What to Expect

If you attend the Advanced Placement® Summer Institute at the University of Arkansas, you will find a professional, friendly Honors College AP team, eager to make the week as fulfilling for you as possible. Maribeth Lynes, Terry Garrity, and Shannon Stewart will all be ready to help you.

Our attendees come to us from all over the United States, including Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, etc. The cost to attend in 2010 is $575 if you stay with us on campus and $500 if you provide your own housing.

In June, you will be contacted by e-mail to verify your attendance, housing selection, course enrollment, and home mailing address. Please be sure to provide an accurate e-mail address when you register - one that will still be accessible to you in June. Information packets will be mailed prior to the start of the Institute and they will contain your APSI notebook, pen, campus map, and preliminary itinerary. Parking permits for teachers commuting each day will be distributed at registration on Sunday, July 25th and Monday morning, July 26th. You must have a parking permit before parking on campus. Futher details about designated parking areas and parking permits will be provided later.

The APSI opens on Sunday, July 25th, at 2 p.m. with registration/check-in at the Northwest Quads Residence Halls. This is located on Garland Avenue, adjacent to the new Pat Walker Health Center. Room keys and key cards will also be assigned to each participant. Room assignments are made three weeks in advance. Rooms are assigned by school whenever possible. Contact Terry Garrity at 479.575.7677 for special room requests. A reception will be provided in the welcome/reception area of the Quads.

Participants for most classes will spend the week on campus in the Student Union conference center or in one of our science buildings for those of you in science classes. For 2010, plenary sessions will be held in the union ballroom. You may wish to pay a visit to the Honors College office and Honors College student lounges in ADMN 418, also the home of The Advanced Placement Summer Institute. Stop by and say hello. Classroom assignments are made according to availability, class size and needs, as well as special requests from the consultants.

Dress is casual. Participants should dress for comfort, including good walking shoes. July is usually hot and humid in Fayetteville. Although all buildings are air-conditioned, you may be warm, and some may need to bring a light sweater or jacket if you are easily chilled. In addition, participants may wish to bring a cushion or small pillow for maximum comfort during the seated portion of the day. Chairs, stools, and desks will be similar to those found on most college campuses. On the first day of classes, text books are distributed to teachers in each classroom. Teachers can expect to receive at least one new text book and may receive up to six or seven textbooks, cd roms, and extras sent to us by publishers of AP and Pre-AP texts. Single copies of texts are often given out as "prizes" by the consultants during the week.

A breakfast buffet at the Northwest Quads is included in the cost of registration for everyone. Teachers must show a name tag to be admitted. All lunches will be served in the Student Union Ballroom, and are also included in the cost of registration for everyone. A complimentary snack table is provided outside the Union Ballroom. The table is set with beverages (water, tea, coffee), fruit, and snacks (crackers, cookies, or brownies) from about 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Consultants may set aside time for a "snack break" in the morning and afternoon at their discretion.

In the Student Union, one can find the University Bookstore, the Razorback shop, the campus post office, RZ's coffee house (8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday), food court (7:00 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday), and much more. Snacks, such as soft drinks, chips, and candy can also be purchased here. In addition, snacks (sandwiches, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and candy) may be purchased on the 1st floor of Old Main in the vending area. Water fountains are located on every floor of the Student Union and the Science Building. The Science Building also has vending machines located at the east entrance of the 2nd floor. Science participants should remember, though, that food and drinks are not allowed in the laboratories.

Evenings. . .

In the evening, participants may wish to carpool to nearby restaurants, movie theaters (Razorback Cinema, Fiesta Square 16 Cinemas, Malco Theaters), shopping malls (Northwest Arkansas Mall), or local clubs for live music. Dickson Street runs from the south side of campus, heading east. There are many fine restaurants, shops, clubs, and stores for shopping and within easy walking of the residence halls. Ozark Bowling Lanes is located at 2300 N. College (Ph: 479.442.4275). Fayetteville also has a drive-in movie theater (One Twelve Drive In Theater: 3352 N. Hwy. 112, pH: 479.442.4542) just north of campus on Garland, across I-540. Movies begin at dusk. Gator Golf Course (miniature golf) is open 7 days a week with two 18-hole courses (2692 N. College, pH: 479.444.0833). Lokomotion Family Fun Park is located at 4520 N College Ave, just north of the N.W. Arkansas Mall, pH: 479.582.5600.

Teachers and consultants needing some evening exercise may choose to walk or drive to Wilson Park, located about 3 blocks (12 minute walk) from the N.E. corner of campus. The park hosts a nicely paved walking trail, places for picnicking, and a garden area with the park's famous "Castle." Down the hill from the residence halls, the University Track is available for walking/running/jogging.

Final Day. . .

On the final day of the institute, each participant who has completed the entire week will receive a certificate of congratulations for completing 32 hours of instruction in their respective AP or Pre-AP® Course. Attendance will be noted twice daily in class.

Texas teachers should make sure that they receive the Texas Education Agency form with their name, course, and their consultant's name already inscribed. This form should be signed by the consultant, filled out by the participant, and returned by the teacher to the TEA so that his/her school district will be reimbursed. Texas School Districts should mail checks for their teachers to us prior to the institute. Participants from Texas must complete a form and return it to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) so that their schools will be reimbursed. These forms are distributed during the week of the institute. Texas School Districts must send full payment to us prior to the APSI. In order for a teacher to be eligible for reimbursement, the TEA requires that the teacher must attend a Pre-AP or AP five day summer institute; must be a 9th-12th grade teacher in a Texas public school; and must teach a Pre-AP or AP course in the 2010-2011 school year. School districts should still mail checks to us prior to the institute to pay for their teachers. To read more click here.

All Oklahoma teachers must obtain permission from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (pH: 405-521-4287) before they can register with us for 2010.