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OHIO UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN College Access Programs
As defined by Senate Bill 311, “a dual enrollment program enables a student either (1) to earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education while enrolled in high school or (2) to complete coursework while in high school that may qualify for college credit if the student attains a specified score on an examination covering the coursework.” (www.legislature.state.oh.us)
- Increase the number of Lawrence County students transitioning from high school to a post-secondary institution
- To improve student chances of success at the post-secondary level.
- Increase the number of students with post-secondary experience
- Create more flexible learning opportunities for high school students
- Provide students an opportunity to begin their post-secondary experience early and successfully minimizing the need for remediation in college
- Maximize resources by coordinating programs and resources
The College Achievement Program “CAP” is OUS’s newest initiative that began on March 4, 2009 as a pilot program with South Point High School in Lawrence County, Ohio.
“CAP” is an effort by OUS to encourage a broader range of students to experience postsecondary coursework and its increased academic rigor, while still in the supportive environment of their high school. It allows a secondary student to enroll in post-secondary courses and to receive both secondary and postsecondary credit for that coursework.
Recent research makes the need for dual enrollment programs clear:
- Dual enrollment programs are a proven method for increasing postsecondary participation for all students. In Florida, for instance, dual enrollment students enroll in higher education at rates significantly higher than students who do not enroll. This trend is particularly true for underrepresented populations, including African-American and Latino students. (source: Add and Subtract by Jobs for the Future)
- Approximately half of students entering college take remedial courses. Dual enrollment programs help students be better prepared for the rigors of college, and decrease the need for remedial courses when they get there. (The Condition of Education by the U.S. Department of Education)
- As tuition costs have increased nationwide, lower-income students are less likely to go on to higher education. According to a UCLA report, the nation’s college freshmen are more financially advantaged today than they have been at any point in the last 35 years and come from families with a median income 60 percent higher than the national average. The financial gap in postsecondary education participation is widening.
( The American Freshman - Forty Year Trends by UCLA)
The College Achievement Program is designed to give students greater opportunities to complete high school with adequate preparation for college and careers. According to the Office of Strategic Research, Ohio Department of Development 2006 in Lawrence County:
- 45% of adults have a high school diploma
- 6% hold a baccalaureate degree
- 18.9% of the population is below the poverty line (2000 Census)
“CAP” is a way to expand college opportunity particularly for students who might not consider themselves as “college material.” This program will introduce more students to the advantages of postsecondary education and will help students have a more successful transition into the culture and expectations that are present in postsecondary institutions.
Eligibility
According to Senate Bill 311, “students enrolled in grades nine through twelve {will have} the opportunity to participate in a dual enrollment program.” All students “in good standing, as defined by the Partnership for Continued Learning under section 3301.42 of the Revised Code” are thus eligible for participation in the dual enrollment program (See Sec. 3313.6013 of Senate Bill 311).
Participating students, however, “must demonstrate college readiness in reading and have the ability to perform college-level work (non-remedial) for the subjects being studied.”
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in “CAP”:
- High school student grades 9th through 12th.
- The student is making satisfactory progress toward fulfilling secondary school graduation requirements as determined by the school district.
- The student has a 2.5 GPA.
- Student must complete the required assessment test (COMPASS).
- Student must attend a New Student Orientation for College Access Programs (August).
High school guidance counselors are responsible for identifying students who demonstrate maturity and motivation and who possess the academic capabilities to pursue college-level instruction. Any student admitted to a course will be expected and required to perform at the same level as the university’s regularly admitted student.
Ohio University Southern retains the final right of approval for admission decisions of “CAP”.
For more information about the College Achievement Program contact Robert Pleasant, Director of Enrollment and Student Services at 740.533.4600.
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