USF Advanced Placement Summer Institute

USF Advanced Placement Summer Institute Garners Overwhelming Demand Despite Budget Cuts

Education Commissioner, Eric Smith, Ph.D. Delivered
Keynote Address

TAMPA, Fla. (July 22, 2009) – Over 600 teachers from the State of Florida participated in the Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) sponsored by the David C. Anchin Center in the USF College of Education in conjunction with the College Board Southern Regional Office, July 27–31.

Student enrollment for AP courses has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, the demand for professional development of teachers is growing. “Enrollment boomed this year,” said Bruce Jones, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Director of the David C. Anchin Center, USF College of Education. “We had an overwhelming number of registrants in response to the State’s push to prepare high school students for college.”

Eric Smith, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, was the keynote speaker for the opening morning Monday, July 27, which began at 7:30 am on the USF campus in the College of Education, TECO Room. Stacy Carlson, Vice President and Director of Transition for the Helios Education Foundation served as Chair for a Superintendents’ Roundtable discussion about what they believe are the opportunities and challenges for schools in their quest to prepare students for life after high school. The superintendent participants included: Wayne Alexander, Hernando County, Ron Blocker, Orange County, MaryEllen Elia, Hillsborough County, Heather Fiorentino, Pasco County, Tim McGonegal, Manatee County, and Gail McKinzie, Polk County.

Courses included: Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, French Language, Spanish Language and Literature, Psychology, Statistics, and U.S. and World History.

For more information: http://anchin.coedu.usf.edu or www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/apsi/

The USF College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is fully approved by the Florida Department of Education. The USF College of Education is the 7th largest public college of education in the nation. For more information about the USF College of Education, visit: itunes.usf.edu or: www.coedu.usf.edu.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

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