WSU PREP's Handbook

WSU PREP runs Monday through Thursday for six weeks, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Weber State University’s Ogden Campus in the Noorda Engineering Building. WSU PREP is a free program with no cost to participants in Ogden, Weber and Davis school districts.

Table of Contents

• Attendance
• Cell Phones
• Cheating and Plagiarism
• Calendar
• Class Schedule
• Communicable Diseases
• Corrective Measures
• Curriculum
• Dress Code
• Field Trips/Teacher Activities
• FIRST AID/911
• Grading Policy
• Late Drop-off
• Lunch Time Procedures
• Medication
• Mid-Day Pickup
• Safety
• Sick Students
• Special Nutrition Needs and All
• Student Supervision
• Student Code of Conduct
• Transportation  

Year 3 graduation will be Friday, July 17, 2026

For all field trips/ teacher activities students must have: 

1. Closed-toe shoes
2. Water bottle 
3. WSU PREP T-Shirt
4. Sunscreen
5. Hat (if we will be outside)

Class Schedule 

 

Attendance

 

Students will be limited to three absences throughout the summer. These absences should be saved for sickness, family emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances. If students exceed three absences, they will be dismissed from the program. Parents may appeal absences by emailing the Site Coordinators at wsuprep@weber.edu WSU PREP is a rigorous program, and students will fall behind quickly if they miss even one day. 

If your student is planning to be absent from WSU PREP, please email us at wsuprep@weber.edu or provide a written note signed by a parent/guardian to a Site Coordinator.

Transportation

Each student is responsible for transportation to and from WSU PREP daily.

• Drop-Off: Parents may drop off students between 8:35 AM and 8:50 AM.
• Pick-Up: Students must be picked up between 2:30 PM and 2:45 PM.

Staff members will meet students in Parking Lot A2 each morning and remain with them until 2:45 PM in the afternoon. Please note that supervision will not be available before 8:30 AM or after 3:15 PM.

Students may also choose to ride The Ogden Express (OGX) bus

OGX Shedule and Route

Mid-Day Pickup

If a mid-day pickup is necessary, parents should send us a message via Remind or email us at wsuprep@weber.edu to notify the staff. A Program Assistant will escort the student to meet their parent. Parents picking up students early can park in the A2 Parking Lot. Please ensure your emergency flashers are turned on after parking to avoid receiving a ticket from parking services.

Late Drop-off

A staff member will be available at the drop-off location each morning until 8:50 AM. If a student arrives after this time, they should proceed to their assigned Homeroom in the Noorda Engineering Building and check in with the staff.

Please note that drop-off and pick-up times may vary on Thursday field trip days. Parents and students will be informed of any schedule changes. It is crucial to arrive on time for field trips to ensure your child does not miss the bus.

Lunch Time Procedures

WSU PREP students will have a 40-minute lunch break each day.

• Students may bring their lunch or purchase lunch on campus at the Student Union.
• Microwaves will be available in the Student Union for warming up lunches.
• Students must remain in designated areas with Program Assistants during lunch.
• Lunch will take place near the Bell Tower.

Field Trips/Teacher Activities

Field trips and special events will be held on Thursdays.

• Students should be dropped off and picked up at the regular times unless otherwise notified.
• Students are required to wear:
  • Their WSU PREP T-shirt
  • Closed-toed shoes
  • Sunscreen
  • Bring a water bottle

Each year, the seven-week summer program will include two field trips.

For students who are not attending field trips, hands-on activities will be held on the Weber State campus. These activities, planned by teachers, are designed to complement and enhance the classroom curriculum.

Curriculum

Year 1

Logic and its Application to Mathematics: Compound statements, truth tables, elementary set theory, Boolean algebra, and switching networks

Introduction to Engineering: Introduction to the engineering profession; measurements, simple mechanics, work-energy and engineering design, in-class laboratory demonstrations of engineering principles and team designs of bridges, towers, gliders, and more

Topics in Problem Solving 1: Problem solving as a method of inquiry and its application, so students can use problem-solving approaches to investigate and understand mathematical content, formulate problems, develop and apply a variety of strategies to solve problems, verify and interpret results, generalize solutions and strategies to new problem situations, and acquire confidence in using mathematics meaningfully

Year 2

Algebraic Structures: Study of groups, rings, and fields using systems of integers and rational numbers as models, as well as the derivation of algebraic properties of these systems

Introduction to Physics: Mechanics, units and physical quantities, equilibrium of a particle, motion of a straight line, Newton’s Second Law, motion in a plane, work and energy, inertia and momentum, electricity, and magnetism, Coulomb’s Law, electric fields, potential, direct current circuits, magnetic fields, and capacitors in series and parallel

Topics in Problem Solving 2: Problem solving as a method of inquiry and its application so students can use problem-solving approaches to investigate and understand mathematical content, formulate problems, develop and apply a variety of strategies to solve problems, verify and interpret results, generalize solutions and strategies to new problem situations, and acquire confidence in using mathematics meaningfully

Year 3

Technical Writing: Clear and persuasive technical reports using word processing software and graphics techniques, original research, logic, invention, assessment of purpose and audience, organization and development, revision, editing, style, grammar, and mechanics

Probability and Statistics: Basic probability theory - counting procedures, addition and multiplication rules, independence; Probability models - binomial, Poisson, exponential, and normal; Descriptive statistics - tables and charts, measures of center and spread; Analytical statistics - confidence intervals for means and proportions; test of hypothesis for means and proportions; simple regression; how to collect, organize, and evaluate data; analyze, conjecture, and build arguments based on data analysis; and ability to sort, analyze, and interpret numerical data using statistical software

Computer Science: Software Development Life Cycle; important programming aspects; and how to storyboard, design and code their own computer game

Grading Policy

All quizzes, tests, and assignments will be used to determine each student’s overall grade in each course.  If a student has an overall failing average of all of his/her classes, that student will not be invited to return for WSU PREP the following year. Grades will be distributed after the program ends. Each course has an instructor and an assigned Program Assistant (PA) available to help students with assignments and coursework. 

Cheating and Plagiarism

WSU PREP treats all instances of cheating and plagiarism with the utmost level of seriousness and recognizes all students as responsible for their actions. WSU PREP has the right to investigate any work for a grade if they suspect that cheating or plagiarism has occurred. Cheating can include copying from another student’s test, quiz, or assignment without the teacher's approval, collaborating with another person during a test without the teacher’s approval, permitting any other person to take the test for you, or copying answers directly from a website. Plagiarism includes the unacknowledged use of another person’s work/ideas. This includes purchased, borrowed, and copied papers. WSU PREP’s cheating and plagiarism policy will be enforced by WSU PREP teachers and staff. Students suspected of cheating will receive a verbal or written warning. Students found cheating will have their grades reduced by 10 points and may not be invited back to participate in future WSU PREP camps.

Student Code of Conduct

WSU PREP is dedicated to providing an excellent summer program for high-achieving 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade students. To accomplish this goal students are expected to behave responsibly at all times to promote a safe, fun, and healthy environment for all participants.
WSU PREP students are expected to:

• Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for WSU PREP on-campus and field trips (see Dress Code below).
• Participate in all activities, including classwork, projects, and homework assignments.
• Be on time each day and ready to participate.
• Follow the Teacher/STEM mentors' instructions.
• Use computers, the internet, and supplies appropriately.

Safety

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Pay attention to instructions and directions given by leaders.
• Stay with the assigned group and Program Assistant (PA) at all times.

Dress Code

• Clothes that reveal midriffs, undergarments, or have low necklines are not allowed.
• Clothing should not contain inappropriate words or pictures.
• Shorts can be worn but must be long enough to have fingertips touch the hem when standing up
• Thursday field trips: WSU PREP T-shirt must be worn with closed-toed shoes.

Corrective Measures

The corrective measures used will depend on the nature of the behavior, its frequency, and the degree to which the student is willing to try to correct the undesirable behavior. Except for serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct, corrective measures will normally begin at a minimal level and then proceed to more serious levels. Most behavior concerns will be handled in the following manner:

1. Verbal warning
2. Written warning and parents will receive a phone call
3. After a written warning a student and parent meeting with the Program Manager will be scheduled
4. A warning that occurs after a parent meeting will result in the student’s dismissal from WSU PREP

Communicable Diseases

For the health of all our participants, parents are required to notify the WSU PREP director of all communicable diseases your child may have contracted (i.e. chicken pox, head lice, pinkeye, etc.). Specific information will be kept confidential; however, WSU PREP must notify all participants of the situation.

Medication

The legal issues involved with students taking prescribed medication while at WSU PREP prevent our staff from storing or distributing medications (including administering EpiPens). Please make arrangements for the student to schedule taking their medication before or after attending WSU PREP. If your child requires medication during the program hours, please inform site coordinators.

Special Nutrition Needs and Allergies

Please ensure students are aware of their individual nutrition needs and allergies. Parents should inform WSU PREP site coordinators if the needs are serious. These needs can be printed on the back of the student’s ID badge, if necessary.

Sick Students

Students who arrive sick or begin to feel unwell at any time during WSU PREP will be asked to sit in the Outreach office until their parents can pick them up. Parents will be notified via phone call of their child’s condition.

First Aid/911

If a student is injured while attending WSU PREP, an incident report will be filed out, and parents will be notified. In the event of a serious injury, 911 will be called, first aid administered, and parents notified immediately. WSU PREP will not transport any student in a personal vehicle. An ambulance will be called in the event of an emergency. WSU is not responsible for medical costs, including hospital bills, ambulance fees, etc., related to injuries requiring special medical
attention.

Student Supervision

Under no conditions are students allowed to wander off on their own on WSU campus during WSU PREP program hours. Once the student is checked into the program each day, they will be required to stay with the group to which they are assigned. Leaving the assigned group may result in dismissal from the program. If the student is considered missing, WSU PREP staff will notify parents to come to campus to assist in the search for the missing student. Campus police will be
notified and an incident report will be written and filed by WSU campus personnel.

Cell Phones

We kindly ask that children keep their phones away during the program to ensure they can fully engage with activities and connect with their peers. This program is designed to encourage participation, creativity, and friendship-building activities that are hard to do through a screen! We understand kids have plenty of time to enjoy their phones at home, so we hope they’ll take this opportunity to make the most of their time here.