BAINBRIDGE – With the pressure on high school students to attend college after graduation, three students at Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District are showing that it’s possible to get a jump-start on a college career.
B-G seniors Morgan Shew, Darcy McElligott and Cadi Barber will be the first students form B-G – and in Chenango County – to graduate high school with an associates degree under their belts, thanks to a collaborative partnership between the district and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). The program allows B-G students to choose from more than 20 concurrent enrollment courses and several more online courses covering a wide variety of subjects from mathematics to art and design.
Concurrent enrollment courses are instructed by B-G teachers who have been approved as adjuncts by TC3 and have worked with the college to design their course. Tuition is offered at no cost to students as the school district bills the county for tuition expenses, and the college waives any additional fees. This collaboration gives students the chance to earn an associate’s degree over the course of their high school career. It’s a great way for students to explore future career options early on while saving a couple bucks, according to B-G Superintendent Donald Wheeler.
“You often hear small schools can't provide opportunities,” Wheeler said, citing hopes of adding new courses and bringing on new advisors next year. “We may not be able to provide them traditionally, but if we're willing to be creative and students are willing to put in the work, there are a lot of opportunities out there.”
As for the three girls who will have already earned a college degree when they walk across the podium at their high school graduation, they plan to continue their education at other colleges. And having already taken general studies courses at B-G, it’s likely they’ll save even more by completing a bachelor’s degree program within two to three years.
“We chose to take classes that interested us or had to do with what we wanted to do in college later on,” explained Shew, a biology major hopeful who will attend SUNY Albany in the fall. “I might have to retake some the science courses just to be sure I'm up to caliber; but other than that, I think I’ll be able to graduate a little bit earlier.”
“Students should decide early if they want to take classes or not,” added Barber, a prospective Wells College student. “It’s not easy fitting in all the courses with timing and extra curricular activities.”
“These students truly paved the way,” said B-G Guidance Counselor Nanci Miller. “The online experience for me as their advisor was foreign. It’s been a process and it hasn’t been easy. It’s been difficult on a lot of levels, but they hung in there and fought with us. There’s really been a learning curve.”
At present, more than 80 percent of B-G students are taking college level courses. Even if students choose not to pursue an associates degree, many take advantage of the opportunity of free courses should they enroll as a college student later on.