COMPARING PROJECT ADVANCE TO OTHER PROGRAMS

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.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
PROJECT ADVANCE (SUPA)
STANDARD CONCURRENT
ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (CEP)
ADVANCE PLACEMENT (AP)

COURSE
TYPE

  • Syracuse University catalog courses
  • Same courses as offered to SU undergraduates
  • Textbooks and materials are the same as SU course or approved by SU faculty
  • No guarantee of a university-level course
  • Some CEPs simply offer HS curricula listed as “for college credit”
  • Curriculum suggested list of recommended texts
  • No specific syllabus required; however, annual online course authorization is required

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
& TRAINING

  • Teachers must have graduate degrees (or equivalents) and at least five years’ teaching experience in the subject area
  • Attendance at SU faculty-supervised training and workshops and maintenance of certification required
  • Teacher requirements vary widely
  • No guarantee of strict standardsParticipation in workshops and training sessions encouraged but not required
  • No educational or professional background requirements
  • Participation in workshops and conferences encouraged but not required

ONGOING
TEACHER SUPPORT

  • 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
  • Some ongoing professional development opportunities might be provided but not guaranteed or required
  • Participation in workshops and conferences encouraged, not required
  • Training, consultants, textbook reviews, and other resources offered online

CREDIT
EARNED

  • Students earn Syracuse University credit documented on a Syracuse university transcript
  • Although standard CEPs award college credit, it might only be recognized at the partner institution and not transferrable
  • Credit based solely on a one-time examTypically, a score of 3, 4, or 5 needed to be eligible for college credit or course exemptionSome colleges only recognize scores of 4 and 5

CREDIT
TRANSFER

  • 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
  • Credit might only be recognized by partner institution
  • Although more than 90% of colleges accept AP scores for some level of credit and/or placement, individual programs within colleges might not

COST TO STUDENT

  • Per credit hour, an SU course offered through SUPA costs $115 compared to over $2,000 for SU undergraduates
  • Installment plan and financial assistance available
  • Reduced tuition rates for standard CEPs range from approximately $40 to $125 per credit hour.
  • AP exam fee

COST TO TEACHER

  • None
  • Varies
  • AP workshop fee

COST TO SCHOOL

  • Teacher training is free; school must pay room and board for week of training
  • School will be required to purchase any instructional materials for class(es)

 

  • Varies
  • AP workshop fee, if schools choose to pay it
STUDENT SUPPORT 
  • Assists students in getting recognition for SU credits
  • Strategic learning strategies and college readiness support boosts chances of college success
  • Online Student Guide, student-to-student blog, full SU library privileges, Live Chat with staff, visits with SU faculty, etc
  • 15 full time staff
  •  Standard CEPs do not guarantee the same suite of student support as SUPA
  • Although college library privileges
    are relatively universal, support in obtaining recognition and college readiness courses
    is not
  •  Limited online resources