Founded in 1973, SUPA is one of the nation’s leading concurrent enrollment programs, with more than 12,000 students and 170 instructors across nine states and eight countries. Students take Syracuse University courses right at Harley, taught by Harley teachers who undergo rigorous training and certification as SU adjunct faculty. This ensures the curriculum, learning objectives, and assessments meet the same standards as courses offered on SU’s main campus.
Currently, Harley offers SUPA Biology (second-year), taught by Dr. Betsy Vinton (US Math and Biology, 2002–present), and SUPA Statistics (first-year), taught by Dr. Cori Perkins P ’30 (US Math, 2021–present), with plans to expand into Economics and Psychology programs. SUPA courses challenge students beyond traditional high school expectations, requiring them to conceptualize, research, and draw independent conclusions—skills that prepare them for college-level work. Dr. Vinton notes that she has taught 19 students in SUPA Biology so far. The class completes the same labs as students at Syracuse, including techniques such as gel electrophoresis, DNA digests, PCR, bacterial transformation, ELISA, and multiple dissections.
For Margot Kass ’26, who took SUPA Biology in Grade 11, the appeal was the depth of the material. She was drawn to the class because it offered a broader scope of learning than many test-focused courses.
“SUPA doesn’t feel as restraining as some AP classes,” she says. “It was a lot of work—lots of reading and note-taking—but it was a great experience to prepare me for college. I learned a lot.”
Margot also appreciated the learning environment. With 12–15 students in the class, discussions were lively and labs were engaging, creating a collaborative atmosphere that encouraged curiosity and exploration.
Like AP courses, SUPA provides a pathway to college credit and advanced placement—but with a unique advantage: students are completing a full university course, taught by an instructor certified by Syracuse University, with credit recognized by SU and many other colleges. Students who maintain a B average in SUPA courses can even gain guaranteed admission to SU’s College of Arts and Sciences, entering as freshmen with up to 15 college credit hours.
For students seeking rigorous academic challenges and early exposure to college-level work, SUPA represents a powerful opportunity. By complementing Harley’s strong AP offerings, SUPA reinforces the School’s commitment to preparing students for intellectual growth, resilience, and success in higher education.
