Last week was National Early College Awareness week, and to celebrate, SUNY Canton hosted approximately 40 freshmen and sophomores from nearby Massena Central High School and Ogdensberg Free Academy.
This past Friday, the new “college” students toured the new Roos House Athletic Center and the Grasse River Suites residence hall and received instruction in crime scene investigation, computer building, concrete experiments, and three-dimensional computer modeling.
All of the students who participated are a part of the Smart Scholars Early College High School program at SUNY Canton. The program was created with a $200,000 grant from the New York State Education Department. Through it, students can take college-level courses taught by their high school teachers and enhanced with opportunities from SUNY Canton.
Adrienne C. Rygel, an assistant professor in the civil and environmental technology program and Early College High School program coordinator said, “Our goal is to have students earn a minimum of 20 college credit hours before they graduate from High School.”
By enrolling in high school and college courses simultaneously, the program aims to increase high school graduation and college completions rates, one of SUNY’s goals in the seamless education pipeline.
Of the program, SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy said, “Students who earn college credits in high school are more likely to graduate and successfully attend college. This program allows us to provide quality, career-oriented educational opportunities to local high school students while preparing them for future success at the college level. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”