This summer, middle and high school students can experience life on a college campus while exploring exciting and varied fields of study at the free 2020 Summer Academies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
STEM Summer Academies, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, are open to rising eighththrough 12th-graders. Each academy explores the latest trends in science, technology, engineering and math through 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 will be offered on 17 of Oklahoma’s college and university campuses in May, June and July. Twenty-four different academies will be offered statewide and will last from five 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.
“Our free STEM Summer Academies provide Oklahoma students in middle school and high school the opportunity to experience a college campus environment while exploring careers in the STEM fields,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Students study with top college and university professors and experience hands-on learning in STEM fields beyond traditional classroom settings. We’ve also learned that STEM Summer Academies participants are more likely to attend college, require less remediation and are more likely to earn their college degrees than students who did not attend a Summer Academy.”
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 must be entering eighth through 12th grade this fall. Officials emphasize the academies are designed to give all students an opportunity to increase their interest and confidence in science, technology, engineering and math and, ultimately, expand their career and educational aspirations to go on to college when they graduate high school.
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
Engineering and Applied Mathematics Summer Academy, June 6-12 (Grades 9-12)
NanoExplorers: A High School Summer Science Academy, June 7-19 (Grades 9-12)
East Central University, Ada
Explorations in Computer Science and Robotics, June 7-12 (Grades 8-12)
Molecules of Nature, June 15-19 (Grades 8-9) Langston University, Langston
Intensive Academy for Math, Science and Technology, May 31-June 13 (Grades 10-12) Murray State College,
Murray State College, Ardmore and Tishomingo
Exploring Biotechnology, June 22-27 (Ardmore campus) and July 6-11 (Tishomingo (Grades 8-9) campus)
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami
E.D.U.C.A.T.E. M.E: Exceptional Direction United in Culture, Academics, Technology, and Excitement in Medical Education, June 14-19, (Grades 9-10)
Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow and Tahlequah
Get Green for Blue: Outdoor STEM Investigations Connecting Water to You, June 22-26 (Broken Arrow campus) (Grades 8-10)
RACE to Space With NASA, June 8-12 (Tahlequah campus) (Grades 8-12)
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Camp TURF (Tomorrow’s Undergraduates Realizing the Future), May 31-June 12 (Grades 9-10)
It’s a Polymer Life: Polymers of Everyday Life Summer Academy, June 20-24 (Grades 10-12)
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Okmulgee
Emerging and Converging Technologies Academy, June 19-24 (Grades 8-10)
Oral Roberts University, Tulsa
Summer Math and Science Academy, June 8-12 (Grades 8-9)
Seminole State College
Engineering Construction Management, July 26-31 (Grades 11-12)
Peek Into Engineering, July 26-31 (Grades 9-12)
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford
Summer Science and Mathematics Academy, June 7-19 (Grades 10-12)
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond
The Engineering Workshop Academy: Session I, June 1-5 (Grades 8-10)
The Engineering Workshop Academy: Session II, June 8-12 (Grades 8-10)
University of Oklahoma, Norman
Design in Action: Creativity, Innovation, and Sustainability Shaping the Built Environment, June 8-12 (Grades 9-10)
The Oklahoma Mesonet: Meteorology Sweeping Down the Plains, June 14- 19 (Grades 9-11)
Earth Cycles: The Geology of Carbon, Water, and Life, July 12-17 (Grades 8-10)
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha
Where Does Our Food Come From and How Did It Get There?: Session I, June 13-17 (Grades 8-9)
Where Does Our Food Come From and How Did It Get There?: Session II, July 20-24 (Grades 8-9)
The University of Tulsa
The Ultimate Technology, Engineering and Cryptography (U-TEC) Academy, June 28-July 2 (Grades 8-9)
Summer Engineering Academy, July 6-10 (Grades 8-12)
Technology Education and Collaborative (TEC) Academy, July 6-11 (Grades 8-9)