Local high school students can apply to earn college credits while finishing high school through The Early College Alliance (ECA).
Washtenaw County's high school program on the campus of Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is now accepting applications for fall 2008. The program enables students to complete the requirements for a high school diploma while earning up to 60 college credits — at no cost to the student. The program has openings for 136 students. The enrollment period runs through March 25.
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GET AN EARLY START: The Early College Alliance
(ECA), partnered with EMU's College of Health and
Human Services, is now accepting applications for
fall 2008. Under the program, local high school
students can apply to earn college credits, while
finishing high school through the ECA. |
All ninth and 10th-grade students currently enrolled in one of the four ECA member school districts — Lincoln, Milan, Whitmore Lake or Ypsilanti — are eligible for the ECA program. Ninth and 10th-grade students in home school, charter, other public and/or private schools also are eligible to apply.
Partnered with the College of Health and Human Services, the ECA's emphasis in math, science, technology, critical thinking and problem solving is designed to equip successful ECA graduates to enter a variety of high demand areas. These include the fields of health, medicine, mathematics, science, technology or business, and allow graduates to successfully continue their post-secondary education.
"At first, students will be grouped together for a traditional school day, taking high school classes in math, science, social studies and English," said ECA Director Dave Dugger. "Then, they will transition into a blended school and eventually become full-time college students, taking university courses throughout campus."
Students will receive support from an adviser who is assigned to them for their entire ECA program. In addition to Eastern Michigan, ECA partners include: Washtenaw Intermediate School District, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, University of Michigan Health System, Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works! and the Ypsilanti, Milan, Lincoln Consolidated and Whitmore Lake school districts.
Eligible students must complete the enrollment application packet and return it by March 25. Enrollment materials are available at www.earlycollegealliance.org or from the high school or superintendent's office in the four ECA member school districts.
For more information, go to www.earlycollegealliance.org or contact ECA Director David Dugger at eca_ddugger@emich.edu or call 487-4293.
