Accelerate
Accepted Accelerate families should click here to enter information required to attend GSSM's Accelerate Boot Camp.
Accelerate is being developed by GSSM to cultivate the next generation of creative engineers and technical leaders by offering motivated high school students from across South Carolina an innovative and accelerated path toward college engineering degrees.
Objectives
- To re-engineer engineering education in SC, supporting our universities with top in-state students in their world-class engineering programs
- To provide a continuing source of engineering talent to statewide businesses
- To secure South Carolina's position as a leading STEM state
- To live out GSSM's commitment to delivering the best possible STEM education opportunities to the widest audience of SC students
Program Highlights
- Accelerated completion of first-year college engineering courses while in 10th, 11th and 12th grades
- Year-round, virtual instruction on high school campuses resulting in dual credit and advanced completion of both high school and college standards
- Curriculum oversight provided by colleges, enhanced by SC engineering firms, taught by GSSM faculty and supported by community educators and engineers
- Significant emphasis on real-world, team-based projects
- Mastery of foundational tools of engineering and membership in a virtual community of like-minded students from across SC
Click here for the sample Accelerate curriculum.
Pilot Partner School Districts
Beaufort County - Bluffton High School
Dorchester Two - Summerville High School
Greenville County - J.L. Mann High School
Horry County - Academy for Arts, Science, and Technology
Lexington One - Lexington Technology Center
Orangeburg Five - The Technology Center
Pickens County - D.W. Daniel High School
Richland One - W.J. Keenan High School
Learn more about the pilot program and partner school districts.
Educational Partners
Clemson University
South Carolina State University
The Citadel
University of South Carolina
Corporate Partners
The following corporate partnerships have invested in Accelerate's launch and pilot program:
BMW Manufacturing Co.
The Boeing Company
Comporium Communications
Duke Energy Corporation
GE Energy
Google Data Centers Grant Fund of the Tide Foundation
IEEE Foundation General Fund
Integrated Systems, Inc.
Nucor Steel
SCE&G
Sonoco Products Company
Time Warner Cable
Westinghouse Electric Company
For information about corporate sponsorship, contact Kim Bowman, GSSM EVP for Strategic Direction at kim@scgssm.org
Technology & Partnership Requirements for Participating SC High Schools
- 1.5 Mbps for dedicated bandwidth
- Designated location for distance/virtual education
- On-site tech support
- Student supervision consistent with school policies
- Ability to place students in one of 2-3 time slots (TBD)
- Classes on MWF, starting on the hour, 50 minutes in length
Timeline
- Pilot schools will be selected by November 2012
- Coordination of schedules will begin December 2012
- Student selection will begin January 2013; completed by April 2013
- Boot camp will take place on GSSM Campus July 2013
- Classes will begin August 2013
- Saturday experiences will begin October 2013
For more information on Accelerate curriculum, contact Dr. Ted Lee, Chief Engineer & Program Director, at lee@gssm.k12.sc.us. For more information on Accelerate partnerships, contact Dr. Zaria O’Bryant, Program Administrator, at obryant@gssm.k12.sc.us.