NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.
The SBU Academy is a transitional collegiate experience for academically talented
high school juniors and seniors. The Academy offers an in-person, on-campus dual credit
classroom experience on Mondays and online support for the course the rest of the
week. All schools are welcome to participate; however, the format is especially useful
to districts operating on a four-day school week.
Academy students learn from experienced doctoral-qualified professionals with outstanding expertise and have the opportunity to interact with current SBU college students.
The SBU Academy has a professional focus, offers a collegiate experiences, and prepares select high school students for lives of service and leadership. The Academy's purpose is to offer an early introduction to high-demand professional careers and disciplines.
Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) are automatically eligible for dual credit courses.
Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall grade point average between 2.5-2.99 (on a 4.0 scale) must provide a signed later of recommendation from their principal or guidance counselor and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian (CBHE 6.3) to Dr. Tim DeClue, SBU Academy Director.
Classes will meet every Monday of the fall semester unless designated as an official holiday by the University
Sample Monday on-campus schedule:
Participation in SBU Academy costs $120 per credit hour. This includes all course fees and covers the cost of lunch during the Monday in-person sessions. Students also receive access to University events (concerts, performances, etc.) and NCAA Division II athletic events.
In addition to the courses offered, additional planned activities hosted on-campus in the afternoons will help expose SBU Academy students to other high-demand/high-urgency areas such as healthcare, nursing, and agriculture, for example.
Submit an online application now
Dr. John Murphy has a Ph.D. in Agronomy with multiple publications in the Academic
Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research and Rangeland Ecology and Management.
He is a certified technician in both bovine reproductive ultrasound and in bovine
artificial insemination.
Dr. Tim DeClue has served as the SBU Computer and Information Sciences Department
Chair, Faculty Senate President, ABET (Accrediting Board for Engineering & Technology)
Commissioner, Advanced Placement Computer Science team leader, Code.org facilitator,
and authored over 20 published peer-reviewed research or experience papers.
Dr. Scott Morrison has his doctoral degree from Saint Louis University and is a highly
respected educator and presenter for many school districts, including Springfield
Public Schools.
Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah is a published author with his doctoral degree from Queen’s
University in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Yeboah has over 30 years teaching experience at
SBU and expertise in the post-cold war Africa.
Dr. Carla Kirchner has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University in the
United Kingdom. and is an award-winning author of over eight published works of poetry.
She is a four-time judge for the Missouri State Poetry Society and also serves as
the Staff Sergeant for the 135th Army Band in the Missouri National Guard.