Most people know that Robeson Community College has had a partnership with the Public Schools of Robeson County for almost 10 years now in the form of the Robeson Early College High School. The high school is officially part of the Public Schools of Robeson County but is housed on Robeson Community College’s campus, which allows participants easy access to college offerings.

High school classes are taught by high school teachers in buildings owned by the college. Students begin taking high school classes as ninth-graders, but fairly quickly begin adding college level courses to their schedules so that over the course of five years, they have the opportunity to earn not only their high school diplomas, but also associate degrees from the college. It is a fantastic opportunity for students and graduates to earn degrees in engineering, pharmacy and teaching from schools such as North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University among others. Opportunity is there for students, but parents also benefit in that their children can earn those first two years of college credit tuition-free.

Early College High School has a lot of benefits, but many students are reluctant to leave their traditional high school to take advantage of those benefits. Fortunately, they don’t have to. Through a program known as College and Career Promise, Robeson Community College can offer every student who qualifies the opportunity to earn college credit while remaining enrolled in the traditional high school. This program is also tuition-free.

Many College and Career Promise courses are actually being delivered at the county’s traditional high schools. Every public high school in the county has the capability to receive these courses through information highway rooms in the schools. In this scenario, the instructor from Robeson Community College will video conference with students at their respective schools. Fairmont and Purnell Swett high schools also make classroom space available and Robeson Community College instructors go to those schools to deliver the courses. Discussion is underway at at least one private high school in the county about offering college level courses there also.

For students who can arrange transportation, most courses on our main campus and those available at COMtech are open to them also. This is a great way for a student who knows what he or she wants to do after graduation to get an early start. It’s also a way for those who may not yet know what they want to do to explore their options.

Once they graduate high school, students are guaranteed by legislative action that these credits will transfer to any of the universities in the UNC system whether they attend The University of North Carolina at Pembroke or UNC Chapel Hill. Many private colleges will also accept these courses. In some cases, students may earn high school credit for the courses as well, helping them meet their high school graduation requirements.

This is a great way for students to get a head start on a four-year college degree, but the opportunity is not limited to those seeking a four-year degree. Career and Technical Education students can earn credits towards a technical degree at a two- year school tuition-free also. Counselors or principals must confirm student eligibility before enrollment in the program. Tuition charges for each student’s college classes are paid by the North Carolina General Assembly. Student fees and textbook costs are the student’s only expenses.

College and Career Promise is open to juniors and seniors who qualify, including home-schooled students. Students interested in participating should contact their high school counselor or Patricia Locklear, recruiter at Robeson Community College. Locklear can be reached at 910-272-3356 or by email at [email protected]. For information about the program, visit robeson.edu/high-school.

Finally, for those who have a high school diploma or its equivalency, Robeson Community College continues to enroll students for fall semester through the next week. If you are interested in taking fall classes, contact the admissions office at 910-272-3342, or visit campus today. Classes are filling and time is running out.

Dennis Watts
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_watts_cmyk.jpgDennis Watts

Dennis Watts is the public information officer for Robeson Community College.