Thursday, February 22, 2007 Older Editions

UMass Lowell pilot program to continue

By April Guilmet

A select number of Andover High School students will continue to attend classes at the University of Massachusestts Lowell next school year.

The decision comes after the success of this year's pilot program, UMass Lowell's regional academy program, which enables some Andover High students to attend classes at the university during the school day, Andover assistant superintendent Marcia O'Neil said.

"We were very pleased with the pilot program," O'Neil said. "We're looking forward to next year and the one after."

Also known as the TEAMS Academy, which stands for Technology, Engineering, and Math-Science, next year's program is expected to serve about 30 academically-gifted juniors and seniors from 15 school districts, including Andover.

"We hope it can expand; the seats are so limited," O'Neil said.

The district's participation in TEAMS was a natural progression, she added.

"We've been working so hard through our (new) engineering programs to get elementary and middle school kids interested in engineering," O'Neil said. "Hopefully this will be a conduit for (older) students interested in math, science and engineering careers."

Currently, O'Neil said, Andover High School doesn't offer courses in robotics and biotechnology - subjects which will be taught through TEAMS.

"But this is the wave of the future," O'Neil said.

According to Renae Lias Claffey, a spokeswoman for UMass Lowell, the TEAMS Academy was piloted earlier this school year with funds from the state legislature.

"A few students from each of the districts came, so students from all over the area came to take classes together," Lias Claffey said.

The 60 high school sophomores attended three different workshops last October, she confirmed.

This fall, the program will serve 30 upperclassmen, said Don Pierson, dean of the Graduate School of Education and organizer of TEAMS. Two college-level courses are slated for fall of 2007; two others are planned for spring 2008.

"It's geared towards students who are accelerated in math and science," Pierson said. "It will be an opportunity for students who are ready for more challenging work in science and technology."

Typically, Pierson said, classes will meet two mornings per week, with additional seminars and guest speakers slated for Friday mornings.

"One of the complications is that each of the high schools participating have a different schedule. The consensus was to have an early morning program," Pierson said.

With only 30 openings available, Andover is expected to send between one to three students this fall, with more slots added in coming years, hopefully.

One hurdle that has yet to be overcome, Pierson said, is transportation. During last fall's pilot program, school departments provided transportation and were reimbursed through state grants.

"Our aim next year is to provide van transportation," Pierson said.

A notice was sent to Andover High School several weeks ago, urging students to apply to the program and Pierson said, "There seems to be lots of interest."

Those who do attend TEAMS will likely be given dual high school and college credit upon completion of the courses.

"The aim is not to duplicate anything offered at the high schools," Pierson said. "The goal is to go beyond. Too often, students don't get into (scientific) applications until college.

"But our idea is to encourage interest in the science and technology fields before they start college."