Freshmen will have the option to enroll in the Academy of Engineering beginning in September, when University High becomes the first school in Los Angeles Unified School to offer the 4-year, engineering focus program.

School authorities have met with representatives of the Urban Education Partnership and Project Lead the Way to design the new small learning community.

“It [the Academy] is designed to introduce students to engineering and the things that engineers do,” said Kevin Paulsen, Science Department Chair and lead teacher in charge of organizing the program.

Students enrolled in the Academy would take two engineering related electives per year such as Digital Electronics or Bio Medical Engineering.

Classes such as Architecture and Art History will ensure that participating students can fulfill graduation requirements, such as the mandatory fine arts credit.

This program is still in the planning stages so requirements to participate have not yet been decided upon, but the plan is to enroll as diverse a population of students as possible.

“We’re looking for average students interested in engineering,” said Paulsen. “We want to have as broad a base as possible and include as many students as possible.”

This project was first proposed to Principal Elois McGehee by the Urban Education Partnership, a private company that strives to improve the quality of secondary education through professional training and the development of small learning communities.

UEP then directed the school to Project Lead the Way, which designed the engineering program and its curriculum and now oversees its development at Uni with the help of faculty members Kevin Paulsen, Wen Hung Jen, Art Contreras, and James Ransom.

All involved faculty members have background knowledge and expertise in engineering.

Although no other school in LAUSD has this particular kind of program, a high school in Hawthorne does offer an Engineering Academy.

A kind of small learning community, the Academy will most likely enroll between 70 and 100 students in each grade level.

Although Project Lead the Way will provide course work and technical assistance, the school has a relative degree of freedom in how it chooses to run the program.

The National Academy Foundation, another organization involved in the betterment of secondary schools, has also provided funding and training in preparation for the Academy.

The program’s main objective is to achieve the following goals: to encourage people to go into engineering or any technical field, and to turn students into more informed citizens.

The Academy will aim to educate students about the technology that is so prevalent and crucial in the business and professional worlds today.

“We’re looking for average students interested in engineering,” said Paulsen.

In addition to their in-class coursework, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by job shadowing professionals.

Also, seniors will have the chance to participate in a paid internship at an engineering firm.

“This sounds like a really good opportunity for students,” said Hanzhe Zhang, senior.

“I wish there had been something similar available during my time at Uni because these are the kinds of classes that can really help you in the future,” he said.

Although this program is similar to the type of opportunities offered to magnet school students, it will only be available to neighbohoodstudents for whom Uni is the home school. The program may, in effect, increase enrollment at Uni.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity, and I am very grateful that the UEP selected Uni.” said Paulsen.