also include field trips to some of the state’s top companies, science facilities and museums.

The academies are being offered at 16 of Oklahoma’s college and university campuses in May, June and July. Twenty-three different academies will be offered statewide and last from four days to two weeks. Some academies require students to live in the campus residence halls, while others require that students travel to and from campus each day.

“Summer Academies provide an excellent opportunity for middle and high school students to experience the college campus environment while discovering new and exciting career choices,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “This program offers young people the chance to study with top professors and explore hands-on learning that exceeds anything they’ve experienced in a traditional classroom. And, all of this is available at no cost to their families.”

More than 17,000 Oklahoma students have attended Summer Academies since 1990. Seventy-three percent of Summer Academies students go to college immediately after high school, compared to 56 percent of all students. While in college, Summer Academies students are more academically prepared than their peers, requiring one-third fewer remedial courses than all other students. More than 80 percent of Summer Academies students earn at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 22 percent of all Oklahomans.

Applications are now being accepted for the academies, and many have deadlines. Because the academies are free and enrollment is limited, students are encouraged to apply early. To qualify, students need to be entering eighth through 12th grade this fall. Officials emphasize the academies are not exclusive to top students but instead are designed to give all students an opportunity to increase their interest and confidence in math, science and technology, and ultimately, expand their career and educational aspirations.

Academy descriptions and contact information are available at www.okhighered.org/summer-academies. Students can also get information from their school counselors or by calling (800) 858-1840.

Academies offered this summer include:

Cameron University, Lawton

Science Detectives Summer Academy, June 1-7 (Grades 8-10)
NanoExplorers: A High School Summer Science Academy, June 12-24 (Grades 10-12)

East Central University

Coding Theory, Competitive Strategies, Risk Analysis and Other Mathematical Pursuits, June 6-10 (Grades 10-11)

Langston University, Langston

An Intensive Academy in Math, Science, and Technology for Grades 10-12, June 5-18 (Grades 10-12)

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami

Valuing Tradition: Applying Indigenous Stewardship in Ecology, June 21-25 (Grades 9-12)

Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow

Get Green for Blue: Outdoor Investigations to Connect Water to You, June 6-10 (Grades 8-10)
Science at the Zoo, June 20-24 (Grades 8-10)

Northern Oklahoma College, Enid

CSI: Northern Summer Academy, July 11-14 (Grades 9-12)

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Exploring Quantitative Analysis: A Basic Introduction, June 5-18 (Grades 9-10)
Camp T.U.R.F. (Tomorrow’s Undergraduates Realizing the Future), June 12-24 (Grades 10-12)
Fired-Up About Research Science and Engineering, July 17-22 (Grades 10-12)
Smart Cars Summer Academy, July 10-15 (Grades 11-12)

Oral Roberts University, Tulsa

A Hands-On Program in Mathematics and Science, June 20-24 (Grades 8-9)

Seminole State College

Peek Into Engineering (PIE), July 31-Aug. 5 (Grades 9-12)

Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford

SSMA: Summer Science and Mathematics Academy at SWOSU, July 11-22 (Grades 11-12)

Tulsa Community College

Math and Science in Health (MASH), Session I: June 13-17, Session II: June 20-24 (Grades 10-12)

University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond

Exploring Chemistry, Session I: June 6-10, Session II: June 13-17 (Grades 9-11)

University of Oklahoma, Biological Station at Lake Texoma

Field Studies in Multidisciplinary Biology, Session I: June 5-17, Session II: June 19-July 1 (Grades 9-12)

University of Oklahoma, Norman

Sky High: An Exploration of Aeronautics From the Basics and Beyond, July 18-29 (Grades 8-9)
Going Green: Partnering Five Architecture Disciplines, June 26-July 1 (Grades 11-12)
Bridges to College Math, Science and Engineering, Session I: July 17-22, Session II: July 24-29 (Grades 11-12)

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City

Exploring Math and Science Academy (EMSA) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), June 6-17 (Grade 9)

The University of Tulsa

Summer Engineering Academy at The University of Tulsa for Precollege Students, June 20-24 (Grades 8-11)