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Program Components

THE SUMMER RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT

            During the five (5) or six (6) weeks of the Summer Residential Component, students are exposed to a variety of educational, cultural and social experiences.  The academic classes are small and students are placed in various classes according to their needs for individualized instruction.   College students who serve as tutors assist the teachers.  The academic course offerings during the summer are: English, literature, reading, algebra, geometry, advanced mathematics, science, social studies and study skills.  The classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The guidance and Family Value sessions are held with each grade level in the afternoon.  During the evening hours, student are involved in supervised study, library activities and organized recreation.

• Intensive instruction in basic academic skills (Reading, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies)
• A class in foreign language (Spanish)
• Group guidance with an emphasis on postsecondary, career and testing information
• Family Living Education classes
• Academic advisement and personal counseling
• Exposure to a variety of cultural experiences
• A computer literacy class
• Organized recreational activities 

THE ACADEMIC YEAR COMPONENT

            During the academic year, students are involved in instructional and tutorial services on campus and in some of the rural isolated schools.  Students come to the campus every other Saturday to receive instruction and tutoring from teachers employed by the program (a total of 17 Saturdays).  The teachers are assisted by tutors who are college students and graduate assistant employed by the program.

            Each Wednesday night, students come to Virginia State University for study and tutorial sessions.  These sessions are supervised by the midweek tutorial supervisor, an instructor and the tutorial coordinator.  These students are assisted by college students who serve as tutors.  Through the efforts of the tutorial coordinator, students receive instructions on how to study.  There is continuous contact with teachers of students experiencing academic difficulties to include individualized tutoring.  Weekly contacts are made with students (and the parents) experiencing academic difficulty.

            The tutorial coordinator and counselor travel to schools for consultation with teachers and counselors.  Guidance services and personal counseling are available for all participants during the academic year.  The counselor is permitted to enter some of the target schools to provide guidance services to the participants.  Students are selected from the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell and the counties of Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry, Sussex and the Matoaca District of Chesterfield County.