Byesville Rotary gets update on Meadowbrook duel enrollment program

Pictured: Keith Arnold, Meadowbrook HS principal, and Chuck Fair, Byesville Rotary President.

Happy Fourth of July!

Keith Arnold, Meadowbrook High School principal, spoke to club members about the duel enrollment program now being offered at Meadowbrook. Arnold explained that duel enrollment allows a Meadowbrook student to take college level classes on the Meadowbrook campus. Duel enrollment classes earn a student both high school and college credit.

Arnold pointed out that duel enrollment classes differ from post secondary classes. Students enrolled in post secondary classes attend classes on a college/university campus. Disadvantages to this option include travel time, cost, and safety. Students are often unable to participate in many high school activities. Additionally, most colleges and universities do not inform high school staff about a student’s progress and often do not identify a problem early enough to help a student work through the problem. A student taking a duel enrollment class will be monitored by Meadowbrook staff who will step in and offer support if they see that a student is having difficulty.

Arnold explained that many of the students who chose to take post secondary classes are often student leaders. The dual enrollment program keeps those leaders at Meadowbrook. Arnold reported that an unexpected benefit of duel enrollment is that “…more kids can take advantage of college classes. Many kids realize they have more options for the future once they take a duel enrollment class and discover they can do college work.”

If a student chooses to go on to college, he/she will have the added bonus of entering college with college credits. Earning college credits in high school can help reduce the cost of college.

Arnold stated that the Meadowbrook duel enrollment program is 2 years old. The first year only 8 classes were offered. Classes were taught on campus. Sometimes the instructor came to campus. At other times the instructor came to Meadowbrook. A “Straight A Grant” enabled Meadowbrook to renovated an area and purchase the technology needed for the on-line classes. Plans are in progress to double and triple the number of courses taught in the program.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.