Articles - Fall 2007 - return to index
Free college credits help Josh Simmons
get ahead in college and career
-By Chris Cunningham
For 18-year-old Josh Simmons, enrolling in Lane's College Now classes was a smart move. "I jumped at it. I mean, free college credits. There's nothing better."
By taking 38 credit hours of College Now math and chemistry classes on his Thurston High School campus, Josh figures he saved more than $2,100 in college tuition.
College-approved high school instructors teach College Now curricula using college course outlines and textbooks. The classes are available free of charge to all high school students in Lane County.
Career and technical courses, open to all high school students, range from automotive technology, construction, drafting, electronics, and welding, to business, computer information technology, culinary and hospitality services, early childhood education, and health services.
Juniors and seniors are eligible for academic transfer courses in art, English and French, math, science, and social science, and can apply the credits to other post-secondary institutions within the Oregon University System.
College Now saves time as well, Josh says. When he enrolls at Lane this fall, his College Now math and science credits will satisfy entry-level requirements,"allowing me to jump right into advanced level courses for my major."
As a bonus, Josh says Lane's smaller classes will boost his confidence before he transfers to Oregon State University, where he plans to study advanced engineering.
Simmons praises College Now instructors such as Thurston chemistry teacher Jim Tyser for holding students to high standards that prepare them for "what they can expect in college."
What's more, Josh says, College Now coursework can help students decide whether a particular field of study will be a good fit with their aspirations and aptitudes.
Josh developed a passion for building as a toddler. College Now has carried him closer to his lifelong goal of becoming an engineer specializing in bridge design and construction, "and other items that can be used in the real world by lots of people every day.
College Now "is a win-win," says Josh. "You save a lot of money and a lot of time."
View 2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/hsconnections/ for detailed information about college courses available at Lane County high schools.
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