Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
Superintendent wants to hold off dual enrollment program
By William Kincaid
COLDWATER - Superintendent Rich Seas is against offering a dual enrollment program held in conjunction with Wright State University-Lake Campus until school officials know what students and parents can expect from it.
"There are some bugs to be worked out," Seas told board members on Tuesday evening during the regular school board meeting. "I'm not in favor of it just yet."
Lake Campus is offering the dual enrollment program for some local area schools next year that would allow qualified students to take college courses at their high schools. Students in the program have the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit at a reduced rate of $80 per credit hour, compared to the campus' normal $148 per credit hour charge.
Seas wonders if other colleges and universities would accept the college credit and at what capacity.
"It doesn't appear to be as good as sliced bread," Seas said.
Dual enrollment courses offered in high schools, including online courses, will use the same syllabi, textbooks and assignments as parallel courses offered at the Lake Campus and will meet for the same number of hours.
"Students are expected to meet the same academic standards, including course prerequisite, and adhere to the same class and university policies as college-level students enrolled in the same course on campus," a Wright State policy states.
The Lake Campus is offering the dual enrollment program to five schools in the area this fall; Celina High School already has committed to the program.
High school teachers would be trained at the local college this summer if their degree and teaching experience align with the necessary requirements to join the Lake Campus adjunct faculty.
Board member Gary Lefeld said although the goal of the dual enrollment program seems to be valid, it needs to get all of its "ducks in a row" first.
Seas said AP courses - which students can receive college credit from if they score high enough on tests - are an almost universally excepted curriculum at many colleges and universities throughout the nation.
