Hartsville, SC – October 16, 2017 — The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) and Coker College recently signed a dual enrollment agreement that will support Accelerate virtual engineering students in earning up to 49 college credits by the end of 12th grade.
“It is an honor to partner with Coker College as we continue to develop our Accelerate virtual engineering program,” said Dr. Hector Flores, GSSM President. “Together, we will strengthen the program and continue to offer state-of-the-art experiences that will enrich South Carolina’s educational landscape.”
GSSM Accelerate, a virtual engineering program offered in partner school districts across the state, allows students to virtually attend live classes via computers and teleconferencing technology provided and maintained by GSSM.
“This new partnership is a unique opportunity to not only expand Accelerate course offerings but to potentially attract a set of students who might not have initially had Coker College on their radar,” said Dr. Ershela Sims, Vice President for GSSM Accelerate.
The new agreement with Coker not only offers dual enrollment English, math, engineering and science courses, but also introduces new computer science and integrated STEM writing dual enrollment courses to the Accelerate curriculum.
"I am very excited about Coker's new partnership with the Accelerate program,” said Dr. Robert Wyatt, President of Coker College. “We've been neighbors with GSSM for a long time, and it's wonderful to have this opportunity to collaborate on quality education for South Carolina students. As we continue to develop online offerings for bachelor's and master's degrees here at Coker, working with Accelerate students in their digital environment feels like a natural progression."
Students who successfully complete the GSSM Accelerate program receive up to 49 hours of college credit in an advanced course of study, putting them ahead of the curve during their first year at college.
"This is an exceptional opportunity for Coker to support the work of GSSM Accelerate in preparing high school students across the state to go to college with the kind of preparation that will position them to be successful and to graduate on time,” said Tracy Parkinson, VP for Strategic Partnerships and Special Assistant to the President at Coker College.
Along with virtual classes, the Accelerate program consists of Saturday Experiences, engineering, chemistry and physics laboratory days, Summer Camps and industry internships. Each of these components is designed to deliver an innovative and top-quality engineering curriculum while engaging students in hands-on, team-building activities.
For more information about GSSM Accelerate, or to apply for the Class of 2021, visit scgssm.org/virtual.
About GSSM
Founded in 1988 as a model for advanced STEM education in South Carolina, GSSM is a nationally recognized school serving about four hundred of the state’s most promising scholars in the 10th through 12th grades through its residential and virtual programs. The school offers advanced courses in science, mathematics, and engineering at its campus in Hartsville and virtually to participating school districts across the state. GSSM’s Outreach and teacher development programs serve thousands of students in schools throughout South Carolina each year. Learn more by visiting www.scgssm.org
