NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.
The ±«Óãtv Academy is a transitional collegiate experience for academically talented
high school juniors and seniors. The Academy offers an in-person, on-campus dual credit
classroom experience on Mondays and online support for the course the rest of the
week. All schools are welcome to participate; however, the format is especially useful
to districts operating on a four-day school week.
Academy students learn from experienced professionals with outstanding expertise and have the opportunity to interact with current ±«Óãtv college students.
The ±«Óãtv Academy has a professional focus, offers a collegiate experiences, and prepares select high school students for lives of service and leadership. The Academy's purpose is to offer an early introduction to high-demand professional careers and disciplines.
Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) are automatically eligible for dual credit courses.
Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall grade point average between 2.5-2.99 (on a 4.0 scale) must provide a signed later of recommendation from their principal or guidance counselor and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian (CBHE 6.3) to Dr. Tim DeClue, ±«Óãtv Academy Director.
For assistance with your application or more information about the ±«Óãtv Academy, please contact Dr. Tim DeClue at tdeclue@sbuniv.edu or (417) 328-1704.
Classes will meet every Monday of the fall semester unless designated as an official holiday by the University
Sample Monday on-campus schedule:
Participation in ±«Óãtv Academy costs $140 per credit hour for the 2026-2027 academic year, in addition to a $30 Academy fee each semester that goes toward meals, technology use, and access to athletics events and other university activities. Students receive access to University events (concerts, performances, etc.) and NCAA Division II athletic events.
The tuition rate for 2025-2026 was $125 per credit hour.
In addition to the courses offered, additional planned activities hosted on-campus in the afternoons will help expose ±«Óãtv Academy students to other high-demand/high-urgency areas such as healthcare, nursing, and agriculture, for example.
Dr. Bryant joined the ±«Óãtv faculty in 2002 and currently serves as a Full Professor and is the Lewis E. Schollian Endowed Chair of Education. She has served as ±«Óãtv Faculty Senate President, was named the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher of the Year, and she received the ±«Óãtv Faculty Life Beautiful award. Dr. Bryant is a member of the Missouri State Council of the International Literacy Association, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Literacy Association for Christian Educators, and the National Association for the Education of the Young Child. She co-sponsors the ±«Óãtv Student Missouri State Teachers Association.
She graduated from ±«Óãtv with her Bachelors in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, from the University of Missouri with her Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. Her doctoral work was completed with Liberty University in Educational Leadership and Reading. She has authored or co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and presentations during her career.
Dr. Tim DeClue has served as the ±«Óãtv Computer and Information Sciences Department
Chair, Faculty Senate President, ABET (Accrediting Board for Engineering & Technology)
Commissioner, Advanced Placement Computer Science team leader, Code.org facilitator,
and authored over 20 published peer-reviewed research or experience papers.
Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah is a published author with his doctoral degree from Queen’s
University in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Yeboah has over 30 years teaching experience at
±«Óãtv and expertise in the post-cold war Africa.
Dr. Endres is the chair of the Department of Biology at ±«Óãtv. Dr. Endres is a veteran
30+ year faculty member at ±«Óãtv and a well-known published
author in the biological sciences. Degrees - B.S., John Brown University; M.S., University
of Arkansas; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Fong is Assistant Professor of Education and Statistics. Dr. Fong is a recognized
authority in artificial intelligence, particularly in educational applications. Degrees
- B.S., California State University, East Bay; M.S., California State University,
East Bay; Ed.D., Liberty University.
Dr. Quackenbos (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) joined the faculty
in 2021 after fifteen years of teaching at several universities and seminaries. In
addition to his PhD in Old Testament, Quackenbos earned undergraduate and graduate
degrees in history at Duke University and Old Dominion University as well as a MDiv
and MA degree in Old Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior
to his career in higher education, Quackenbos served for twenty years as an intelligence
officer in the United States Navy.
Dr. Jena Whetstine (PhD, Analytical Chemistry, University of Missouri) is a Professor
of Chemistry at ±«Óãtv, specializing in higher education and
scientific research.
With over a decade of experience in academia, Jena plays a vital role in developing
and delivering innovative chemistry curriculum. She is responsible for teaching undergraduate
and graduate-level courses, supervising student research projects, and collaborating
with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance the university's scientific offerings.
Mrs. Bohner is Adjunct Professor of Mathematics. Mrs. Bohner is an experienced high school mathematics teacher with experience in teaching high school students college algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus. Degrees - B.S., ±«Óãtv; M.S., Georgia State University.