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USM/CBHS Partnership Offers College Opportunities
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2007A new partnership between the University of Southern Maine (USM) and Casco Bay High School (CBHS) ensures that every CBHS junior and senior will have the opportunity to take a USM course. "We are eager to fulfill our pledge to graduate every student ready for college, for career and for citizenship," says CBHS Principal Derek Pierce. "The partnership, particularly its early college opportunities, will help us to realize our ambitions." The USM-CBHS partnership will be effective beginning in the fall of 2007. Like other Maine high school students, CBHS juniors and seniors recommended by their guidance counselor may take USM courses through the Aspirations Program on a space-available basis, after regular USM student enrollment is complete. But the partnership makes doing so more systematic. Students will be steered towards appropriate introductory courses that meet on the Portland and Gorham campuses after the CBHS day ends at 2 p.m. USM offers 1,450 class sections per semester, including some 250 sections on the Portland and Gorham campuses at 2 p.m. and after. Pierce explains, "This will open amazing opportunities that will appeal to the full range of our students." CBHS early college students will also receive targeted support and counseling, from both USM and their high school advisors, to ensure a successful experience. Students will be responsible for paying standard USM student fees, including the cost of course books. As is the case for all Aspirations Program students at USM, the State pays for one-half of tuition costs for one course per semester through funding allocated by the Legislature, and the University waives the remaining tuition. "The USM-CBHS partnership allows the university to become even more supportive of increasing the aspirations of Maine high school students," says Joseph Wood, USM's provost and vice president for academic affairs. USM Professor of Education Lynne Miller has studied college readiness and completion rates and notes that, "Research indicates that freshmen who arrive on campus having completed one to two college courses gain momentum and increase the probability of graduating from college on time." The partnership, adds Wood, "will facilitate other connections between the two institutions." CBHS students will have the opportunity to develop research and information literacy skills at USM's Glickman Family Library. Students, like all community members, also will have borrowing privileges. In addition, CBHS students will have periodic access to USM athletic facilities for health and physical education classes. "The partnership," says Wood, "builds on earlier collaborations in which University faculty have contributed to the high school's learning expeditions in topics ranging from astronomy to economics, technology, and Greek philosophy." The Portland-based Casco Bay High School for Expeditionary Learning is Maine's newest public high school and currently educates 165 freshmen and sophomores. Next year, it will grow to include a class of about 80 juniors. "Taking a course at USM will allow students to explore particular passions in depth while also spurring further interest in both high school and college, " said CBHS Sophomore Allie Heller, who was on the CBHS Readiness Task Force that made the initial recommendation for all students to have an early college experience. CBHS parent Mary Gross agreed. "I can hardly wait for my son to take advantage of the tremendous resources on the USM campus." USM is planning a welcoming event for May 3 so that CBHS students can become more familiar with the programs and facilities on USM's Portland and Gorham campuses. |
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