Policies & Guidelines
General Administrative Requirements
The policies and guidelines described here were developed in cooperation with high schools offering SU courses through Project Advance to clarify roles and responsibilities vital to the long-term success of our collaborative relationship. We value our partners’ support and strive to maintain trust and a sense of common purpose. Feel free to contact us with suggestions at help@supa.syr.edu.
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Click the image to read the Administrative Guide online, or download a PDF. |
General guidelines
A. Teachers of Project Advance sections of Syracuse University courses should have undergraduate and graduate degrees (or their equivalents) and a minimum of five years of teaching experience in the subject area. For some subjects, the master’s degree requirement in the subject area may be waived if the teacher has substantial teaching experience, coursework related to the particular Syracuse University course, or experience in business and industry (waiver of a master’s degree in the subject area is not an option in New Jersey). In some cases, certification to teach a course will be made contingent upon completion of additional graduate coursework, field experiences, or a program of structured independent study.
B. No more than one section of a university course should be assigned to one teacher per semester unless the university specifically approves such an arrangement.
C. Because university courses generally require an unusually large amount of time for preparation and direct consultation with students, teachers should be relieved of at least a portion of their non-teaching duties (insofar as possible).
D. Three preparations and five classes constitute a maximum load for teachers in SU’s Project Advance program. Class size for Project Advance sections may not exceed those indicated.
E. Each high school should have a sufficient number of trained teachers available to prevent cancellation of a class should a trained teacher be unable to complete the year because of illness or some other unforeseeable occurrence. A cancellation hurts everyone, especially students.
F. SU courses offered through Project Advance should be scheduled in periods not subject to frequent cancellation or interruption.
G. University grades must conform to standards established by Syracuse University, as explained through manuals, workshops, and training sessions. Occasionally, differences in the application of grading criteria may arise between the high school teachers and Syracuse University faculty members. Such problems are usually discussed and resolved on a collegial basis. In the unlikely case of pervasive and irreconcilable differences of a more serious kind, however, courses may be withdrawn at the option of either the school or the university.
H. Instructional materials should be ordered well before the beginning of the academic year. Updated lists of required materials are available on this web site.
I. Certification to teach Project Advance sections of SU courses is contingent upon completion of the following requirements:
- Attendance at all sessions and satisfactory completion of the Summer Institute training.
- Presentation of an acceptable written proposal for adaptation of the university course to the specific high school situation.
- Annual submission of an acceptable review of the course operation in the specific high school.
- Annual participation in the subject-specific in-service seminars. These required seminars are held on regular school days and are typically offered twice each year. ALL teachers are required to attend in order to maintain their SU adjunct instructor appointments.
- Assuming major responsibility for teaching the course at least once every three years.
J. It is very important that members of the high school’s guidance department be thoroughly familiar with the requirements, objectives, and design of each course and work closely with teachers in advising prospective students whether to register for SU courses offered through Project Advance.
K. Parents of prospective students should be given an opportunity to meet with instructors teaching SU courses before their children are registered for the program. A letter should also be sent to parents explaining the program, its operation in the school, the tuition structure, and the university’s role. Parents should be made aware of both the high school and university grading policies for each course. Models for such letters are available from the university.
L. Syracuse University reserves the right to determine and periodically revise the conditions under which its programs may be offered for college credit and assumes responsibility for their supervision.
