TAMIU To Offer First AP Summer Institute July 28

Texas A&M International University joins a select group of University campuses offering Advanced Placement Institutes this summer, further accentuating the University's commitment to promotion of quality in education, officials said.

The TAMIU Advanced Placement Summer Institute, the first to be held in Laredo, is scheduled July 28-Aug. 2 at the University.

Oscar J. Munoz, TAMIU Director of Continuing Education, said Advanced Placement (AP) course work provides educators with an opportunity to receive Advancement Placement training in a focused environment.

"AP training helps teachers to better prepare their students for Advanced Placement courses and examinations. It is a rigorous training program required by the State of Texas for all teachers that will be conducting AP classes at the high school level", he explained.

Munoz said national notice of the AP Institute's availability in Laredo this summer has generated considerable interest from educators across the nation.

"A lot of educators take advantage of the AP Institute's location in an area other than their hometown to augment the AP training with exposure to other cultures and environments. Laredo's location on the US- Mexico border offers additional study and travel opportunities for educators attending the TAMIU AP Summer Institute", he explained.

AP courses that will be available at TAMIU will include English Literature, English Language, English Pre-AP, Biology and Math Pre-AP, all offered from July 28-Aug. 2 at a cost of $275 tuition. A separate AP training in administration will be held Aug. 2 at a cost of $50.00. University faculty will be part of the instruction process. Information on course registration is available by calling the Office of Continuing Education at 326 - 2720 or 326-2700.

Dr. Stephen Brown, TAMIU Dean of Student Affairs, said local and area students enrolled in AP programs in high school have an opportunity to advance their higher education considerably.

"Students who complete the AP program at their respective high school may take the individual course AP examination. A score of 3,4 or 5 on the subject AP examination will result in the student receiving college credit at Texas A&M International University for the subject. By having these credits as they enter into the University, students will be able to reduce the number of University courses they will have to take and thus shorten the length of time that they are at the University for their first degree. The AP program is one of the very important avenues for students to consider as they make their way through their high school and prepare for their higher education goals", Dr.Brown explained.

"This is yet another way in which the University can work in partnership with area and regional high schools to encourage excellent academic performance from the students. We help in the AP certification process for the AP teachers and provide for them an immediate set of quality resources through our faculty and facilities", he added.

Local high schools that have AP programs include St. Augustine High School, John B. Alexander High School, United High School, United South High School, Cigarroa High School, J.W. Nixon High School and Martin High School.

Local Coordinators for the AP program include Karen Winch at United Independent School District and Imelda Rodriguez at Laredo Independent School District.

Nationally, AP is coordinated by the College Board, a national non- profit association that champions educational excellence for all students through the ongoing collaboration of nearly 2,900 schools, colleges, universities, educational systems and organizations.

For additional information on the TAMIU AP Summer Institute, call 326-2720 or 326-2700.

Local and area high school students interested in coordinating advanced placement at TAMIU can contact the Office of Enrollment Management at 326 - 2270.

Additional information on TAMIU is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.tamiu.edu or by email at enroll@tamiu.edu.