Project Advance offers real Syracuse University courses to qualified high school students. These are the same courses that students on campus take, they have only been modified for the high school calendar. instructional materials, syllabi, assessments and projects are all the same, meaning high school students are exposed to the same rigor and requirements as on-campus students.
Project Advance is often lumped in with other college credit courses, or even with AP. But as one of the oldest, largest and most respected programs of its kind in the country, Project Advance has many advantages for students, parents and teachers. Project Advance is also accredited by the National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), who has developed standards to ensure that courses offered in the high school are actual college courses, are taught by qualified teachers, and maintain the standards of a college course.
The SUPA Advantage
Extensive Initial Instructor Training
SUPA - YES
- Attendance at SUPA Summer Institute required for all new instructors.
- Teachers must have graduate degrees (or equivalents) and at least five years’ teaching experience in the subject area
CEP - Rarely
- Teacher requirements vary widely
- No guarantee of strict standards
- Participation in workshops and training sessions encouraged but not required
AP - Minimal Training
- No educational or professional background requirements
- Participation in workshops and conferences encouraged but not required
On-Going Professional Development for Instructors
SUPA - YES
- SU faculty and SUPA staff visit each course section
- Professional development workshops and conferences regularly offered and required
- Online tools to create dynamic websites, wikis, blogs, syllabi, and more
- HS teachers, staff and students get full access to SU library and its electronic resources
CEP - NO
- Some ongoing professional development opportunities might be provided but not guaranteed or required
AP - NO
- Participation in workshops and conferences encouraged, not required
- Training, consultants, textbook reviews, and other resources offered online
Responsive Service and Support
SUPA - YES
- 15+ full time SUPA staff available to assist in a variety of ways
- Assists students in getting recognition for SU credits
- Online Student Guide, full SU library privileges, Live Chat with staff, visits with SU faculty, et
CEP - NO
- Standard CEPs do not guarantee the same suite of student support as SUPA
AP - NO
- Limited online resources
Multiple Assessments
SUPA - YES
- SUPA brings Syracuse University courses into the high school setting. These courses run the same as they would on-campus and provide students multiple opportunities to assess their knowledge and convey understanding of the subject manner.
CEP - YES
- Students have multiple assessments.
AP - NO
- One time assessment for credit recognition
Widespread Credit Recognition / Transfer
SUPA - YES
- Students earn Syracuse University credit documented on a Syracuse university transcript
- 90% (+/- 2% any given year) of students who sent SU transcripts to target colleges receive some recognition of their coursework
- Credit either fully transferable or accepted for advanced standing, exemption from core requirements, or a combination
CEP - Inconsistent
- Although standard CEPs award college credit, it might only be recognized at the partner institution and not transferrable
AP - Test Score Dependent
- Credit based solely on a one-time exam
- Typically, a score of 3, 4, or 5 needed to be eligible for college credit or course exemption
- Some colleges only recognize scores of 4 and 5
- Although more than 90% of colleges accept AP scores for some level of credit and/or placement, individual programs within colleges might not