It's going to be a busy semester for everyone at Pitt Community College. School officials say 8,000 students have asked for financial aid for this semester; a record number. In addition, enrollment jumped by 50% this year.
Now getting a spot at the school is hard enough for conventional students this year; but for high-schoolers looking to get a leg up on college it's even tougher.
Back in May, the General Assembly announced a plan to cut to the dual enrollment program—a program that lets high-schoolers 16 and older enroll in community college courses without paying tuition and fees. But in a last minute compromise in the state budget, lawmakers agreed to allow the program to continue, but high school students would have to pay for courses in Humanities, English and Communications--that's if they're available.
“Almost everything is full with college students,” said PCC Vice-president for Academic Affairs Pamela Hilbert. “And it is in the NC Administrative Code that we're not allowed to displace college students with the dual-enrolled high school students.
But Pitt Community College will waive fees for students who chose science, math and vocational courses.
Hilbert adds, “It's not just a matter--that they save money. But it also means they get a head start on college. It helps them decide on their career--when they go to college they don't take as long to finish.
The problem now, for some students it’s going to take longer to get in.
High-schoolers do have other options; the Department of Public Instruction is offering academically qualified students the option to take any college transferable course online for free.
For a link & an application to the Learn & Earn program type in the Keywords: Online Classes.
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