ASHTABULA — One of the goals of Ohio’s dual credit initiative is to increase the number of students earning college credit while completing high school.
Ashtabula County high schools and Kent State University-Ashtabula are working together to make this happen.
Together, KSUA and the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center (ACESC) are collaborating on this state grant funded initiative referred to as “Dual Credit.”
Dual Credit, formerly identified as “Dual Credit in Mathematics, Science HB 119,” is a goal of the State of Ohio’s Department of Education and Board of Regents to deliver curricula to high school students aligned to the standards for admission to the university.
The record spring enrollment recently announced by KSUA includes188 high school students who have joined the university student body while earning college credit by taking classes in their home high schools. This represents a 347.7 percent increase in high school students enrolled in the program during the spring semester of 2008, an increase of 146 students.
John Rubesich, superintendent of ACESC, credits KSUA Campus Dean Susan Stocker for championing the effort to increase the number of high school students earning university credit while completing high school.
“Dean Stocker had the foresight to bring everyone together to meet a common goal. This is a great entry point for learning more about college,” Rubesich said. “The relationship between professor and teacher is truly working. It has opened the teachers’ eyes regarding what professors are looking for in students.”
Students work with teachers in their home high schools. This is different from the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, also provided by the state, and offered throughout the nation for twenty years. PSEO requires eligible high school students to attend classes on the university campus.
Dual Credit is taught by high school teachers acting as graduate assistants to the college faculty. The program is in its final year of a three year grant. Over that time interest has increased dramatically as evidenced by most recent enrollment increase.
“Our campus is celebrating record-breaking enrollment. We are pleased to increase the number of students progressing to post-secondary education,” Stocker said.
Bradley Keefer, professor of history, is among the participating university faculty members.
For information on Kent State University Ashtabula Campus and its degree offerings, call (440) 964-3322 or learn more at www.ashtabula.kent.edu.
