SM Mag S11 12-26_Layout 1 5/4/11 2:53 PM Page 14
PACC gives high school students a jump on college Now freshmen at SMU, John Soucheray and Rim Woldeslassie knew that taking PACC (Program for Advanced College Credit) while attending high school made sense (and cents). Through SMU’s unique dualenrollment college credit program, students at private affiliate high schools are able to take college-level courses right in their own high schools. Students then receive college credit from Saint Mary’s. There’s no question it saved them money. At the reduced rate of $60 per credit, each saved $2,370 in tuition for three credits alone. The more PACC courses a student takes, the more money they could potentially save on housing and student fees, as well as tuition. Soucheray, from Hill Murray High School in Woodbury, Minn., is also quick to tout the edge taking a college-level course gave him academically. “It was also a good way to get into the groove and understand what a college education was like,” he said. “The (theology PACC) course was definitely a step up from my usual high school courses. The people in the class were there to get college credit; they wanted to get ahead in college, and it was good to be in a class with those type of people who were willing to work harder.” Woldeslassie, who attended CretinDerham Hall High School in St. Paul, agrees: “I would have to say that academically (my PACC physics class) was as challenging and fulfilling as any other class I have taken here at Saint Mary’s. It was a nice taste of what college work was going to be like and I could check off one more general requirement, so I can focus on what classes I like for my major.” Soucheray says it was nice to begin college a few credits ahead of the majority of his classmates. The early credits take a little pressure off of students’ credit course loads down the line. And the edge it gave him in being able to select his classes earlier was an added bonus. (Course registration is set up so that those with more credits get to register earlier and thereby are more likely to get their desired classes.)
14
SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE
“It puts you one step ahead in your A wide variety of PACC courses are college career, and that’s huge to be one available in English, history, math, media communication, modern/classical step ahead of the curve. That’s one class more that I don’t have to take. I knew that languages, the sciences, political science, I wanted to go to Saint Mary’s and when I art, theatre, theology, sociology and psychology. heard I could get credit for Saint Mary’s, I More requirements must be met jumped at the option to be ahead of the before a high school junior or senior is game. I knew it was going to be a good accepted into the PACC program. discount of money. I would definitely Students must meet academic recommend it,” he said. Woldeslassie adds, “PACC has helped requirements (at least a 'B' average and a score in at least the 50th percentile on a me succeed so far in college, and it was a standardized test), and be endorsed by the great class to take to get ready for what high school and register through SMU. was ahead.” Students, parents, teachers and high Judi Becker, director of PACC, school administrators must all agree that explains the perks of taking these the student has a high potential to advanced college courses are numerous. succeed in the PACC placement. For starters, it’s convenient. “The main Courses are accepted by and difference between PACC and the Post transferred to many other colleges who Secondary Enrollment Option is that with PACC, students never have to leave their schools,” Becker Rim Woldeslassie and explains. High school teachers John Soucheray both with content-related master’s took PACC courses to get a head start on their degrees teach the PACC college careers. courses at the students’ individual high schools. This distinctive program was started in 1985 by SMU in response to the need by Catholic high schools. Back then, Becker said, the program was ahead of its time. Since then, many schools have modeled similar programs after SMU’s. Interested private high schools contact Becker with inquiries about collaborating as an institution. They then must go through a series of approval systems through SMU department chairs and have agreed to participate. Courses are the vice president for Academic Affairs most often accepted in credit towards before they are granted the partnership general education requirement and and approved for the courses proposed. electives. Currently 25 high schools in Minnesota, For Becker it’s the personal contact Wisconsin and Illinois are offering PACC that makes PACC so successful — with through Saint Mary’s. over 1,100 students registered this Becker said there are a number of semester. ways Saint Mary’s assures that PACC “We’re people; we’re not just courses are rigorous and relevant. Saint affiliation on paper or online,” Becker said. Mary’s visits and completes observations in “We serve our high schools in a very PACC classrooms and collaborates with personal way, and people are so high school teachers. Syllabi must be appreciative of the opportunity to partner approved and match the goals and with us. It’s a source of pride to be outcomes of the same courses taught at affiliated with SMU, and high schools use SMU. Course evaluations are completed it in their own recruiting. each semester. Teachers go through an “Students about to start graduate approval process. And, just like college school have sent us letters expressing a courses, students’ grades in PACC courses deep gratitude for the part PACC played take into account the work and effort put in their success. They tell us, ‘Thank you in the entire year on various tests and for the outstanding head start you gave projects. me.’ ”≠
SPRING 2011