To qualify an applicant must ALL of the following criteria:

• Is entering 9th – 12th grade in Fall 2026
• Is at least 14 by the start of the Summer Acceleration Academy
• Is an Alaska resident
• Meet attendance expectations (attend the entirety of the session including evening and weekends)
• GPA of 2.5 or higher, determined by an official school district transcript
• Has completed the application process and provided all required documentation

The application for Summer 2026 will be available December 22, 2025!

STEP 1: Apply for Admission to UAA and Take the ALEKS Math Placement Test

READ FIRST:
You do NOT need to take the ALEKS Math Placement Test if you have:
a) Successfully completed MATH 105 – Intermediate Algebra with w C grade or higher through a University of Alaska campus (UAA, UAF, or UAS) or;
b) Scored a 30 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement test in July 2023 or later

If you have completed any of the above, then you must include proof of having completed MATH 105 with an unofficial UA transcript or a copy of your ALEKS test score and you may proceed to STEP 2.

Apply for admission to UAA and take the ALEKS test:

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ADMISSION APPLICATION TO THE UNIVERSITY AT LEAST 5 DAYS PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION DEADLINE
UA may require 3-5 business days to register student IDs which are required for the ALEKs placement test.

Prior to submitting your Acceleration Academy (Summer) application, please complete the ALEKS Math Placement test.

Note: The University now requires for the ALEKS Placement Exam to be proctored. You may choose to be proctored virtually or with a local exam proctor or go to your local testing center.

STEP 2: Submit an application

1. Have ALL the following documents ready for upload BEFORE you begin the online application process:
   • ALEKS math placement score (PDF document)
   • Official high school or middle school transcript (A link or PDF)
   • Please submit your response to the following questions:
     • What makes the ANSEP Acceleration Academy Summer program a good fit for you?
     • Tell us about a time when things didn’t go as planned, you had a failure or setback, and how you overcame the challenge.
     • Tell us about a specific time when you went above and beyond what was expected of you; a time when you might have been tired, or frustrated, or overwhelmed, and you had to dig down deep within yourself to go the extra mile.
     • Tell us about a project in school or something you had to do around the house or on some job you’ve had or volunteered for, where it took much more effort than you originally thought it would to complete that project.
   • Recommendation Forms (Have your teacher(s) complete the form and send back to you for upload)
     • Math teacher Recommendation Form
     • Science teacher Recommendation Form
       • NOTE: If the student is submitting an online application form, then the teacher must be okay with the student seeing their recommendation form responses, as the student will need access to the completed PDF document to upload into the online application. Otherwise, if the teacher is NOT okay with the student having access to their responses on the recommendation form, the student should complete a printed application packet.
     • Signed ANSEP Studies Agreement Form
2. Submit application by deadline

Where and when is the ANSEP Acceleration Academy (Summer)?
The Academy will have one 5-week session scheduled for in-person attendance at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) campus and hosted by ANSEP. ANSEP Acceleration Academy, Summer 2026, will be hosted from May 23 – June 27, 2026. Students will stay on the UAA campus at North Hall dormitory.

Will this opportunity be held on campus?
Yes, Summer Acceleration will be held in Anchorage, at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Will there be housing on campus available for participating students?
Yes. Students will live on campus at the UAA dorms and must remain living on campus for the full 5-week duration.

Will classes be held in-person or via distance delivery?
All Summer Acceleration classes are currently scheduled to be delivered in-person. Specific schedules will be provided to students during orientation after they arrive.

I am a homeschool student. Who should complete my teacher recommendation forms?
Either your academic advisor or another professional or academic connection that you have, who is either a subject matter expert or has experience in teaching/advising you in that subject matter would be able to complete the recommendation form. Your parent/guardian is not encouraged to fill out that form.

My math/science teacher has completed a sealed paper/PDF recommendation form and I would like to submit an online application. What should I do?
If your teacher(s) are okay with you seeing their responses on the recommendation forms, you may unseal the form to be submitted online. OR you may mail them to the ANSEP Acceleration Academy in Anchorage, please send them attention ANSEP Acceleration Academy

I do not have a laptop or tablet to attend the online class(es). Will ANSEP have laptops/tablets available for participating students?
ANSEP will have Chromebook laptops and tablets available for students to check-out for the duration of the 5-week session. Participating students will receive a pre-session survey to determine who will need to check-out technology devices.

How much does it cost families to attend Acceleration Academy (Summer)?
All ANSEP opportunities are free of charge to students and their families. ANSEP covers all costs associated with attending Acceleration Academy, which includes tuition, fees, class materials, and housing, meals and transportation (if applicable).

I have previously participated in Acceleration Academy and/or have previously completed a UAA math course. Do I still need to take the ALEKS math placement test?
Summer Acceleration classes may change year-to-year, please review the class listing on the application to determine your testing requirements. ALEKS tests expire annually, so if you are taking a math class, and your test is not expired before enrolling into the class in May, then you do not need to retest.  If you have taken the test, but have not taken a class and your ALEKS test is going to expire before enrollment in May, then you will need to retest.

What classes are available for this year’s session?
Summer Acceleration classes may change year-to-year, please review the class listing on the application to determine your testing requirements. 

When will I know if I am accepted into the program?
Applicants will be notified of their application status within one month after the application deadline.

ANSEP Acceleration Academy
Phone: (907) 786-0880
Email: uaa_ansepacceleration@alaska.edu