Through a collaboration between Griggs International Academy (GIA), Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS), Andrews University (School of Business Administration and Office of the Provost), and local stakeholders, ninth-grade students were offered the opportunity to complete Algebra 1 on the campus of Andrews University during the summer of 2018. This pilot program offered students living in Benton Harbor a chance to earn a high school credit on a university campus and be coached by university students for eight weeks.
Eleven participants were offered scholarships that covered tuition, transportation, tutoring, breakfast and lunch, and the cost associated with field trips and other learning opportunities. The Summer High School Advancement Program was designed to (a) help students learn to achieve in mathematics, (b) encourage a college-bound culture, (c) develop college-readiness, and (d) provide a positive frame of reference for participants. The program was free for the high school students.
Andrews hopes to be able to expand the subjects offered each year to continue to support students in Benton Harbor, Berrien Springs and adjacent communities.
This basic Algebra course taught:
- Forming equations and inequalities
- Writing, solving and graphing linear equations
- Exponents and their functions
- Polynomials, equations and solving quadratic equations
- Solving and graphing square root equations
Students completing this program should be equipped to tackle higher level math courses, gained credits towards high school graduation, and were given an opportunity to develop a greater interest in tertiary level studies.
For more information please contact carlisle@andrews.edu.