Calhoun to offer history class for college credit at Bob Jones

By GREGG L. PARKER

Dual enrollment to give students head start on next level

Teenagers ready to step into the collegiate realm have had a door open at Bob Jones High School.

Starting in January, Calhoun Community College will offer world history, sometimes called western civilization, on the Bob Jones campus. These dual enrollment classes "allow advanced students to take a college class while still in high school," said Gwen Baker, who is coordinating this program.

Baker, Bob Jones counselors Andrea Jones and Patty Piro and assistant principal Christie Finley collaborated on the idea. Bob Jones seniors completed a survey "to determine their interests for various courses on campus" and "showed an overwhelming response," Finley said. Students' top request was world history.

Finley said many Bob Jones students meet eligibility requirements for dual enrollment but don't have private transportation to Calhoun. "Offering the college course during the regular school day allows students with after-school jobs or athletic (or band) practices to participate."

Students are required to have a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average for high school work, an ACT score of 18 or SAT score of 780 and must have passed all parts of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

The subsequent course in world history offers the same credits. The class is scheduled during second block.

By completing the first course (HIS 121), a student earns one-half elective of high school credit and three hours of college credit. "Students successfully passing a post-secondary course will receive a 10-point weighted grade recorded on report card, high school official transcript and in the overall GPA calculation," Finley said.

Tuition and fees for each course cost $285. The textbook, "Survey of World Civilization Pre-History to Present," costs $108.75. Students must buy their own books.

The seniors' survey showed interest also in psychology, sociology and speech. "These courses meet most college and university core requirements and do not directly compete with Bob Jones advanced placement courses," she said.

Finley believes the dual enrollment with Calhoun is "a wonderful tool" and hopes students "will consider this opportunity as they begin to make post-secondary decisions."