Elon is expanding its program that allows Alamance County high school students to take classes at the university.
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Beginning in fall 2012, Elon University will partner with the Alamance-Burlington School System to launch Collegiate Start @Elon, a program to give academically talented students in Alamance County expanded access to university-level courses during their senior year in high school. The program will be open to all students in the county, whether in public school, private school or home-schooled and it will be coordinated by the Office of Education Outreach in the Elon University School of Education.
In the past, Elon has allowed high school seniors to take one course per semester in a program called the Credit Bank. In Collegiate Start @Elon, seniors who meet eligibility requirements may take two courses at the university each semester, simultaneously earning high school credit and up to 16 hours of college credit during their senior year, giving them a head start on their college careers. The number of Elon courses open to the high school students has also been expanded.
In addition, academically talented high school juniors who meet specific eligibility requirements may apply to enroll in a special Elon University writing seminar, an enrichment course that will prepare students for college-level work. The one-semester seminar will consist of weekly sessions taught by university faculty on the Elon campus.
The course is designed to help students be successful writers and critical thinkers, and it will prepare them for college-level writing including Advanced Placement tests and college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT. This course will be first offered in the spring of 2013 and every semester thereafter.
Lillie Cox, superintendent of the Alamance-Burlington School System, highlighted the importance of the initiative.
“The Credit Bank partnership between Elon University and our district has been a fine example of how well our two institutions collaborate to develop additional challenging academic opportunities for advanced students,” Cox said. “Collegiate Start @ Elon is a wonderful next step in our joint efforts to promote our students’ success as they prepare for college and careers.”
Collegiate Start @Elon tuition will be shared by students ($210 per course), the Alamance-Burlington School System or other school of attendance ($210 per course) and Elon University. Students will be responsible for book costs. Student tuition will be waived for those on free or reduced lunch plans, and those students will be charged a book rental fee of only $30 per course.
Students who wish to enroll in courses this fall through Collegiate Start @Elon should contact their high school guidance counselors for additional information and a list of courses. Inquiries can also be directed to the Office of Education Outreach at 336-278-5853. Details are available at this website: www.elon.edu/collegiatestart. Information on the writing seminar will be available early this fall when details of the course are finalized.