OXFORD,
Miss. – A selected group of rising Mississippi eighth-graders will
spend three weeks this summer at the University of Mississippi getting
a taste of college life during the 2009 GEAR UP Mississippi Summer
College Exploration and Math Academy.
Scheduled June 14-July 3,
the academy offers rising eighth-graders in the 32 GEAR UP Mississippi
school districts an opportunity to take a mathematics course from UM
instructors to earn credit that may be applied toward their high school
graduation requirements. The program, which goes by the acronym for
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program,
emphasizes making new friends and contacts as well as improving study
skills and time management.
Application deadline is April 10, and early enrollment is advised due to a limited number of participants. Selected students from the designated schools can enroll in the program at no charge because the program is funded by a grant from the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning and the U.S. Department of Education.
The academy schedule calls for the students to attend seminars in the morning and after lunch, followed by exploration sessions with UM faculty, administrators and staff. Participants generally have time for recreation and study after 3 p.m. A curfew is strictly imposed.
The experience gives students “a chance to socialize with others with similar interests and aspirations of success,” said Jason Wilkins, program director.
Weekend activities include trips to a movie theater, swimming, outdoor recreation and on-campus activities such as the 2009 Oxford Shakespeare Festival and UM’s Summer Concert Series. However, students may make plans to leave campus on weekends if coordinated with the program director.
The GEAR UP Mississippi organization is funded primarily through the U.S. Department of Education and funds partnerships of colleges, universities, community organizations, businesses and schools. These partnerships offer tutoring, mentoring, college preparation and financial aid, according to the organization’s Web site http://www.gearupms.org/ . For a list of participating school districts, go to http://www.ccce.usm.edu/GearUp/GearUp?Sites.htm .
To be eligible for the academy, students in the GEAR UP school districts must turn in an application to their school’s site coordinator. Once accepted into the program, students will be mailed additional information from the UM Office of Pre-College Programs. Additional information and an online application are available at: http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/youth/gearup/ . For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7283.