Program Type
Academic programs
Ages Served:
12-18 Years
Overview
Brief Program Summary: Special Programs for Academic Nurturing (SPAN) was established in
1984 to serve as the hub for all accelerated college immersion and early college entrance
programming at the IUPUI campus. The SPAN Division’s mission and goal is to provide
opportunities for gifted, high ability and academically motivated high school students to enroll in
college classes on the IUPUI campus. The SPAN Division has a long history of offering
accelerated college immersion opportunities to students and has severed thousands of high
school students. Many SPAN students have remained at IUPUI to complete their college
education and have received some of IUPUI’s top scholarships. Others have attended, or are
presently attending, prestigious schools such as Harvard University, MIT, Stanford University,
Yale University, and Cornell University. Through SPAN, participants are able to:
• Enroll in authentic college courses taught on the IUPUI campus
• Graduate early from high school and college
• Demonstrate academic prowess at a collegiate level
• Discuss academic and career plans with a SPAN expert
• Get to know other students interested in their particular career/professional fields
• Earn dual credit
• Interact with knowledgeable faculty with world-class credentials
• Explore more than 350 degree opportunities
• Earn full university credit through an accelerated college immersion program that has a
30+ year success record and has enjoyed a 100% credit transfer rate to public colleges and
universities across the nation and around the world.
There are SIX programs in the SPAN Division:
ACAD – 58
1. The Running Start Program is open to high school freshmen and sophomores. Juniors
and seniors who are not eligible for the Upper Class Program may be considered for the Running
Start Program. Students are limited in total credit hours taken per semester and are restricted to
100-level courses.
2. Developed for top-ranked, high-achieving juniors and seniors, the Upper Class Program
provides the opportunity for students to enroll in any course in which they qualify. Students may
be eligible to enroll in as many as 18 college credit hours per semester
3. CyberTEENs Program: This program is designed for technologically gifted students who
are interested in any of the computer-related degree programs at IUPUI, including computer
information technology, media arts and sciences, informatics, and computer science. Students
enrolled in this program may only take computer classes for which they qualify
4. Computer Tech Scholars: The Department of Computer Information and Graphics
Technology (CIT), part of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, partners
with the SPAN Division to offer scholarships to qualified high school students interested in CIT
courses. There are 13 CIT courses that students can take online at 50% of the normal tuition rate.
Fees are not discounted
5. Nanotechnology Program: Funded by the National Science Foundation, the NEST is a
two-week summer camp program that provides a unique opportunity for high school students to
explore the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology at IUPUI. This program is open to students in
grades 9-12 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students can earn 1 college credit
hour in engineering and technology or science by doing hands-on laboratory experiences,
conducting research on careers in nanotechnology, and connecting with a network of professors
and scientists
6. The Take6 Scholarship Program allows eligible students to enroll in up to 6 credit hours
tuition-free. Eligibility requirements are as follows: Applicants must be high-ability seniors who
qualify for free or reduced lunch at their high schools or are 21st Century Scholars. Students with
a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher have the strongest chance for admission
Success Metrics: Education: K-12 education, Postsecondary education, STEM education
Demographics
Number Served & Racial Distribution:
Total Number of Individuals Annually Served
60
Black or African Americans Annually Served
N/A
Hispanic or Latinos Annually Served
N/A
Geographic Scope:
− Central Indiana Counties: Marion
− Additional/Other Areas of Focus: N/A
Resources
Annual Operating Cost: N/A
Initial Start-Up Cost: $0
Contact Information
Organization Name: IUPUI
Website: https://www.iupui.edu/
Respondents Name: Karen Dace
Email: kdace@iupui.edu