This summer high school students can get a taste of college life through an accelerated learning program at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

The Missouri Academy for Youth Advancement (MAYA), which will be held Sunday, July 10, through Saturday, July 30, is a new summer school academic enrichment program designed for students to earn advanced credits and learn in an accelerated academic environment. The program is designed for students preparing to enter eighth, ninth and 10th grade.

MAYA’s three-week concentrated for-credit programs will focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computing fields. Students will also participate in extracurricular programs that explore many different academic, creative and physical opportunities. In three weeks, the major courses will cover the same material that is typically covered in one year of high school study

Courses will be led by top regional teachers, UMR faculty and Advanced Placement-certified instructors. "Students choose up to three of the current course offerings and are placed into one course based upon preference and availability," says Brian Sea, coordinator of MAYA. July 2005 course offerings include Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Programming in C++ and Programming in JAVA.

Sea adds that there are also many extracurricular activities offered through the program. "Students choose a minor during the program, which is a non-academic activity," Sea says. Minors include fencing, volleyball, creative writing, speech and debate, web design, and journalism.

"We designed MAYA by taking the best elements from some of the top advanced learning camps in the nation," says William Perkins, director of admissions at the Missouri Academy for Science, Mathematics and Computing in Maryville, Mo. "MAYA has great potential for helping students wanting to accelerate their high school studies and its focused academic curriculum should help more Missouri students be excited pursuing careers in the science, computing and engineering fields."

The MAYA advanced summer learning program is the result of statewide collaboration between UMR, the Rolla Public School District, the Missouri Academy for Science, Mathematics, & Computing, and the Missouri AP Teacher Development Program.

"The Rolla School district has been working on expanding the advanced learning opportunities for our students," says Dr. Jerry Giger, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Rolla Public Schools. "When we learned of UMR’s interest in developing the MAYA concept it seemed like a natural partnership. We are excited about the program’s potential to assist students with high learning desires."

The fee for the camp is $950, and covers room and board and activity costs during the three-week camp. Costs for instructional activities are waived for Missouri students. Applications are due Friday, May 13, and are available online at maya.mst.edu . For more information or to request an application, contact UMR’s Center for Pre-College Programs at (573) 341-4228.

Students will be notified of their acceptance by the first week of June.