News Archives: Dual Credit Strong and Growing
Thursday, May 21st, 2015
The opportunity to start earning college credit while still in high school was seized this year by 18 eager students – and they were highly successful! Two of the dual credit students earned the top mark in their classes, surpassing even their GPRC classmates.
Charles Spencer high school student Rachael Rode studied both Medical Terminology and Introduction to Marketing this semester, and previously completed Basic Psychological Processes while she was in grade 11. Grande Prairie Composite student Rylie Dyck studied Business Communications this semester. Both are graduating from their respective high schools next month and planning to enrol in post-secondary studies in the fall.
Students did very well in their chosen courses, and their success has encouraged the high schools and the College to expand the program to reach even more students. “The five courses offered as dual credit this year will be expanded to nearly 30 options for the 2015-2016 academic year,” explains Darlene MacDonald, who has coordinated the program since September. “We have been speaking with the students in the high schools, and we have worked toward offering the courses they want.”
MacDonald and representatives of the participating school divisions and high school teachers have been working hard to ensure that more of the courses that students want are available. “A significant amount of time has been spent mapping and developing courses to allow a broader range of courses.”
They will include courses in Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Office Administration, Physical Education, Child Development and Animal Health Technology.
Additionally, in response to interest in trades, the Parts and Materials Technician apprenticeship courses will be offered through videoconference, and will be available to students starting in grade 11. “Students will have the potential to graduate high school with Year 1 Parts, Year 2 Parts, and Year 2 Material,” explains MacDonald. “This is one of the only trades programs which will lend itself to videoconference locations, and we are excited to be able to offer it. This is unique to our Province, and the program is garnering a great deal of attention!”
Videoconference courses have opened the dual credit possibility to students in other communities, and almost half of those who have recently completed dual credit have done so from schools outside of Grande Prairie.
The enthusiasm from schools within our region and beyond is strong and growing. Agreements have already been signed with seven school divisions, and discussions are rapidly advancing toward agreement with four more.
“GPRC is very pleased that the dual credit option is becoming such a strong reality,” says Susan Bansgrove, Vice-President Academics and Research. “Together with our partners in the school divisions, we have been working toward this for several years. It is very gratifying to see the program gaining such momentum. We are particularly grateful for the enormous efforts of coordinator Darlene MacDonald whose tireless enthusiasm has moved us all through the challenges to the success of these young learners.”
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