U of A Hosts Seventh Annual Advanced Placement Summer Institute

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The University of Arkansas Honors College is hosting its largest group of teachers and consultants, more than 350, from throughout the state and region for the seventh annual Advance Placement Summer Institute. 

The College Board-approved institute, which began Monday, July11, provides a week of training for Advanced Placement teachers, who will receive more than 30 hours of instruction. The program will feature 17 “super teachers,” who are trained by the College Board and will instruct teachers on methods to help students get the most out of their Advanced Placement (AP) courses. 

“The state’s continued push to include an AP curriculum in all Arkansas schools explains the growth in teacher training institutes like this,” said Suzanne McCray, associate dean of the Honors College and director of the summer institute. “As the AP program has grown, we have seen real improvement in the level of preparation among entering college freshman. Many of these students are better prepared for the college course load and have greater freedom to include second and third majors. The University of Arkansas is excited about partnering with teachers across the state and region to increase these important educational opportunities.”

Teachers learn and share teaching strategies that will engage students and create a classroom environment that stimulates participation and active learning. The College Board consultants team with UA faculty members, including professors Mack Ivey, biology; Bernard Madison and Janet Woodland, calculus; Neil Allison and Bill Durham, chemistry; Anne Marie Candido, English; Gay Stewart, physics; Dave Schroeder, psychology;  Bill Schreckhise, U.S. government; and Patrick Williams, U.S. history. Faculty members provide guest lectures, assist with experiments and connect the institute’s participants. 

“It’s a great partnership,” commented Gay Stewart, professor of physics. “And it is not limited to the summer program. We work with a host of teachers throughout the year, supporting their efforts. It benefits everyone.”

McCray said entering freshmen bring nearly 1,000 hours of AP credit to the university each year. Honors College Fellow Caleb Stein, a chemical engineering major and Bodenhamer Fellow, earned a UA record 61 hours of AP credit, making him a junior his first year on campus. David Deitz, a biochemistry major and Sturgis Fellow, brought 58 hours of credit (most of them honors hours) with him to campus. Last year he received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship for outstanding achievement in biochemistry. He also spent the year studying at Cambridge.

“Advanced Placement courses are challenging, and provide a real foundation for tough college courses. They also provide great opportunities. I would not be able to triple major, earn a B.S. and a B.A. degree, as well as study at Cambridge if it were not for the head start AP provided,” said Deitz.

The courses offered include biology, calculus AB and BC, chemistry, English language and composition, English literature, pre-AP high school English, pre-AP middle school English, pre-AP high school math, pre-AP middle school math, pre-AP science, psychology, statistics, U.S. history, U.S. government, and politics.