Deer Lakes approves dual enrollment program with Grove City College

A Deer Lakes senior who wanted to take college courses at Grove City College has opened up that opportunity for other students at her school.

The school board on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding for a Dual Enrollment Program between the school district and the college, which gives juniors and seniors who have fulfilled their high school credits the ability to take college courses there.

Assistant Superintendent Bobbi-Ann Barnes said the student, Tara Brick, is the one who spearheaded the partnership with Grove City College because she wants to go to college there.

“She started the communication herself,” Barnes said. “She reached out to myself and the guidance counselors and the principals.”

The district already had dual enrollment partnerships with Community College of Allegheny County, Penn State New Kensington, Point Park University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Brick is glad to hear the Grove City College partnership has been extended to her classmates.

“I really thought it was for me. I didn’t know they approved it for the whole school district, which is great,” said Brick, 17, of West Deer. “Everyone at my school I think could really benefit from it.”

The dual enrollment program is open to juniors and seniors. To be eligible, students must have the recommendation of their counselor and a GPA of at least 3.0. Students pay for their own college tuition.

Barnes said the dual enrollment program is beneficial because it gives students an opportunity to knock off some entry-level college courses so they don’t have to deal with a full load when they get to college.

High school students in Advanced Placement courses also can receive college credit for those courses, but only if they get certain scores on the AP tests. With this program, students don’t have to do that, Barnes said.

“It’s a great opportunity for kids. A high school senior, a lot of them, they’re just putting in time,” Barnes said. “They’re bored. They just want to start getting some college credits.”

Students can take courses online or in-person. Brick is taking one online course at Grove City College this semester — Civilization and the Biblical Revelation.

“What I’m learning is incredible, and I’m just having so much fun with it,” Brick said.

Grove City College is Brick’s top college choice. She wants to be a secondary school English teacher.

“I’ve already gone on a tour there. I’ve already interviewed there,” Brick said. “This is not the senior year we were planning for, so I wanted to get some of those courses out of the way if I could.”

Christy Crute, executive director of graduate and online programs at Grove City College, said such partnerships provide new paths for high school students to get an early college start.

“In all cases, high school students have the ability to explore college courses that intrigue them,” Crute said. “Students have the ability to meet faculty who are experts in particular fields and make informed decisions about where they see themselves studying in the future. Grove City College is an outstanding college, and yet it is small enough to get to know each student. And I know the faculty really enjoy getting to know them.”

Deer Lakes’ school year began Aug. 31. Students were given the choice of hybrid or fully online learning. Students who chose hybrid learning attend in-person classes twice a week and learn remotely the other three days.

Brick is doing hybrid learning. She said the coronavirus-related restrictions have given her a less than ideal senior year.

“Everything that I’ve looked forward to since my freshman year has already been canceled. I think that’s the best way to put it,” Brick said. “We’ll see where it goes.”