Dual Enrollment with Provost Hynick and Ashmeet

Transcript

When it comes to helping students get a jump on their education, Provost Karen Hynick knows the best way to meet students where they’re at and offer opportunities to start even before they graduate high school. While I was on campus this week, I caught up with Provost Hynick to discuss her plans to expand early access across the state of Connecticut. Check it out. You know what I find fascinating is how many high school students are on these campuses.

– I know, it’s amazing. We have about 10% of our student body are dually enrolled. That means there are high school students taking college classes, usually on the college campus, getting earlier exposure to college experiences and saving time and saving money.

– Wow, how does a high school student qualify for the program?

– We’re very fortunate at CT State, eligibility starts as early as ninth grade.

– [Alex] Wow.

– [Karen] As long as the student meets the same prerequisite as any other student taking the class, they can take it.

– I wish I took college classes when I was in high school.

– Me too.

– So is it intimidating for the high school students?

– I mean, I think in some ways it may be, but really think about the demographic that’s first generation, right?

– Yeah.

– Students who didn’t grow up knowing how to navigate higher ed physically getting the chance to be on our campus, actually experiencing college classes, experiencing our services. It’s a game changer. They know they belong after coming through dual enrollment and that’s what the data says.

– It is a powerful program.

– It really is, and I could talk with you all day long about dual enrollment.

– Are you kicking me out?

– I’m kicking you out because I got a meeting I gotta go to, but I want you to hear from a student because they tell the story best.

– [Alex] Okay.

– [Karen] They’re inside our beautiful library.

– [Alex] Okay.

– Her name is Ashmeet, and you can hear what her experience has been like.

– Thank you so much.

– Thank you so much for being here.

– All right. We’ll see you soon.

– See you soon.

– [Alex] Thank you.

– [Karen] Thank you.

– Ashmeet?

– Hi, Alex.

– Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to meet you.

– So nice to meet you too.

– Oh, well, I’m so excited about this. What is it like being a high school student on college campus here?

– Alex, it’s awesome. Being a high school student and being able to use all the resources that college provides such as this amazing library that we’re in, it’s really nice being able to talk to college professors and getting the whole college experience while I’m still in high school.

– It’s so incredible. So you’re in dual enrollment, where are you hoping that this program takes you in the future personally?

– So in the future, first of all, I wanna say I’m really appreciative of CT State for providing sort of the foundation for my career. When I graduate, I’ll be walking out of here with nine credits, which is really beneficial because I’m applying to universities like University of Connecticut, Boston University, and Ivy League such as Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania. I feel like being here doing the dual enrollment program, it will give me a leg up in the college admissions process.

– Wow, you are so impressive. There are like millions of high school students that I bet are jealous you right now and if you’re one of those institutions, you have to accept Ashmeet. You are so impressive.

– Thank you.

– Thank you so much for meeting up in this.

– Thank you.

– It is really cool what you’re doing.

– Thank you.

– Gaining college credits even before graduating high school is what many students today are seeking to accomplish. You can really get a sense of the impact both on students’ lives and in the local region by incorporating these opportunities early in the educational journey. Thank you for sharing that with us, Dr. Hynick, and you too, Ashmeet, thanks again.