Early College transition plan approved

By Denise Dick | September 3, 2010 at 12:08a.m.

By DENISE DICK

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Students in Youngstown Early College will move from Youngstown State University to Eastern Gateway Community College through the next three years.

The transition is outlined in a memorandum of understanding approved this week by the EGCC trustees. The transition plan, developed by a transition team with representatives of all three entities, details how the change from YSU to EGCC will occur.

The plan also must be approved by YSU trustees and the city school board.

“In 2011 — that’s this school year — the freshman class will take classes here, and the others will take classes at YSU,” said Ann Koon, EGCC spokeswoman. “In 2012, freshmen and sophomores will be here and juniors and seniors at YSU.”

In 2013, only the seniors will remain at YSU with all younger students at EGCC.

“That will finish out YSU’s involvement,” Koon said.

At the conclusion of that three-year agreement, new terms would be negotiated between EGCC and YEC to continue the arrangement, she said.

“The purpose of YEC is to link the secondary and post-secondary educational experiences and to provide a transition between secondary and post-secondary education,” the memorandum says.

YEC was a joint program launched by YSU and the city schools in 2004 to allow selected high school students to earn college credit while completing their high school education in a college-campus setting.

It includes about 200 students who take classes at Fedor Hall at YSU.

YSU trustees earlier this year decided to sever involvement with YEC, citing costs.

“Our strategic goals include increasing partnerships with high schools in the service district and to develop dual enrollment for high school students,” reads the resolution approved by EGCC trustees.

Eastern Gateway has a goal to increase the number of first-time enrollees with one semester or more of college credit earned in high school by 34 percent, including increasing programs for dual and concurrent enrollment by two high schools per county per year, the resolution says.

Scott Schulick, chairman of the trustees at YSU, said the memorandum of understanding is on the agenda of the academic and student affairs committee meeting later this month.

The city school board’s next meeting is Sept. 14.