The Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), founded in 1984 is a co-ed summer program specializing in gifted education for students ranging in age from 4 - 17. In 2009 SIG became a program of the National Society for the Gifted and Talented. SIG offers residential and commuter programs to students ages 10-17 and day programs to students ages 4-13.
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Students attend class 5 days a week from 8:45 a.m. until 4:35 p.m. with a break for lunch. Classes are offered 5 periods a day and are 75 minutes in length. A variety of courses is offered in many different subject areas, including humanities, sciences and mathematics, visual and performing arts, and fitness and recreation. Courses are selected by students before the start of the program, and can be changed by students during the first two days of the program. Homework is assigned in many classes, to be completed during the evening study tutorial.
Students live in dormitory groups of approximately 10-12 same age and gender students under the direct supervision of a Counselor. Students spend most of their free and recreational time with their Counselor Group. Counselor Groups eat together during mealtime in the dining hall. Three to four Counselor Groups are combined together to form a SIG house, which is supervised by both a Residential Assistant and a Housemaster.
Students have a break from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. for the Recreational Hour. Afterward, they have dinner, go to evening tutorial, attend the scheduled evening program, and return to their dormitory for Residential Time. Lights out for juniors (ages 10-12) is 10:00 p.m., and for seniors (ages 13-17), it is 11:00 p.m.
Each Saturday is a "getaway day", with trips to local museums, zoos, and other attractions. The first Sunday is an activity day, where the morning is generally for relaxing and free time, and the afternoon is for a planned activity. The second Sunday is a visiting day for families of the students, where parents may take students off campus for the day, but activities are planned for those whose families cannot travel to visit.
Commuter students participate in the full academic day from 8:30am-6:00pm. This includes lunch and recreation period. Commuter students do not participate in weekend activities.
Commuter students now have the option to participate in evening and weekend activities! The extended commuter schedule begins with breakfast every morning in the campus dining hall at 8:00 AM and ends at 9:45 PM after the evening tutorial and entertainment portion of the evening. Extended commuters will also join their fellow students on the Saturday getaway trips.
SIG residential and commuter program locations for students 10-17 years old:
Students take three 90 minute long classes per day over three weeks. Classes begin at 8:45 and end at 2:30 with an hour break for lunch. Students may choose from classes in mathematics, science, humanities, and multi-disciplinary. Following classes, students participate in a 90 minute long recreation period.
SIG day program locations for students 4-12 years old:
Students must score at or above the 95th percentile in at least one of the major content areas of a nationally normed test, OR be enrolled in a gifted and talented program, OR provide two letters of recommendation .