Union Collegiate Academy
Union Public Schools is transforming the High School into higher education through its new Union Collegiate Academy. Union wants 100 percent of its students to graduate career and college-ready, so it's bringing college to them.
The new Academy wing allows sophomores to move to the High School as Union focuses on challenging curriculum offerings that will steer students to the college of their choice and/or a satisfying career.
With the new wing, which opened in 2012, students will enjoy an experience that emulates college both academically and aesthetically. Larger lecture rooms, cafes throughout the High School, special science rooms, an outdoor classroom, a virtual learning and other amenities in combination with a dedicated and caring staff will help students prepare for college by showing them what college is like and answering their questions along the way.
Resources
Concurrent enrollment
One exciting program - EXCELerate - allows students to take college classes taught by college professors at the High School. Students have the opportunity to take excellent, academically challenging courses for college credit while still in the supportive high school environment where they can participate in regular school activities.
Not only do they earn college credit, but their college courses also count toward high school graduation requirements. Learn more
While a lot of attention may be on construction, the focus is really on academics. Advanced Placement courses, a Union Virtual Learning Academy and an expanded College & Career Center will also assist in Union's transformation. To learn about how Union is transforming the education process - starting as early as elementary school - visit the College/Career tab and view the links there.
Exciting scienc offerings
See some of the science offerings planned at the UCA
- Biotechnology
A state of the art Biotechnology classroom is part of the new UCA addition. Biotechnology is the application of biology and chemistry to manipulate organisms, their tissue and cells to produce products to improve medicine, food, fuel, and the environment. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts a growth of more then 28 percent in the Biotech industry by 2014. Oklahoma has made the Biotechnology industry a part of its Focus for the Future initiative. The Biotechnology equipment accounts for over half of the requested equipment for the new Science department in the UCA building. - Union Alternative Energy Research Lab
As part of the new UCA, Union is building an outdoor alternative energy classroom and lab which eventually will have a wind turbine, biodiesel production systems to convert cooking oil into clean burning diesel fuel, and solar panels for students to study alternative energy sources. Connected to the outdoor lab will be a classroom with computers that can monitor the production of energy from the wind turbine and solar panels so students can conduct research projects into alternative energy use for the future. Students from all grade levels at Union will come and use the research lab. - Science Equipment – New Science Rooms
The new Science classrooms in the Academy will enable Union to teach at a level of world class science. The AP Chemistry storage room will be equipped with a water distiller, chemical storage safety cabinets, and chemicals. Equipment for all the classrooms to share includes microscopes, spectrometers, centrifuges, balances, along with other basic equipment needs.
Breathtaking
The UCA building is three stories high with a breathtaking glass front. The entry is two stories high with a grand open stairway on the left and an inviting soft seating area on the right. The College and Career area is directly across from the outside front doors. The entire building has a completely different look than the existing high school. That new look resembles what students will experience when they attend a university or college.
The $28,275,000 High School remodel has many different components:
•An additional 160 parking spaces added to the south parking lot
•Several new kitchens and eating areas
• A new High School front entrance
•A three-story Collegiate Academy addition
•A new bus loop
•A total replacement of the north side parking lot
•An additional HVAC chiller
•A new beautifully landscaped oval park-like setting inside of the new bus loop
•A renovated west road that runs behind the High School