Home / Programs / Classes / Pre-Engineering / Handbook

Pre-Engineering Academy

Administrative Procedures and Guidelines

The Administrative Procedures and Guidelines is intended to inform all interested parties regarding essential questions about the operation, management and curriculum of the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy. This Administrative Procedures and Guidelines will be reviewed by the Administrative Policy Sub-Committee annually and amended as needed.

Section I - Introduction

In the Spring of 2003, a group of Region VIII superintendents and representatives of Southside Virginia Community College met and established a partnership that created the regional Pre-Engineering Academy modeled loosely along the structure of a regional governor’s school. The Southside Virginia Community College made the commitment to provide instructors and a pre-engineering curriculum. A commitment was made to provide laboratory and classroom space at the Amelia/ Nottoway Career and Technical Center. In Spring of 2003, seven school divisions (Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward) committed to supporting the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy concept, and six school divisions enrolled a total of 19 rising juniors and seniors into the inaugural cohort. During the summer of 2003, Tobacco Settlement Grant funds of $261,000 have been sought and received to upgrade laboratories and classroom facilities.

The vision of the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy is to provide a catalyst for encouraging and developing high achieving mathematics and science students in Region VIII who can accept the challenges of a dual enrollment college pre-engineering curriculum that is articulated and focused toward college engineering.

Goals

The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy will encourage development of advanced mathematics and science and provide students in Region VIII with opportunities in engineering.

• The school will use leading edge methods of pre-engineering instruction.
• The school will serve as an opportunity for gifted and high achieving students.
• The school will serve as a model for opportunities in engineering, mathematics, and science.
• The school will help students understand innovations in the field of engineering, mathematics, and science.
• Students will be able to compete on a world class scale for entry into higher education and engineering programs of study.

Justification of Need

The need for a regional program in pre-engineering stems from:

• Lack of access to academic Governor’s or magnet school for pre-engineering,
• Low density of qualified students per school division,
• Lack of peer interaction for identified pre-engineering gifted students,
• Fewer opportunities for exposure to higher education,
• Need for a skilled, and highly educated workforce in Southside, Virginia, and
• Lack of exposure to advanced learning opportunities in pre-engineering, mathematics, and science.

Identifying Information

• Name/Location of Program - The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy is located at the Amelia/Nottoway Career and Technical Center in Nottoway County.
• Director - Edward N. Chernault, Ed.D.
• Fiscal Agent - Nottoway County is currently serving as the fiscal agent for the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy. At the present time, funding for equipment has been awarded by the Tobacco Indemnity Fund and should provide adequate equipment funding for the 2004-2005 school year.
• Operation - The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy is a 5-day (Monday-Friday) program. Southside Virginia Community College provides all instructional and administrative staffing with additional administrative input from the seven superintendents and/or their designees from Region VIII. The classes met from 8:00 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. daily.

Student Identification

• Number - 19 students for the 2003-2004 school year.
• Grade Levels - 11 and 12
• School Divisions Served - Amelia County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Lunenburg County, Nottoway County, Prince Edward County

Section II - Program Description

Program Goals

The goals of the program are to provide:

• The challenge of an integrated curriculum focusing on mathematics, science, and engineering;
• Involvement in interdisciplinary instruction;
• Participation in independent engineering related studies;
• Curriculum that utilizes higher level thinking skills;
• The application of engineering, mathematics, and science to real life problems; and
• The availability of state-of the art technology for all students and staff.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

• Create excitement and desire for lifelong learning - focusing on the future,
• Elevate the awareness level of students as well as provide practical skills in regard to teamwork and independence,
• Enable students to master the tools necessary to use electronic networks,
• Help students define and solve real life issues and problems using concepts from the disciplines of math and science,
• Serve as a catalyst and through staff and students be a resource for expanded educational opportunities for all Southside schools

Junior Course Offerings

Juniors take a combination of advanced level high school courses and dual enrollment college credit courses including:

First Semester

Second Semester

Senior Course Offerings

Seniors take a combination of advanced level high school courses and dual enrollment college credit courses including:

First Semester

Second Semester

Students have the opportunity for earning 45—47 college credits.

Relationship between the Academic Year Pre-Engineering Academy and Local Gifted Education Plans

The Curriculum and Membership Committee consists of gifted coordinators or their designees from the participating divisions. They offer contributions in planning, follow-through, and evaluation of program components. The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy supports and enriches the programs offered in the participating divisions by adhering to the shared concept of providing a systematic, continuous curriculum that is differentiated for gifted students. Participating school divisions include Southside Pre-Engineering Academy in their local plans for gifted education.

Administration and Reporting of Standards of Learning Scores

At the present time, Chemistry is the only course offered by the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy that is subject to Virginia SOL End-of-Course testing. The site managers, or designees, are responsible for attending SOL training sessions, completing paperwork, picking up copies of the testing materials from the home high schools, and hand delivering completed booklets to the home high schools within the SOL End-of-Course testing window. This allows for same day administration of tests to students from several school divisions. However, if a school division administers the SOL End-of-Course on-line using the Test-Nav technology available at the local high school, Southside Pre-Engineering Academy students may have to report to the local high school for this type of SOL test administration.

Length of Program and Daily Schedule

The program covers 180 instructional days for students. Classes are taught over a 5-day week, Monday-Friday following a typical college semester format. All sites observe a common school calendar as is convenient to the home school.

Facilities Required to Accomplish Program Objectives

At the present time, the Amelia/Nottoway Career and Technical Center furnishes classroom space for all classes requiring lecture facilities. Southside Virginia Community College, John H. Daniel Campus located in Keysville serves as the lab site for College Chemistry. The current plan for the upcoming 2004-2005 school year is to use grant funding awarded to Southside Pre-Engineering Academy for the purpose of acquiring lab equipment for engineering, chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics instruction to be conducted at the Amelia/Nottoway Career and Technical Center.

Materials and Equipment Required to Accomplish Program Objectives

An inventory of equipment needed to operate similar instructional programs was conducted and used as an indicator of equipment to be purchased for the 2004-2005 academic year. A complete list of all items to be purchased is on file and is available upon request at Southside Virginia Community College.

Internal Evaluation Process

The Curriculum and Membership Committee, comprised of gifted coordinators, or their designees, from participating school divisions, holds regularly scheduled meetings to provide input and evaluation of SP-EA. All stakeholders, including Superintendents, Guidance Counselors, Principals, parents, students, members of the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy faculty, and representatives from Southside Virginia Community College may participate in the continuous evaluation and improvement process.

Program Administration

The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy is administered through a joint committee comprised of the participating Superintendents of Region VIII and Southside Virginia Community College Administrators. The Director of SP-EA reports to the Provost of the John H. Daniel Campus and the President of Southside Virginia Community College.

Section III - Administrative Procedures

Student Recruitment/Selection

Recruiting is joint effort between the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy and the home high schools. Interested students may attend the South Pre-Engineering Academy in small groups to “shadow” current students. Recruitment meetings will be held in each school division with the Director of the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy and representatives from the Southside Virginia Community College faculty. The Southside Pre-Engineering Academy will also hold an “Open House” to allow students and parents to visit the facilities and meet the faculty. The home high schools will publicize when the admissions process for the Southside Pre-Engineering Academy will begin.

A. Pre-application

Each school division will give an orientation meeting for tenth and/or eleventh grade students concerning the SP-EA. Potential applicants are encouraged to “shadow” currently enrolled Southside Pre-Engineering Academy students as part of the pre-application process.

Following the orientation meeting and shadowing process, interested students will complete a Statement of Interest form requesting admission consideration in attending SP-EA will submit a Statement of Interest form requesting admission consideration.

B. Initial Student Screening

Each student submitting a Statement of Interest form will be screened using the criteria listed below, and those meeting the criteria will be given an Application form to apply formally to SP-EA.

• A or B average (overall GPA) for the current grade, or
• A recommendation from at least one teacher who feels the pupil would qualify above, except for unusual situations or conditions
• Applicants must have completed Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II prior to the beginning of the term.

C. Student Profile - An individual student profile consisting of the following will be obtained:

• High School Transcript
• Letter of teacher recommendation

D. Pre-admission

Decisions regarding student participation will be handled by the home school. The number of participants from each school division for the 2004-2005 academic year will be 5 new students per division. This number is subject to change according to additional interest from qualified students and additional instructional facilities.

E. Final Decision

Participating public schools will decide on the number of individual students attending along with adherence to program participation requirements.

F. Appeals

Each school division is responsible for creating an appeals process to handle appeals at the local level. The language of the process should follow the language used in the school division’s approved state gifted plan.

Code of Conduct

Southside Pre-Engineering Academy students are expected to conduct themselves with a degree of dignity and self-discipline. It is the assumption of each school division and Southside Virginia Community College that SP-EA students are capable of and committed to a high standard of behavior.

In general, SP-EA follows the same discipline policy as the home high schools. Reference should be made to the policies listed in home school handbooks. Because

SP-EA students are enrolled in, and graduate from their local home high school, any disciplinary concerns beyond the oversight of the faculty are referred to the home high schools.

Basic student expectations include the following:

• Respect for others in an underlying assumption for students, faculty, and staff at SVCC.
• Respect for property of Amelia/Nottoway Career and Technical Center is expected and SVCC facilities. This includes following rules for the use and return of all library materials.
• Firearms, including lookalikes, are NOT allowed on campus or buses/cars to and from school.
• Possession or use of controlled substances, including lookalikes, is prohibited.
• Responsible use of technology and equipment is expected of all students, including appropriate academic use of the Internet.
• Tobacco in any form is forbidden.
• Displays of physical affection are inappropriate in a school setting.

Athletics Eligibility Services

SP-EA students are eligible for all athletics, academic competitions, and extra-curricular activities available to students at the home high school.

Transportation

All transportation issues are handled by the home schools. Most divisions provide transportation to the SP-EA from the home school. The local divisions or community colleges provide transportation for day trips.

Staff Recruitment and Selection

Information regarding employment of college faculty is maintained in the office of Human Resources on the Christanna Campus in Alberta, Virginia and follows state approved guidelines for hiring and performance evaluations.

Staff Evaluation

College faculty evaluations are administered annually by Deans of Instruction on either John H. Daniel or Christanna Campuses.

Parent and Community Involvement

Currently students have open channels of communication with staff and administration at both their home schools and Southside Virginia Community College. In addition, the program invites local community leaders or journeymen to serve as guest speakers for areas of their specific expertise.

Business, Industry, Higher Education, and Arts Community Involvement