The North Carolina Career & College Promise. What is it?

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1 The North Carolina Career & College Promise What is it? The NC Career and College Promise (CCP) is a statewide program that provides students with the opportunity to take community college classes while enrolled in high school. Previous high school programs (Huskins, Concurrent Enrollment, Learn and Earn Online, and Early College) were consolidated under the new umbrella of Career and College Promise in January Three distinct opportunities are available for motivated students who want to take tuition-free college classes while still enrolled in high school: College Transfer Pathways Career Technical Education Pathways Cooperative, Innovative High Schools This publication provides further information about CCP to all current and prospective Career and College Promise partners. Career & College Promise Early Edition Contents Career and College Promise Contact Information... 2 College Transfer & Career Tech Pathways Overview... 3 CCP Pathways Frequently Asked Questions... 4 Cooperative and Innovative High Schools Overview (Early College)... 5 Early College Student Spotlight... 6 Early College Frequently Asked Questions Early Edition and New Schools Project Information

2 Career and College Promise Educational Partnerships Liaisons at CFCC Brian Weeks, Lead Educational Partnerships Liaison Pender Early College Liaison Burgaw-B-109D or Downtown-S-200E Burgaw: or Downtown Campus: Brian teaches English and ACA. Kate Santhuff, Educational Partnerships Liaison Wilmington Early College Liaison North-NB-151 North Campus: Kate teaches Communications and ACA. CFCC Career and College Promise Website 2

3 College Transfer and Career Technical Pathways College Transfer Pathways Four college transfer pathways are available to high school students who want to get a head start on college by earning up to 32 transferable credits. Career Technical Education Pathways Six CFCC vocational/technical certificates are available to students who want to get a jumpstart on a technical career: Business and Economics Engineering and Mathematics Humanities and Social Science Life and Health Sciences Business Administration Cosmetology Collision Repair and Refinishing Criminal Justice Construction Management Welding Technology Admissions Requirements: Must be a junior or senior when classes begin. Must have weighted G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher. Must meet cut scores on all four sections of a college placement test. Admissions Requirements: Must be a junior or senior when classes begin. Must meet cut scores on any required placement tests. Must have approval from the high school. College Classes Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in college courses after completing two courses. Students may enroll only in the college classes in their approved pathway. Students will be able to participate in early registration. Costs Tuition is waived for college courses taken during fall and spring semesters. Students are responsible for technology, activity, and parking /security fees. Students are also responsible for purchasing required textbooks and supplies for each course. Textbook listings and prices may be found in the CFCC Bookstore and at (cont d) 3

4 Career and College Promise Career Tech and College Transfer FAQ Q: How does a student apply for one of the pathways? A: Students must see a high school counselor or career development coordinator for an application. Q: May homeschool students participate in CCP? May private school students participate in CCP? A: Yes, both homeschool and private school students may participate in CCP. Interested home school students should contact Brian Weeks at bweeks@cfcc.edu to obtain an application. Q: How old does a student have to be to take CFCC classes? A: There is no age restriction. Students must be in the 11th grade at the beginning of the CFCC course. Q: What placement tests are accepted? A: CFCC will accept PLAN, PSAT, ACT, SAT, and Accuplacer scores for CCP admission. Q: What are the required scores on these tests? A: For college transfer pathways, students must meet the test scores in the chart below. Scores may be combined from multiple tests. Subject Areas Cutoff Scores for Approved Tests PLAN PSAT ACT SAT Accuplacer English Sentence Skills Reading Reading Mathematics Arithmetic and 75 Elem. Algebra Q: Where and when are the classes taught? A: CCP students may take CFCC classes on any of our campuses, online, or at their high school. Classes are offered at various times and locations. Students choose classes that work with their schedules. Q: Which courses may students take? A: Each pathway has a prescribed set of courses that a student enrolled in that pathway may take. Please visit to see the complete course listings of pathways. Q: May students switch pathways? A: Yes, students may change their pathway with the approval of their high school principal. Q: How many high schools are participating in the Career and College Promise? A: 116 students from ten high schools in New Hanover and Pender counties are currently participating in the CCP program. (Spring 2013) Q: What are the benefits? A: Students may get a head start on college and save money. Tuition is free. Q: Are there any costs to students? A: Yes, students are responsible for textbooks, supplies and fees. Q: What is the deadline for submitting an application for Fall 2013? A: CCP applications should be submitted by April 19,

5 Cooperative & Innovative High Schools (Early College) Early colleges are small high schools, usually located on community college campuses. They provide students with the opportunity to earn an associate degree and a high school diploma. Students first take honors level high school classes taught by high school teachers; and once college readiness has been demonstrated, they take college classes. CFCC hosts two early colleges: Pender Early College High School and Wilmington Early College High School. Pender Early College High School Located at the CFCC Burgaw Center Started August 2006 Currently, 235 students attend Principal: Dr. Robbie Cauley william_cauley@pender.k12.nc.us CFCC Liaison: Mr. Brian Weeks bweeks@cfcc.edu Spring 2013 Enrollment: 183 students in 408 CFCC classes Mascot: Sea Wolves Website: pechs.pendercountyschools.net/ Wilmington Early College High School Located on the CFCC North Campus Started August 2007 Currently, 215 students attend Principal: Ms. Ivy Murrain ivy.murrain@nhcs.net CFCC Liaison: Mrs. Kate Santhuff ksanthuff@cfcc.edu Spring 2013 Enrollment: 129 students in 461 CFCC classes Mascot: Wolf Pack Website: In , a total of 34 early college students at Cape Fear Community College graduated with college degrees or diplomas. 5

6 Tyshan Stringfield graduated in December 2012 after 4 1/2 years at Pender Early College. He started at UNC-Greensboro in January 2013 and plans to enroll in its Pre- Pharmacy Program, and then graduate after 2-3 years and head to Campbell for a Doctoral Degree in Pharmacy. When asked what drove him to Pender Early College, Tyshan professes, I was driven to PECHS just like many sinners are driven to Christianity, like many immigrants are driven to the U.S., and how many shoppers are driven to Black Friday deals: simply the opportunity for a better and brighter future. PECHS offers many opportunities that other high schools in Student Profiles Featuring a student graduate from each of CFCC s partner early colleges. the surrounding area do not offer: chances to reach out to the community, camps, and other ways to volunteer. This school has not only prepared me for my future career but has constructed and designed me into a citizen who can live productively in our society today. With all that being said, let s not forget about the two free years of college credit that will help me save some money for college in the future!! He cites his sociology classes among his favorites at CFCC. Tyshan feels that some of his major accomplishments have been job shadowing opportunities at NHRMC and Focus on the Early College Cape Fear Valley Camp Bones Nursing Program, which gave him a CPR diploma. Tyshan would recommend early college only to students seeking a higher education and to students who like to go above and beyond in their pursuit of knowledge. This school is not for everybody, just like college is not for everybody. I recommend it to those who believe that education is the foundation for a better you, community, state, nation, and world. Your education determines your future. (B. Weeks) I was driven to...the opportunity for a better and brighter future. Feodora Starr Laton just completed 4 1/2 years at Wilmington Early College. She graduated in December with an Associate in Arts Degree and a 3.5 GPA. She will spend spring semester training with the Army National Guard before heading to a four- year college. She has applied to four UNC System schools Wilmington; Greensboro; Charlotte; and her first choice, Asheville. Going west would give her the chance to start fresh and to be closer to extended family. Starr credits the early college with providing her opportunities she would not otherwise have had. She is a first-generation Nothing good comes easy; you have to be mature enough to see past the moment. college student from a single parent home who feels WECHS has given her a chance to get more out of her education and out of her life in general. She admits it hasn t been easy. The transition from middle school was really tough, but nothing good comes easy, she says; she has always kept her long-term goals in mind and challenged herself to assure her own success in the early college. Starr says that what led her to WECHS in the first place is not what kept her here. Many of her friends in the 8th grade said they were going to the early college, but they did not. It takes a certain type of per- son to make it here, she indicates: The best way to be a successful student in college is to have a strong work ethic, to constantly challenge yourself, and to keep remembering your goals and dreams for the future. You have to be mature enough to see past the moment. At one point, Starr wanted to finish at the early college in four years, but once she realized she could complete her degree if she just stayed an extra semester, she changed her plan. She agrees you have to be flexible. If staying the extra semester makes sense, then you have to remember, It s just one more semester [in your whole life]. Even though Starr graduated midway through the academic year, she isn t letting her spring go to waste. After the 6 holidays, she headed out to Fort Lee, Virginia for three months to train to be a quartermaster and chemical equipment repair specialist for the National Guard. Starr is a role model among her peers, ten of whom also graduated from WECHS in December (K. Santhuff)

7 Early College FAQ BACKGROUND INFORMATION Q: What is an early college? A: Early colleges are small innovative high schools often located on college campuses. Early college students have the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit or an associate degree. Q: Does CFCC have an early college? A: We have two. Pender Early College High School (PECHS) is located at the Burgaw Center. Wilmington Early College (WECHS) is located at the North Campus. Q: How long have these schools been in operation? A: PECHS began in August 2006, and WECHS started in August Q: Do early college students pay for tuition and college textbooks? A: No. CFCC tuition is waived, and the early college high schools pay for textbooks and fees. CLASSES AND CURRICULUM Q: Do students attend high school on the college campus? A: Yes, both Pender and New Hanover Counties have a high school on CFCC property. At PECHS, students must satisfy their foreign language and P.E. requirements through dual enrollment in CFCC classes. At WECHS, students must take P.E. through dual enrollment in CFCC classes. In both cases, the college courses count for the H.S. diploma and the college degree. Q: Who teaches the high school classes and who teaches the college classes? A: High school teachers teach the high school courses, and CFCC instructors teach the college courses. Q: How do instructors know if they have early college students in their courses? A: They don t typically know. High school students are not required to identify themselves in college courses. Since they are earning the same credit, early college students are treated like all other college students and expected to do college level work. Q: Can parents talk with college instructors about grades? A: No. College instructors discuss grades only with the student or with designated college liaisons. Q: What support resources are available for early college students taking college classes? A: Students have access to all of CFCC resources (including Learning Labs, media centers, tutors, disability and counseling services). In addition, early colleges provide students with assistance in study skills, test preparation, editing of work, and forming study groups, as well as regular meetings with advisors. Q: How are early college students doing in college courses? A: In Fall 2012, 79% of the CFCC courses taken by early college students were completed with a C or higher. Q: Where have PECHS and WECHS students gone to college after graduating? A: In the last two years, early college students have gone on to UNC, UNCW, Appalachian State, NC State, Fayetteville State, NC Central University, Campbell, Charlotte, UNCG, UNCA, Peace, Meredith, Wingate, and ECU. (cont d) 7

8 (cont d) APPLYING AND GETTING IN Q: What is the application process for the early colleges? A: Students should get an application from their middle school counselor and follow the early college s application process and timeline. Q: What are the requirements for admission? A: All interested students are welcome to apply, but the mission of early colleges is to provide college opportunities for students who would otherwise not succeed in college or not have the opportunity to attend college. 80% of the population of CFCC s early colleges must meet one of these demographic categories: First generation college students (one parent may have completed an associate degree, but not a 4-year degree) Minority Low-income Q: Isn t there another early college in New Hanover County called Isaac Bear Early College High School? A: Yes, Isaac Bear (IBECHS) is an early college partnership between New Hanover County Schools and UNCW. Both IBECHS and WECHS offer New Hanover County students the opportunity to earn college credit through a public high school program dedicated to a rigorous curriculum and an accelerated high school program. Q: How is IBECHS different than WECHS? A: Both schools are public high schools and both have the goal of providing college transfer credits to students. However, IBECHS is a four-year program and WECHS is a five-year program that encourages an associate degree upon completion. Though WECHS allows students interested in vocational programs the option to pursue an A.A.S. degree instead of a college transfer degree, college transfer is the primary focus of both early college high schools. Early Edition is a publication of the Educational Partnerships Offices of the Arts & Sciences Division, CFCC. It is published each semester for current and prospective Career and College Promise partners to gain valuable insights into high school students attending CFCC. For more information about CFCC s Educational Partnerships with area high schools, please visit The early colleges in New Hanover and Pender counties are part of the North Carolina New Schools Project. For more information about school comparisons and the programs serving over 30,000 public school students throughout the state, visit the website listed to the left. 8