While UCCP currently offers a number of its courses in partnership with Apex Learning, Inc., a leading for-profit provider of online AP classes, the Initiative has always been committed to developing its own courses through collaborations with UC system faculty and programs. "We are committed to developing university-owned online courses to ensure that students receive the most interactive and engaging learning experiences available, one that is as close as possible to classroom-based course," said Hernandez.

Most recently, for instance, an AP course in environmental science was developed in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Digital Innovation for release during the upcoming fall semester. Additionally, 10 teams of UC faculty members - about 20 individuals - have been awarded grants of $30,000 per team to develop prototypes for other AP courses estimated to be delivered during the 2002-03 academic year. The subjects for these UC faculty-developed prototypes include Art History, Economics, English, US Government, US History, Psychology, Spanish Literature, Statistics and World History.

UCCP has also increased its number of student services to include tutoring services provided by Smarthinking and Illuminate (formerly Tutor’s Edge). Additionally, a pilot cyber mentor program comprised of UC upper division undergraduates and graduate students with subject-matter expertise is launching this fall. In addition to assisting students academically, these mentors will "help students to think about their high school to college path, because having students matriculate to a university is our ultimate objective," says Andrea Hesse, UCCP associate director of school and student services.

In other developments, UCCP’s third Annual Advanced Placement Summer Institute for teaching and training of the high school instructors is being held the week of July 21-26 at the UC Santa Cruz campus. One hundred and ninety-eight teachers attended the Institute last summer.

UCCP also just recently completed a feasibility analysis of a state of California virtual high school program that is pending a statewide planning effort. Plus, a Virtual High School Summer Institute hosted by UCCP at the Santa Cruz campus and co-sponsored by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is slated for mid August. "We are inviting the leadership of virtual high schools (from across the country) to discuss issues of mutual interest and to discuss the possibility of developing a national organization of virtual high schools," said Hernandez.