CONTACT US The COLLEGE NOW office is located on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus in Dellwood 19.

www.socc.edu/collegenow 1988 Newmark Avenue, Coos Bay, OR 97420

COLLEGE NOW

Earn It

Apply It

Transfer It

COLLEGE NOW AT SOUTHWESTERN: The College Now program is a partnership program between Southwestern and local high schools that offers high school age students the opportunity to earning college credits through Southwestern Oregon Community College.

If you are a high school junior or senior, there are several different opportunities for you to earn college credits.

Southwestern Oregon Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Janet Pretti Dean of Curry County Campus jpretti@socc.edu 541.813.1673

Nathan Helland Coordinator of High School Relations nathan.helland@socc.edu 541.888.7172 Fax:541.888.1590

COLLEGE NOW

LIFE

ACADEMICS

WORK GOALS

SUCCESS

OPPORTUNITY

With Southwestern's Dual Credit (LDT) Lower Division Transfer and CTE (Career & Technical Education) programs, high school students complete both a high school course and a college course simultaneously.

LDT courses are courses that fulfill the freshman and sophomore college level transfer requirements. These academic courses are transferable to four year universities.

CTE courses help students gain the skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation, and real-world experience they need to prepare to for high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers.

The Dual Credit program is perfect for students who want to begin earning college credits without having to leave their regular school routine.

Expanded Options, provides eligible high school students another opportunity for early entry into postsecondary education. The Expanded Options student takes college courses, taught by Southwestern faculty, at their high school. This program promotes a seamless education system for students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 to have additional options to continue or complete their education, earn concurrent high school and college credits, and gain early entry into post-secondary education.

Q: When do the classes start? A: Depending on which program you choose, classes may begin with the regular high school schedule or with the Southwestern schedule. Q:How do I know if I earned credit? A: You will be able to log into WebAdvisor and check grades, register for classes, and much more. Q:What kind of classes does my school offer? A: You will need to check with your high school counselor to see what courses are available. Q: Do I have to go through the College Now program to take classes? A: No. You will need to follow the similar procedures to that of a regular college applicant. Talk to your high school counselor to find out more.

An Oregon University System report found in 2009‐10, that over 10,000 college/university credits were earned under the Expanded Options program, and there was a total tuition cost savings of $942,772.

Dual credit students have a higher college participation rate than high school graduates overall. Of Oregon’s dual credit seniors in 2007-08, 81.4% continued to some form of postsecondary education by the following winter, compared to 72.6% of Oregon’s high school graduating class of 2005.

Students who participated in the College Now program also earn higher GPAs their freshman year of college. The OUS study showed the average College Now student earned a 3.13 vs. 2.97.

Students who continue to their second year of college accumulate more college credit if they took dual credit in high school. Dual credit students amass far more cumulative credit. By the start of the second fall, dual credit students earned almost a full term’s worth more than their classmates who took no dual credit classes in high school.

Throughout the country, there has been a widespread call for an increase to the number of educational opportunities for students to prepare them for the rigors of postsecondary education. Accelerated learning opportunities, like the College Now program foster smoother and more successful transitions from high school to college while allowing students to earn dual credit.

The College Now program is a collaboration between several school districts in both Coos and Curry county and Southwestern, that prepares high school age students for successful academic performance in college, a head start on their college credits, and a successful transition into life after high school. Many students who have participated in the program have graduated high school as sophomores in college. These students are better prepared for the academic challenges they encounter at college.

“Students who take a College Now courses are better

prepared for the academic challenges they encounter

in postsecondary education.”

THE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS OF COLLEGE NOW!

TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION What program is right for you? Below is a list of the five different college credit options that Southwestern’s College Now program offers. After figuring out the best fit, the next step for any potential student is to contact his/her high school counselor and ask about the specific program. Students and parents may also contact the College Now office with questions.

FIND THE PROGRAM RIGHT FOR YOU! Dual Credit

Enhanced Options

Expanded Options

Home School

Advanced Diploma

High school age juniors or seniors may also take a college class on the Southwestern campus or online with the Enhanced Options program. High school students will apply, register, and attend classes just like a regular Southwestern student. Enhanced Options is right for the high school age student who is ready for a challenge and ready for academic work in a college environment.

Local homeschooled teens may also earned credits from Southwestern through the College Now program. The Homeschooled student has the option of working with local high schools or directly through the college. Home schooled student should contact the College Now office with questions.

There is a final option for high school seniors to get a head start on their college credits. Local high students who graduate with a standard diploma can return for a fifth year of high school, enrolled concurrently as a high school and college student. This option is particularly effective for seniors who might need an additional year of transition before college. The Advanced Diploma program is something the parent and student should first discuss with their high school principal.

The Cost of COLLEGE NOW

In most cases, when students participate in the COLLEGE NOW program, their credits are paid for by the participating school district. In some instances, the school district may not pay for the course, and the student will be responsible for any costs. The school district may also cover the cost of books and other fees. This is determined by the high school’s administration.

Dual Credit and Expanded Options courses are

guaranteed to be cost free due to the nature of

the class. They are college credit courses taught

within the walls of the participating high school.

Enhanced Options courses are often paid for by the school district. However, school districts do not always pay for Southwestern courses.

Questions about payment and billing? First talk to your high school counselor and principal, then contact the College Now Office.

IS IT AS GOOD AS A COLLEGE COURSE?

Every College Now high school instructor goes through an application process. Each instructor is required to meet the same educational requirements as an instructor at the Southwestern. College Now courses are designed to be at the same level as a standard undergraduate course. They fulfill the lower division transfer or career technical requirements of all Oregon universities.

Dual Credit courses are taught by high school

teachers, and will be just as rigorous as a

college course. However, students will be held

to the high schools code of conduct and

grading policy.

Expanded Options are college courses, and the

student will be expected to treat the course as

such. The student will be held to the college’s

code of conduct and grading system.

FAQ

“College Now students are better prepared, are more

engaged, and earn higher grades than their regular

high school peers.”