Scott Swanson
Massive cuts at Linn-Benton Community College won’t affect Sweet Home High School students who are involved in the Accessing College Today program, which allows them to earn college credits for an enhanced diploma.
Pat Stineff, who retired as principal and is coordinating the ACT program, said she was told last week by LBCC officials that “things will stay pretty much the same.”
“The college is saying that ‘We highly value our partnerships with area high schools and want those relationships to continue to grow and help serve the needs of high school students,’” Stineff said, quoting a statement from the college. “‘The high schools will see no ill effect from the redesign.’”
Currently, of 27 students who committed to the ACT program before graduation last year, 14 are still in it and three have been added.
“We have 17 still going, doing well,” she said. “Four moved and a couple just dropped out. The rest flunked out. They didn’t get the grades, they didn’t follow the instructions. They just didn’t do it.”
Under the program, students walk in the graduation ceremony at the end of the school year but do not receive a diploma. Instead, they take some 36 to 40 college credits through LBCC to earn an enhanced high school diploma and be well on their way to an associate’s degree.
Combined with other programs, such as College Now, students can earn substantial college credit as high school students, paid for by the school district. The credits appear on their high school transcript.
Students can take advantage of the program through age 21, Stineff said.
She said LBCC officials with whom she spoke about the changes were not sure “what form the redesign will take internally.
“They’re sure it won’t negatively impact any of the high schools for the services they provide.
“This will only enhance the partnerships.”
Stineff said that more than 40 high school students have indicated that they’re interested in ACT.
“That doesn’t mean we have 40 going, but if we have 35 going, I’ll be happy,” she said.
After close to a year supervising the high school’s end of the program, Stineff said she’s “learned a ton.”
She said that students who dropped or flunked out of the program didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
“I can’t help them if they don’t help themselves,” she said. “If they don’t respond to e-mails, that’s part of the contract I have with them and if they don’t do that, I can’t do anything for them.”
That experience will help her this next year, she believes.
“If I can give them better direction, I’ll be happy.”