GCC hosts event on early college program

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood - Area high school students and their parents or guardians came to Gogebic Community College Wednesday evening to learn if the Career and Technical Education Early College program is right for them.

In front of more than 30 people, Shawn Kolbus, CTE director, said early college is an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and a "significant amount" of college credits while students are still in high school. The catch, Kolbus said, is students delay their graduation for one academic year. But Kolbus said they shouldn't think of it as being held back.

"You still walk with their classmates during graduation, but the fifth year (students) have mainly all college classes," he said.

The program is only for incoming juniors who are "college ready," Kolbus said.

"Students have to be current with graduation requirements, they have to be independent students and have to be willing to commit for the fifth year," he said.

During their junior year, high school students will take college courses at GCC, or specific CTE courses through the GOISD, and attend student success seminars. Then, during their "5th year,"Kolbus said students are still required to take one high school-level class.

Amanda Sprague, a GOISD instructor, said the seminars teach team-building, studying skills and communication skills.

While in early college, Kolbus said he doesn't want students to drop out because the area schools need "the funding to make the program work.

"How the program works," Kolbus said, is local high schools get an extra year of funding from the state of Michigan area schools use to pay for students going to college in the program. Additionally, Kolbus said approved funds from the GOISD will help pay for tuition.

Kolbus said early college is similar to dual enrollment. But unlike dual enrollment, Kolbus said early college builds off of the current CTE courses offered through Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.

GCC will offer 18 programs in business and applied technology to choose from. James Halverson, GCC staff member, said each program is chosen based on specific needs of the local and regional economy.

"Early college is customized to fit the needs of each local district," he said.

Kolbus said he wants early college students to be successful by being on the same page with their parents to decide if the program is right for them.

Kolbus said the early college program can "save a lot of money."

"Students can take 63 credits for next to free or little cost," he said. "If you go to Northern Michigan University, that's $18,000. If you're going to Michigan Technical Institute, that's a little bit more."

Students should submit applications to their school counselor, he said. When all applications have been submitted, Kolbus said a committee will review them. He said students will have to take admissions testing through GCC. Kolbus said the deadline to apply is Friday, April 15.