New Global Academy to Offer Specialized Courses

New Global Academy to Offer Specialized Courses to Students in Dane County

By GENA KITTNER | 608-252-6139 | gkittner[at] madison [dot] com | Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:50 pm |Wisconsin State Journal

Madison's high-technology buzz is reaching high school students.

Starting November, sophomores and juniors in eight Dane County school districts can register to take "Principles of the Biomedical Sciences" through the new Global Academy, which will start next fall.

By the fall of 2011, the academy's course topics are expected to include biotechnology; architecture and construction; and engineering.

"What we want to do is offer curriculum and programs no area high schools offer and that prepare students for a more global and changing workplace," said Bill Reis, director of the Global Academy.

The academy was created by a consortium of eight school districts and Madison Area Technical College to provide a hybrid of high school and college courses in specialized skills.

The initial program in biomedicine would include courses in the principles of biomedical sciences; human body systems; medical interventions; and science research. The classes likely would be taught by high school teachers, but would incorporate business and academic experts to help teach, offer apprenticeships and career placement.

The academy's location won't be decided until leaders know how many students are interested in the program. However, one possibility is holding classes at MATC's West campus in the former Famous Footwear building, Reis said.

Students - organizers hope about 150 - would travel from their respective high schools to Madison's Far West Side every day for the courses, which would be part of the academy's two-year programs. Depending on the interest in the biomedical class, three sections would be taught during the day and possibly one in the evening, Reis said.

Offering a night class would maximize the use of the facility and offer some flexibility to students who live farther outside of Madison, he said.

Verona, Middleton Cross-Plains, Belleville, McFarland, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Wisconsin Heights and Madison school districts have agreed to participate in the academy.

"There are just certain classes and educational programs that (Wisconsin Heights) can't offer that as a group we can," Wisconsin Heights district superintendent Mark Elworthy said of the Global Academy. "In the end, we couldn't afford not to be a part of it."

Elworthy estimates up to three students would make the roughly 18-mile trip to Madison's Far West Side, much like the handful of students who now participate in courses that involve work outside the classroom.

Reis said the academy is open to any student, but is geared toward those who may not enroll in advanced classes, but are still interested in pursing a career as a technician - either working in a lab or pharmacy, or as a researcher.

And while it's likely students will receive some form of college credit for completing the course, those details are still being finalized.

The state approved $50,000 toward developing the Global Academy and each district would pay proportionally for the number of students who attend.