Dear Members of the Campus Community,

The Access Programs Office is excited for the annual Summer Academic Challenge (SAC), which will be held Thursday, June 23–Thursday, July 21, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The program is now back in person (with COVID safety protocols in place), so we will have 50 to 60 “Summer Loggers” with us on campus. SAC is a free, four-week STEAM enrichment program for incoming 7th-12th grade students, specifically students of color, first generation students, and/or low-income students. Students explore themes in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, and see how the subjects they study in school play out in the world around them. For more information about the program, please check out our page.

We wanted to update you, in case you saw more students than usual eating lunch, heading over to labs, or learning and playing in the outside areas. In addition, we ask for your increased patience with us as we navigate our check-in and check-out processes. We will have parents drop off and pick up students at Jones Circle. Like last year, we will review COVID protocols outside of Howarth Hall before TAs take the students to their designated classrooms. Thank you for welcoming these students to our campus.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce our new 2022 SAC Coordinator: Marcella Tomlin! Marcella currently works with the Labateyah transitional program with the United Indians of All Tribes, which supports young people ages 18-24 in accessing safe housing while they find employment, educational opportunities and develop strategies for independence. Marcella is also a graduate of Tacoma Public Schools and fondly remembers spending several summers participating in SAC with her sisters and brother, as well as connecting with students from different schools and creating awesome culminating projects.  Marcella will be with us through the end of July coordinating this summer program. A search for the Assistant Director position for Access Programs will be launched next week.

For any questions or if you are curious about Summer Academic Challenge and our activities this year, feel free to contact access@pugetsound.edu.

Thank you, and have a great day!

Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity