By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — With college tuition prices skyrocketing, what parent would like to see their child get a head start on their post-secondary education?
Starting next fall, 15 students from Houlton High School will have an opportunity to begin earning college credits at a much-reduced rate, right in the confines of their own school building as part of the Bridge Year program.
The Bridge Year program has been in existence for three years, first partnering with Eastern Maine Community College and now associated with the University of Maine System. RSU 29 Superintendent Mike Hammer said he first became aware of the curriculum while attending a conference downstate.
The RSU 29/Region Two School of Applied Technology had to apply to be accepted into the program. There are only four sites in the state and RSU 29/Region Two is the northern-most center participating in the Bridge Year Program.
According to Dave Keaton, director of Region Two, the program presents an opportunity for high school students to obtain additional career assessment, exploration and advisement while they are in high school.
“We’ll be meeting with this year’s sophomores on March 17 at the auditorium in Houlton, as this is the class who is targeted,” Keaton said. “This is a great opportunity for students to get a head start on their college careers.”
A group of 15 students, who will be juniors at the start of the 2014-15 school year, will be selected to take part in the program. The students will take college-level classes, taught by current HHS instructors, and will receive credits toward a college education. Classes will be taught at both schools and will also count toward their high school graduation requirements. Selected students must be involved in both Houlton High School and the Region Two program to be eligible. Interested students must also fill out a lengthy application, similar to a college acceptance form, to be considered.
The applications must be completed by April so the 15 students can be identified prior to the end of the school year.
Currently, the University of Maine charges $1,035 per course for tuition and fees. A course is typically three credits. Bridge Year students will only have to pay $45/credit ($135) to complete a course. Additional grant money may be available for students to further reduce costs.
Students could earn as many as 30 college credits by the time they graduate high school, if they participate in the program to its fullest extent.
“It makes sense for the University to do this (program), because they may get a student enrolling who otherwise would not have gone on to college,” Keaton said.
An example of a course that will be taken is English 1, which is comparable to English 101 in the U-Maine system. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will get three college credits that can be transferred to any college or university just like any other UMaine course.
Other courses being offered will include chemistry, math, Maine studies, physics and humanities.
Selected students must attend two summer academies at the University of Maine at Orono, which are paid for by grant funds. The first session will be held in July. The summer academy offers a full college experience, including stays in college dorm rooms with a roommate. Work done during the summer is also part of their college credit process.
“The fact that these credits will carry anywhere a UMaine credit would is fantastic,” Hammer said. “It’s an opportunity for students to get both an education and a career trade.”
The teachers selected to participate in this program will also have to undergo some training at UMaine to teach the college-level material. A master’s level is preferred, Hammer said. The courses will be offered during periods when the teacher is not engaged in regular education coursework, such as free blocks or after school.
Those teachers that participate will be compensated for their time through the grant funds of the program, not local taxpayer dollars, Hammer stressed.
“This program will help show students they are capable of getting a college degree, and doing so at a substantial savings,” Keaton added. “On an aspirations side of things, this program is extremely high.”
