June 20, 2008 - In addition to returning students taking classes during the summer term at Johnson C. Smith University, more than 60 entering freshmen are investing in their future by taking summer classes. They are part of two summer programs for new freshmen - the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) Summer Science Learning Community and the JCSU Freshmen Summer Scholars program.

Each of the programs is designed to help students make a successful transition from high school to college. The students live on campus for part of the summer, take academic classes for college credit, and become familiar with both the campus and the community through planned activities.

On Sunday (June 22, 2008) participants in the new Summer Science Learning Community program arrive from across the country to begin a four-week curriculum in computer science, mathematics, and natural science. The 28 competed for openings in the program and demonstrated academic achievement in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM). This is the first year that JCSU has offered the summer science program through a collaboration led by the University of Virginia to increase the number of minority students earning degrees in one of the STEM disciplines.

Students in the summer science program will join 38 others on campus in the JCSU Freshmen Summer Scholars Program that began on June 16, 2008. Freshmen Summer Scholars students earn seven hours of college credit in English and math, as well as an orientation class.

The students come from as far away as California, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut, as well as from the Charlotte region.