County high school students earning college credit
Local students can earn college credit while still in high school once again as Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) and Lincoln County School District are partnering to provide students with easy access to some fundamental courses, with credits they can transfer to four-year universities or community colleges upon graduating high school.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with so many dedicated and skilled high school teachers,” said Dan Lara, OCCC’s Chief Academic Officer. “These instructors meet all the qualifications required by OCCC and Portland Community College.”
OCCC is regionally accredited through an Educational Services Agreement with PCC.
Since July 2014, Oregon Coast Community College has been engaged in an effort to earn independent accreditation. In August, the College submitted a report to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities that amounts to its application for initial accreditation. Complete details about the College’s pursuit of independent accreditation can be found on its website, oregoncoastcc.org.
Earning college credits
Like Oregon State University, Western Oregon, University of Oregon and other four-year schools, OCCC operates on a quarterly schedule (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer), while the Lincoln County School District and its high schools operate on a semester schedule.
There are a variety of Dual Credit courses students may take this year, and some operate on a trimester schedule (Biology 101, 102 & 103 – taught by Sara Pursel at Taft High School), others are available on a semester basis to more closely match the high school calendar, and still others are presented as year-long classes (Math 111, taught by Jingyi You, plus Writing 121 and Comm 111, both taught by Kriste York, all at Siletz Valley High School).
The semester course lineup offers classes at Toledo, Waldport, Newport and Taft high schools. First semester classes include Early Childhood Education (ECE 120 and 124), Health & Fitness (HE 295/PE 295), College Algebra (MTH 111), Calculus (MTH 251), and English Composition (WR 121).
In the second semester, students can continue on with similar classes, including Elementary Functions (MTH 112), Calculus II (MTH 251), and English Composition (WR 122), along with three Early Childhood Education courses.
Offerings vary by high school and interested students should check with their advisors.
Planning for the future
Lincoln County high school seniors are invited to schedule a visit at Oregon Coast Community College any time. Call 541-867-8501 or check oregoncoastcc.org for details.
Scholarship opportunities, including the Oregon Coast Scholars scholarship program, can provide free tuition for any student graduating with a 3.5 GPA or better. Complete details are available on the college website.
Each year, county graduating seniors choose to start their college careers at home, saving money and preparing for the four-year degree experience by earning the first two years of their credits at OCCC.
The College has transfer agreements with many Oregon schools – for example, students pursuing a business transfer degree can meet with OSU College of Business academic advisors to ensure they are taking the most appropriate courses for the particular degree(s) they plan to pursue once transferring to Corvallis for their junior and senior years.
Learn more about transfer degrees, and OCCC’s other two-year degree and one-year certificate programs, by meeting with an OCCC academic advisor. Meetings are free and can be scheduled any time at oregoncoastcc.org/advising.
