UC Berkeley Summer Institute for the Gifted Innovators Program

Summer Institute for the Gifted:
Programs for gifted & talented youth ages 5–17

Home Innovators Program UC Berkeley

ABOUT

University of California, Berkeley is the leading public university in the country and is among the top Universities in the world. The roots of the University of California go back to the gold rush days of 1849, when the drafters of the State Constitution required the legislature to “encourage by all suitable means the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral and agricultural improvement” of the people of California. Berkeley’s reputation for academic excellence combined with its beautiful campus and Northern California location make it a unique and exciting educational experience. Its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area further enhances the University’s cultural opportunities for enrichment and self-discovery.

COURSES

The SIG STEAM+ curriculum focuses on applying creative thinking across multiple disciplines to solve real-world problems. The SIG Innovators Program offers a STEAM+ curriculum through a wide variety of courses incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Humanities, and Fitness and Recreation.

View session I available courses

View session II available courses

GENERAL

SIG at UC Berkeley offers two sessions for students aged 9-17. Each Innovators Program option has a Day Option and Day + Evenings & Saturdays Option available.

Experience independence within a secure environment living in a college dorm for 3 weeks (day option also available).
Meet other gifted students from around the world who share common interests, abilities, and goals.
Enjoy a variety of fun social activities in the evenings.

FUN FACTS!

Alumni include Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple, and Beverly Cleary, a renowned children’s author.
Over 19 million fossil samples are housed in the Berkeley museum collections.
SIG has been on campus since 2005!

SIG at : Program Options

SIG at is a Residential Program. A Day option and a Day + Evenings & Saturdays option are also available.

Program Options Chart

Innovators Program students have 3 options. They may choose to live on campus, commute on weekdays only, or commute and extend their stay into evenings and Saturdays. Please refer to the chart below for information regarding each option. Times vary by campus. Additionally, the Investigators Program is available for ages 5-12 (ages vary by campus).

ACTIVITY	RESIDENTIAL	DAY + EVENINGS & SATURDAYS	DAY (8:30 am - 5:30 pm) *
Breakfast
All 4 Academic Periods
Lunch
Recreation Hour
Dinner
Evening Study/Tutorial
Evening Activities
Saturday Activity Days
Sunday Activity Days
Dance
Student Talent Show
Academic Performance Program
Closing Ceremony
Dorm Residence

* Schedule runs 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. at UC Berkeley only. Exceptions to the Day student time schedules are not possible as safety procedures are compromised when staff must modify their supervision responsibilities to accommodate exceptions.

** Schedules vary by campus. Please note: Day students at Yale dismiss prior to recreational hour.

Options Available

Residential

Gain independence living in a college dorm
Robust selection of evening, weekend, and recreational activities
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided daily in a college dining hall

Day + Evenings & Saturdays

Participation on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 p.m. plus Saturdays*
Convenience of living at home while participating in the SIG academic experience during the day, rec hour in the afternoon, and evening activities
Lunch and dinner provided daily in a college dining hall
Participate in Saturday activities including on-campus events and off-campus excursions

Day

Participation on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.*
Convenience of living at home while participating in the SIG academic experience during the day, and rec hour in the afternoon**
Lunch provided daily in a college dining hall

Program Conversion

Day option students may convert to the Day + Evenings & Saturdays option at any time during the first two weeks of the session. Conversion must be for the remainder of the session with the minimum being one week (7 days). Additional fees will be incurred and must be paid in full at the time of conversion.

Day and Day + Evenings & Saturdays option students may convert to the Residential option at any time during the first two weeks of the session, subject to dorm availability. Conversion must be for the remainder of the session with the minimum being one week (7 days). Conversion fees will be incurred and must be paid in full at the time of conversion.

Fee calculation: Residential option program fee minus the original non-Residential program fee divided by 20 days times the number of days for conversion.

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

May I request a roommate?

Yes! Students may request to room with a specific person (same SIG age group, same gender). The residential staff will do its best to honor such requests. However, there is no guarantee that the student’s request will be fulfilled.

Does my child have to stay overnight?

At many of the Innovators campuses, SIG provides a day student option for families who live in the surrounding area. In addition, SIG has several day programs for younger students ages 5-12.
Learn about SIG Day Student Programs at Innovator campuses
View the SIG Investigator programs for students ages 5-12

Are the dormitories co-ed?

Students are assigned to same age, same gender groups that live in a dormitory under the supervision of a counselor. A Residential Life Dean and Housemaster are also part of the overall residential supervision team.

Who does the laundry during the session?

Students do their own laundry. They may use the laundry facilities located on campus in the dormitories. Staff will assist with any laundry instruction that may be necessary.

Can my child go off campus?

Students, once on campus, are not allowed to leave campus unless they are supervised by a SIG staff person. These trips only occur within the structure of the program and with parent/legal guardian permission. Special permission may be given to students with Senior Privileges (ages 15-17 only) to leave campus in groups of three or more without SIG Staff.

Will my child be in class with students of different ages?

Sometimes. SIG's academic courses are offered to students of the same age grouping. However, the cultural and recreational classes usually are open to all students. Class grouping can accommodate varying ability levels.

Will students always be chaperoned on SIG off-campus trips?

Definitely. Students will always be chaperoned when going off campus on SIG sponsored trips, as well as when they are on campus.

May my child change a course after the program begins?

Yes! Courses may be changed during the first two days of the session with the approval of the Academic Dean and the students’ parents.

Are reports reflecting student performance provided?

Yes! A Student Performance Review for each course taken will be available on MySIGPortal a few weeks after the close of the program. Students’ performance reports and letters can be mailed to schools, but only after SIG receives a written request from parents.

For full details about SIG Campus Transportation and Greeter Services, please visit the FAQs page.

Directions

UC Berkeley is easily accessible by car and public transportation. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Trains and AC Transit bus service provide service within two blocks of campus. The Oakland International Airport is approximately 15 miles from campus.

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SIG Programs Provide...

Dynamic and innovative approaches for supplementing the education of our world’s most gifted and talented students, ensuring that they receive the individual attention they require.

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