Tackling the ‘Summer Slide’: Dean Fairchild’s Personal Experience with Summer Academic Programs

Dean Greg Fairchild offers an insight into how his family evaluated academic summer programs.

Prior to taking the role of Dean, I was a parent to high schoolers. Like other parents, my wife and I were regularly seeking new ways to offer our children valuable opportunities to expand their academic knowledge, develop new skills, and explore potential career paths. One of the ways we did this was through educational offerings during summer. We knew that these programs help mitigate what is known as the ‘summer slide’ in academic skills development. However, after exploring various options, we realized that they can also enhance the early development of college and career planning, expose learners to content they wouldn’t have found in their schools at home, and provide social connections that they wouldn’t have made otherwise. As we began looking for programs, we found many available options. Given that time and resources are finite, we had to carefully evaluate different factors to ensure the programs we chose aligned with each of our children’s needs and goals.

This note shares a few things we considered, and I suspect other parents and high school learners are thinking about as you decide how to make your summer more interesting and fun.

• Academic and Career Alignment: One of our main goals in reviewing programs was to assess whether the class would enhance academic learning or offer opportunities to explore potential career interests. For instance, our children who were interested in media found programs in philosophy and creative writing particularly engaging. Our children interested in engineering found substantial benefit from STEM and math-based programs that made these subjects interesting and illustrated what these topics could enable ‘in the real world’. Not every choice we made turned out to align with what our children eventually chose to pursue, but we felt that, nonetheless, the time spent was valuable.
• Program Reputation: Programs hosted by universities, research centers, or organizations with a strong track record often provide higher-quality instruction. Accreditation from an educational body can also indicate that the program meets certain academic standards. Reading testimonials from past participants and checking online reviews can provide further insight into the program’s effectiveness.
• Location and Format: Summer enrichment programs come in different formats, including commuter, online, and residential options. Commuter programs allow students to attend sessions during the day while returning home at night, making them a good option for students who prefer to stay local. Online programs provide flexibility and accessibility, especially for students who may not have access to in-person options. Residential programs, often held at universities, allow students to live on campus, fostering independence and giving them a taste of college life. At UVA|Northern Virginia, we offer commuter programs in Fairfax, as well as online opportunities. These can be excellent for students preparing for the transition to higher education.
• Cost and Financial Aid Availability: When we looked, we found that programs vary widely in cost, with some being free or low-cost and others requiring thousands of dollars in tuition. We carefully assessed all associated costs, including tuition, meals, transportation, and materials. We found that nonprofit organizations and universities often provide need-based or merit-based financial assistance.
• Extracurricular and Social Opportunities: These programs also offer opportunities for personal growth and social engagement. At UVA|Northern Virginia, our programs recognize the importance of teamwork activities, cultural experiences, or outdoor adventures because they help students develop critical life skills.
• Supervision and Safety: Whether sending children to residential or day programs, safety is a top consideration. We reviewed practices on supervision and emergency procedures. It gave us peace of mind to know that there were plenty of staff and support services available.
• Duration and Scheduling: Summer programs range from one-week intensives to multi-week courses. Parents should consider how the program fits into their child’s summer schedule, especially if they have other commitments such as part-time jobs, family vacations, or athletic training.. Seek a well-balanced schedule for your child’s summer: gain enrichment while still having time to relax and recharge before the new school year begins.

In summary, choosing the right summer enrichment program for a high school student requires careful consideration of multiple factors, including academic alignment, cost, program reputation, location, and safety.

You can find more information about the UVA|Northern Virginia Inspire program HERE.  If something seems interesting, connect with us at inspire.northern@virginia.edu. We’re here to answer your questions, and hope to see you this summer!