Middle College Program HANDBOOK Academic Year 2014-2015 1
Davenport University Middle College Student Eligibility Criteria Students must satisfy all State of Michigan and Michigan Department of Education Dual Enrollment Qualifications which includes a 2.5 GPA for any dual enrolled student. This includes attainment of a passing score on the 9 th grade MEAP Social Studies Test the ACT Aspire. and PLAN scores of 19 in mathematics, 17 in reading, 21 in science and 15 in English. If applicable, state qualifying scores on the PSAT or ACT may be used as well. Candidates must have a passing score on the Davenport University ENGL109-Composition writing sample assessment to be accepted into the Middle College program. Students will need to be evaluated for Algebra placement by ACT math sub scores or COMPASS placement into MATH125 to continue in the program. Students not placing into MATH125 after the 11 th year will need to take the appropriate development math course at their own expense before continuing with the program. Students wishing to enroll in the Medical Assisting Program need to submit the Limited Enrollment form after completion of ENGL109, MATH125, BIO115, BIO116, HLTH101S, HLTH110 and HLTH220. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) authorization must be submitted. Students may also need to meet additional criteria specified by their respective school district. Orientations Students will participate in Davenport University Orientations in years 11, 12 and 13. First year Middle College students will attend Orientation in August. Year 12 students will attend Orientation in June, and Year 13 students will attend Orientation and Panther Prowl the summer preceding the start of their final year leading up to the completion of the Associates degree. Parents are invited to attend the Orientations. Communication Davenport University will communicate to Middle College students via their PantherMail. Students should check PantherMail frequently. Students should also send communications to their advisors via PantherMail. Tuition Area High Schools will only cover the cost of tuition for Davenport University courses for the major semesters of fall and winter. If Middle College students take Davenport University courses during the Spring/Summer semester, they will be responsible for paying tuition. Fees and Books Any related course fees and the cost of books will be the student s responsibility for Year 11 and 12 students. Semester fees, course fees, and the cost of books including the fees for Panther Prowl will be the student s responsibility in Year 13. 2
Transportation Transportation and any related transportation costs to the High School and/or Davenport University will be the student s responsibility. All DU courses taught during the 12th and 13 th years must be taken at a DU campus or through DU online. Associate Degree Programs Students may enroll in any of the following associate degree programs at Davenport University: Business Administration, Medical Assisting, or Networking Technology. Dedicated Admissions Representative and Academic Advisor A dedicated admissions representative as well as an academic advisor from the College of Business, College of Technology or College of Health Professions will be assigned to assist and guide High School students participating in this program. Year Long Scheduling Middle College students in years 12 and 13 will be scheduled for Davenport University classes for both fall and winter semesters. Year Long Scheduling commences each year in February for the following academic year. Students may contact their advisor for changes that may be needed. (Note: Due to FERPA requirements, students may not request changes on behalf of other students.).) When scheduling classes, it is expected that 9-12 hours of work be completed each week for each 3 credit course (online and in seat). Online Classes Davenport University online course offerings provide an interactive, technology-based learning environment as another educational option to meet students unique learning and lifestyle needs. Through the use of the Blackboard classroom, students will link with faculty members as well as fellow students in their classroom. Assignments include discussion boards, team projects, papers, journals, and simulations. Through the use of Collaborate, students create real-time opportunities to work with other students. Online course work relies heavily on written communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. In addition, minimum computer skills such as understanding how to set up a file system on your computer, knowledge of different browsers for the internet and the availability of high speed internet are necessary. Also computer skills employed in email functions, word processing, and excel are necessary. Students will be expected to meet assignment deadlines established in advance by the instructor. 3
PC/MAC Hardware Requirements for Online Classes (Subject to modifications. Please refer to www.davenport.edu for the most current requirements.) The following are the minimum system hardware requirements currently needed to support Blackboard. You may be able to use some older systems. However, if you have less than these minimum requirements, we may not be able to provide you with adequate support to solve all problems that may arise. Note: Use of Chromebook for accessing online classes has proven to be challenging for students. PC: Windows 7 or greater Windows 7 system requirements 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver Mac OS: 10.6 or greater Mac computer with an Intel processor 1GB of memory 5GB of available disk space DVD drive for installation Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply. Internet Connection Speeds Internet connection speeds will affect the amount of information and the rate that information may be accessed over the Internet. If you connect to the Internet from home over a dial-up connection, the download rate for accessing documents in your online course will be significantly slower than would over a broadband connection. Please note: if your online course includes accessing video or audio files, or downloading PowerPoint files, there may be a several seconds to several minutes wait before you can view the material. Determination of College-Level English and College-Level Math Preparation/Placement Prior to the beginning of the Middle College program, a writing assessment (to determine college-level English preparedness will be administered to all students interested in participating in the Middle College program. Students who do not demonstrate college-level English preparedness and college-level math preparedness will not be accepted into the Middle College 4
program. An evaluation of math preparation must be conducted by the end of the 11 th year, and can include either the ACT exam (math sub score) or the COMPASS Exam. Students not scoring 18 or higher on the ACT math portion or 46 or higher on the Algebra portion of the COMPASS Exam will be asked to complete MATH030 in the summer prior to the 12 th year at their own expense in order to continue in the program. Academic Calendar Courses for the Middle College programs will be delivered according to the Davenport University academic calendar. Davenport classes taught each semester at the high school during the 11 th grade will be offered on a set schedule and may preclude a student from taking a particular high school class offered that same semester. Davenport University classes taken during the 12th and 13th years will be taken at a DU campus or through DU online and scheduled according to the campus (days and times) or online offerings. Attendance Policy Students attending classes at a DU campus or online will be required to comply with existing attendance policy requirements. Unexcused or excessive absences may result in administrative withdrawal from a class. Students should refer to the university catalog for details regarding the Attendance Policy for both in-seat and online courses. Students should notify Davenport University faculty if they are going to be absent from class. Student Alerts/Attendance Alerts Davenport University is committed to connecting students with resources that may assist a student in meeting educational and career goals. Davenport recognizes that early intervention is critically important to a student s long-term academic success. To that end, Davenport faculty regularly communicate with students and their advisors regarding academic progress and other concerns related to performance or attendance. Failing a Class/Tentative Dismissal Status/Appeal & Reinstatement Process A student who fails a class: 1) will be placed on tentative dismissal status from the Middle College program and 2) will be required to work with her/his high school principal and the DU Middle College Success Team to determine the best course of action for the student. If the student wishes to remain in the program, he/she must appeal to the Middle College Appeal Committee (MCAC) Representative to be re-instated to the program. Students who choose to appeal for re-admittance must discuss the circumstances that led to their failure and present a plan for future academic success to the MCAC Rep. This discussion must take place within 3 days of receipt of the failing grade. The MCAC may require that the student meet certain conditions as requirements of reinstatement. In some cases it may not be possible for the student to continue in the program if the failed course is a required pre-requisite to other courses or if the MCAC feels the student is unlikely to be successful upon reinstatement. The MCAC will 5
determine the conditions of re-admittance, and the student will complete the re-admittance form which will specify the conditions of re-admittance. The student will be on Middle College probation until they rejoin their proposed sequence successfully. Failure to meet the set conditions will be grounds for final dismissal from the program. The student will be responsible for any tuition and fees incurred by repetition of a failed class. If the failed class is repeated during the Spring/Summer semester, the student will be responsible for any tuition, semester and/or course fees, and the cost of textbooks. DU Faculty Illness or Inability to Hold Class If a DU faculty member teaching at the high school campus is unable to hold class, DU will not be responsible for providing a substitute teacher. The DU faculty member will contact the high school office and students as soon as an absence becomes necessary. Students will be expected to follow the course syllabus and keep to the proposed schedule of course activity. Cancelation of Classes held on Davenport Campus It is Davenport University s policy that all students and staff must report to campus for their class during its regularly scheduled meeting time, unless they are directed otherwise. Students are expected to check all forms of communication (phone, PantherMail, Blackboard and local news stations) for any notices or alerts of canceled courses for any reason. Cancelation of Classes held on the High School s Campus In the event that the high school is closed for the day or a class is canceled, it is the student s responsibility to check all forms of communication (phone, PantherMail, and Blackboard) submit any required work for the day, and communicate with their professors on due dates for assignments and for any adjustments that must be made to their syllabus. Transcripts After a student completes a Davenport class and the final grade is posted, Davenport s Central Registrar s Office will send the students official transcripts to the high school office. Some high school classes will count for articulated credit toward Davenport programs. At the completion of an articulated class, the high school will forward the students official transcripts to Davenport for college credit to be posted. Student Life/Residence Hall/Collegiate Athletics Middle College students may live in the residence halls during their 13 th year; however, no aid is available (not eligible to complete the FAFSA as they are not high school graduates). Middle College students may not participate in Davenport athletics during their 13 th year. Many Student 6
Life activities are available to Middle College students- check on eligibility for participation with the Center for Campus Life for details. Davenport University Graduation Requirements Students must maintain a minimum overall 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as well as a minimum of 2.3 GPA in their major. Students must also fulfill the credit and residency requirements for their prescribed curriculum. The Michigan Department of Education requires that students earning an associate s degree must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of instruction, and students completing a bachelor s degree must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of instruction. Davenport University adheres to this standard and has designed its curricula to satisfy this requirement. Refer to the university catalog for additional details regarding Graduation Requirements and Application for Graduation. Transition from earned High School Diploma and Associate degree to a Bachelor degree The primary benefit of participating in the Middle College program is the earning of both a High School diploma and an Associate degree in the student s chosen field at the end of the fifth (5th) year of study between the high school and Davenport University. The Middle College program has been designed to provide a seamless transition from that diploma and Associate degree to the pursuit and eventual completion of a Bachelor degree at Davenport University. An evaluation of all credits earned in the Associate Degree will be completed and all credits earned will apply directly towards the Bachelor degree at Davenport University. In the event the student would like to pursue a Bachelor degree at different college or University after earning their high school diploma and the Associates degree from Davenport University, he/she should work with an advisor or counselor for the new institution in order to evaluate transferrable credits. Students seeking a Bachelor degree at Davenport University are not required to follow the Michigan Transfer Agreement. The Middle College courses are planned strategically to fit the curriculum at both the High School and Davenport University. For more information on the state of Michigan s Michigan Transfer Agreement and other details regarding its program, please contact the Director of Transfer Articulation at Davenport University. This Handbook is effective for the 2014-2015 academic year and is subject to change. The Handbook will be reviewed on an annual basis by the High Schools and Davenport University with changes made, if necessary. 7
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MIDDLE COLLEGE PROGRAM HANDBOOK I, (print name), have received the current Davenport University Middle College Program Handbook. I understand that I am responsible for the information it contains regarding Middle College programs and keeping up to date of any changes to the policies and/or procedures while I am a student in the program. I further understand it is my responsibility to contact my advisor if I have any questions regarding this Handbook or my program at Davenport University. I understand that I may need to sign additional form(s) for my specific program. Student Signature Date Parent (Guardian) Signature Date High School 9