EWC and Goshen County School District Work Together to Offer College Credit to Juniors and Seniors
August 22, 2003
(Torrington, WY) High school juniors and seniors in Goshen County are able to earn college credit through concurrent enrollment in courses approved for both high school and college credit, and enrollment in EWC campus courses. Concurrent enrollment allows the students to take a college class right at the high school and earn college credit. The instructional division chairs at EWC have previously approved all instructors, textbooks, and class materials for concurrent enrollment classes as appropriate for college coursework. Many students also have the opportunity to attend a class at the EWC campus. Early morning classes, evening classes and distance education classes are an excellent opportunity for students to earn college credit while still attending high school. Some students are even able to work with their high school block schedule and the EWC class schedule to fit a credit class in during the day. Students are allowed to have release time from the high school campus to take college campus classes in a structured time block as long as the student has prior approval from the high school and meets the college entrance requirements for the college course. Flexible courses such as the Fitness Center and distance education courses can be taken at the college during the evening and early morning time-blocks; high school students are not released during the school day for these courses. EWC President Jack Bottenfield is very supportive "As President of Eastern Wyoming College, I have always greatly valued the association and long standing relationship which we have with Goshen County School District No. 1 and am pleased that together we continue to develop and implement new ways of serving students."
Goshen County junior and senior high school students have been able to take advantage of EWC campus credit classes for approximately 15 years; the concurrent enrollment options became available in 1997. "Eastern Wyoming College welcomes the opportunity to help Goshen County students get a taste of collegiate education and earn credits toward a college degree," said Dr. Ann Beaulieu, EWC Vice President. "Once students are ready for the challenges of higher education, we do all that we can to help them pursue their goals." Institutional grants and scholarships are available to cover tuition costs for qualifying high school juniors and seniors. All applicable activity/use and course fees, and book expenses are the responsibility of the student. Initial enrollment, and eligibility for the tuition waiver, will be determined by a "B"(86%) average from the appropriate GCSD high school. To continue to receive the high school tuition waiver, the student must successfully complete the courses in which he/she enrolled each semester at Eastern Wyoming College with a 2.50 grade point average or better.
"Goshen County School District No. 1 works with students on an individual basis to design educational plans that meet their needs, and EWC plays an important role in some students plans," said Dr. Kathy Shirley, Superintendent of Schools. Several students have been able to get a jump on their college education at a very reasonable cost. Many of those students have gone on to attend EWC full time, or they have gone on to four-year colleges and universities around the country with one or two semesters worth of college credit already on their transcripts.
For more information about concurrent enrollment classes or enrollment in college classes as a high school junior or senior, please contact your high school counselor or Marilyn Cotant, EWC Assistant Dean of Students, 532.8257.
