High school students in Georgia now have even greater opportunities to get a jump start on their collegiate futures thanks to two bills passed during this year’s spring legislative session. While dual enrollment has been possible in Georgia since 2009, major changes were made April of this year to expand and streamline these opportunities for our students. Governor Nathan Deal, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, and the 2015 Georgia General Assembly partnered to pass SB 2 and SB 132, both of which remove barriers to dual enrollment participation and expand opportunities for students.
SB 132, the “Move On When Ready Act,” is one of Deal’s legislative priorities and is based off recommendations from the 2014 Dual Enrollment Task Force. SB 2 further aligns Georgia’s K-12 education system with the state’s post-secondary institutions, allowing high school students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma while working toward a technical certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree. Georgia students can take advantage of these changes beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year.
“It’s a new day and new opportunities abound for high school students and we at SRTC are prepared and committed to doing our part. We are excited to partner with our local high schools in our seven-county service delivery area to provide increased educational opportunities for high school students through the new Move on When Ready program. The new program streamlines the process for both students and parents, allows high school students to earn college credit while working on their high school diploma, and provides opportunities to explore high demand career options. We value our partnerships with the local school systems and are committed to high school students and their parents to provide excellent programs and services to meet their needs. We anticipate a record enrollment during fall semester,” commented Joyce Halstead, SRTC Vice President for High School Initiatives and Enrollment Management.
What exactly does this mean for students? The new MOWR Dual Enrollment Program enhances student engagement, improves graduation rates, and increases student learning. These students will be better prepared for the college curriculum of a two- or four-year college, and dual enrollment gives students extra opportunities to get a head start on a career path they desire.
The new MOWR Dual Enrollment Program streamlines the existing dual enrollment options (Accel, HOPE Grant, etc.) into one program with one funding source. By consolidating the existing programs into a single program, it will be easier for students and parents to navigate and take advantage of the available options to enroll in college courses while still in high school. MOWR also includes provisions to help remove some of the financial barriers that may prevent students from participating in dual enrollment.
Furthermore, the new bills have opened doors for more students than ever before. Any student approved and classified as a 9th -12th grader by the eligible high school and accepted as a MOWR student at the participating postsecondary institution is eligible to participate. All students must meet the postsecondary admission requirements.
It must also be noted that there is no tuition cost to participating students. In fact, textbooks are also provided by the college. The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers the program which is funded through state appropriations.
For more information about the Move On When Ready program please contact Mandy Ponder at mponder@southernregional.edu or Missy Stanaland at mstanaland@southernregional.edu.
SRTC offers over 155 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 27 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Ashburn, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton, and Sylvester for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.
Fall Semester 2015 begins August 18th. Don’t wait, enroll today!