Senior Project
Spring, 12th grade, 1/2 unit
The senior project will be offered in the spring semester of senior year. The course provides the opportunity for Uni High seniors to explore alternative learning experiences outside the traditional classroom. As a self-directed learning experience, the senior project enables students to build upon the rigorous classroom-based curriculum they have experienced at Uni High and to make creative decisions about their education that are based on their own choices and interests. The students selected to work on a senior project will work with University of Illinois faculty, Uni High faculty, and/or members of Champaign-Urbana business, cultural, or activist/charity communities to develop and pursue an original, self-directed project of their own design. The intention is that students will take this opportunity to build upon their Uni education to pursue further research in an academic or laboratory context, to explore a possible career path with hands-on experience in the field, to conceive of and develop an ambitious creative or artistic project, or to contribute significantly to their wider community. Students who participate in the Senior Project will be encouraged to see learning as a lifelong, real-world process not limited to the classroom, over which they have a significant measure of control. It will contribute not only to their preparation for college but to their career development. Information regarding the Senior Project proposal process is maintained and distributed to students/parents by Dr. Karl Radnitzer.
Class Auditing
11th-12th grade
Interested Uni juniors and seniors have the privilege of auditing a Uni course, in which they can increase their knowledge by attending courses without receiving either a grade or credit. A student (auditor) who requests to audit a class must be in good standing and cannot be credit deficient. A student may audit courses for academic interest and exploration. Audit forms are available in the Student Services Office.
- Only juniors and seniors may request to audit a course. The student (auditor) needs to meet the course prerequisites and grade level requirements.
- Audited Classes cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
- Auditors' participation in courses will be set by the course instructor.
- Schedules will not be changed so that a course can be audited.
- Audited courses cannot be repeated to earn credit.
- Attendance will be taken for a student attending a class as an auditor. AU in course heading will designate that the student is auditing the course.
- Permission to attend a class as an auditor is granted only by the instructor of the class, classroom space permitting, with the approval of the executive teacher of the department concerned. Written approval must also be obtained from the associate or assistant director.
- The approval should be presented to the instructor at the first class attended by auditor. Audit enrollment will not be permitted after the 15th day of instruction.
- Students assigned to a sports study hall are not eligible to audit classes in lieu of being in the study hall, unless approval is received by the physical education department and the athletic director.
- No credit is given for courses taken as audits, and courses will not appear on transcripts.
- Students auditing a class are subject to the same disciplinary methods the teacher uses with students enrolled for credit, which include consequences for absences and tardiness. If a student’s behavior is deemed disruptive by the teacher, or if the student’s attendance is problematic, the teacher may end the audit by notifying the Assistant/Associate Director. A student removed from an audit situation due to behavior or attendance will be ineligible for further audit opportunities. An audited class may fulfill the 300 hundred minute guideline. Students who want to withdraw from an audited class must see the Assistant/Associate Director.
Concurrent Enrollment at Parkland College and the University of Illinois
11th-12th grade
Students may take elective courses outside of Uni High through the University of Illinois and/or Parkland College.
Important Considerations:
- Taking a college class is a lot of work, and it’s not for everyone—and it is in no way necessary for building your college resume! Please only consider this option if it helps you more deeply explore a subject you’re genuinely curious about AND you have the organization, communication, and study skills required to stay on top of a challenging schedule. You can get a world-class education during your time at Uni without ever taking a single college class, so there’s no need to feel any pressure to do so.
- If you take a class at the U of I or Parkland, you are beginning your college transcript. Future colleges will see your grades.
Uni requirements satisfied by University of Illinois/Parkland Classes:
- The 300-minute rule (a state requirement that high school students receive no less than 300 minutes of instructional time per school day)
- The 4-department rule (a Uni requirement that students take a class from at least four different departments each semester)
Uni requirements not satisfied by University of Illinois/Parkland Classes:
- Required Uni classes (such as world languages or US History)
- Prerequisites for Uni classes (For example, taking Calculus over the summer at Parkland will not allow students to jump ahead in Uni math classes.)
- Credit hours toward high school graduation (Students must have 19 hours of high school credit to graduate from Uni. College classes do not count toward this total.)
Students interested in taking concurrent enrollment classes must talk with their counselor to be sure all requirements are covered. Information regarding concurrent enrollment opportunities is maintained and distributed to students/parents by the Student Services Office.
Click here for more information about taking Parkland classes as a Uni High student.
Click here for more information about taking University of Illinois classes as a Uni High student.