Summer Residential Governor’s Schools
Summer Residential Governor’s Schools provide gifted high school juniors and seniors with intensive educational experiences in visual and performing arts; humanities; mathematics, science, and technology; or through mentorships in marine science, medicine and health sciences, or engineering.
Each Summer Residential Governor’s School focuses on one special area of interest. Students live on a college or university campus for up to four weeks each summer. During this time, students are involved in classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects and performances, and seminars with noted scholars, visiting artists, and other professionals. In the three mentorships, students are selected to work side-by-side with research scientists, physicians, and a variety of other professionals. A director and a student-life staff provide supervision of students 24 hours a day, throughout the program.
Student Nominations
Nominations may be made by teachers, school counselors, peers, or by the students themselves. A school or division selection committee chooses the nominees from each school or division and forwards the nominees to a state committee. Consideration is given to students’ academic records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, honors, and awards, creativity, original essays, and teacher recommendations. Students applying for the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Residential Governor’s School participate in a statewide adjudication where they audition or present portfolios for review before a pair of professionals in the specific arts field. Because of the limited number of residential placements available, not all students who are nominated by their schools can be accepted for participation.
2021 Academic Programs
- Agriculture
- Humanities
- Mathematics, Science & Technology
- Medicine & Health Sciences
- Engineering (Jefferson Lab)
- Marine Science (VA Institute of Marine Science)
2021 Visual & Performing Arts Programs
- Dance
- Instrumental Music
- Vocal Music
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
| Program Name & Website | Date | Location | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|---|
Summer Residential Governor's Mentorship in Engineering |
June 27 – July 24 | Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA | Dr. Mihyeon Kim, Ph.D., Ed.D. Oversight by: Center for Gifted Education College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA 23187 Email: mxkim3@wm.edu Phone: (757) 221-2458 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s Mentorship in Marine Science |
June 27 – July 24 | Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23060 | Dr. Mihyeon Kim, Ph.D., Ed.D. Oversight by: Center for Gifted Education College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA 23187 Email: mxkim3@wm.edu Phone: (757) 221-2458 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s School for Agriculture |
June 27 – July 24 | Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA | Dr. Kellie Claflin, Virginia Tech 264 Litton Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 Email: agschool@vt.edu, Phone: 540-231-0870 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities |
June 27 – July 24 | Radford University, Radford, VA | Dr. R. Wayne Gallops, Ph.D. Radford University Governor’s School Box 6882 Radford, VA 24142 Email: rugovschool@radford.edu Phone: 540-831-5569 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science and Technology |
June 27 – July 24 | University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, VA | Dr. Steve Smith, CSCS*D, RSCC, USAW Lynchburg College 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501-8368 E-mail: smith.s@lynchburg.edu, Phone: 434-544-8392 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s School for Medicine and Health Sciences |
July 3 – July 30 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA |
Jeanne Minetree Virginia Commonwealth University P.O. Box 980442, Richmond, VA 23284 Email: gsmhs@vcu.edu, Phone: 804-720-2381 |
| Summer Residential Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts |
June 27 – July 24 | Radford University, Radford, VA | Dr. R. Wayne Gallops, Ph.D. Radford University Governor's School Box 6882, Radford, VA 24142 Email: rugovschool@radford.edu Phone: 540-831-5569 |
Guides
- A Guide for Public and Private School Administrators-This is a Word document.
- General Information for Students and Parents-This is a Word document.
Adjudication Forms
(To be submitted by school personnel only; forms from individuals will not be accepted.)
- Adjudication form for Public schools
- Adjudication form for Private schools
Applications & Resource Materials
Please note that each program has a unique application.
- 2021 Application for Agriculture-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Engineering-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Humanities-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Marine Science-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Mathematics, Science, and Technology-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Medicine and Health Sciences-This is a Word document.
- 2021 Application for Visual and Performing Arts-This is a Word document.
Electronic Forms for Recommendations & Scoring Rubrics
- Academic/Mentorship Recommendation A
- Academic/Mentorship Recommendation B
- Visual and Performing Arts Recommendation A
- Visual and Performing Arts Recommendation B
- Academic Scores Form
- Visual and Performing Arts Scores Form
- Division/Region Signatures Form
How Schools are Selected
Based on a request for proposals (RFP) offered by VDOE, universities and colleges throughout the commonwealth develop proposals to host these programs. A committee of in-state and out-of-state educators, members of the Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted, and others who are knowledgeable in the area of specialization evaluate these proposals. Evaluation expectations are outlined in the RFP. The selected institution receives a one-year contract that may be renewed for four more years, based on successful evaluations.
Program Evaluation
VDOE evaluates the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools as funding permits. Rubrics similar to those developed by the Academic-Year Governor’s School directors are used to evaluate the Summer Residential programs. Visiting teams include specialists or university faculty with expertise in the content or focus area, Academic-Year Governor's Schools directors and teachers, local gifted education coordinators, and other professionals directly involved in the specific fields.