Early college students will once again be a part of YSU

By the measure that counts, Youngstown Early College is doing exceptionally well in preparing its students for the academic rigors of higher education. The excellent rating YEC has consistently received in the state standardized tests is the diamond in the rough — the rough being the overall academic performance of the Youngstown City School District.

The district was in state mandated academic emergency from 2009 until last year when it was placed in academic watch on the strength of improved student attendance.

Youngstown Early College, therefore, must be able to maintain its high standards. And, given that the 250 or so students taking college-level courses intend to pursue their degrees, the campus experience is invaluable — which is where Youngstown State University comes in.

YEC was started in 2004 as a joint venture between the city school system and Youngstown State. It enabled selected high-school students to take college-level courses while completing their high-school education.

The key to the program’s success has been the college-campus setting for the participants. The high schoolers attend classes in YSU’s Fedor Hall.

The arrangement was intact until 2010 when Youngstown State’s board of trustees decided that the financially-challenged institution could no longer afford to participate.

Much to the relief of the everyone involved, Eastern Gateway Community College stepped in and agreed to a three-year transition plan that would culminate in its taking the place of YSU.

Early College students are still able to take courses at YSU, but given that Eastern Gateway now has established its Youngstown campus in the Plaza Place building on the east end of downtown, the city school system is concerned that the YEC students would lose access to Youngstown State’s campus.

“The city schools came to us with concerns that if students didn’t have the campus experience, their success might be compromised,” said Dr. Ikram Khawaja, YSU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Students who intend to pursue college degrees benefit greatly from taking college-level courses on campus. The environment is part of the learning process.

And so, a new agreement has been worked out that will restore the YEC-YSU partnership, but will also enable students to take courses at Eastern Gateway.

It’s a good deal for everyone concerned — the students, their parents or guardians and the institutions of higher education.

Addendum

Last year, YSU’s board of trustees approved an addendum to the transition plan to allow YEC juniors to have the option of being either YSU or Eastern Gateway students.

The latest agreement goes a step for further, allowing students to opt to take classes at either Eastern Gateway or YSU.

With the school district agreeing to cover the YEC students’ tuition costs, YSU’s financial concerns have been alleviated. When the program first began, the full tuition was covered by the state and grant money from KnowledgeWorks and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The bottom line is that the students, many of whom would be the first in their families to pursue higher education, will be able to fulfill their dreams without the uncertainty of where they will be attending classes.