Starting in 2021, Lowellville started offering CCP courses to students through Youngstown State University and Eastern Gateway. CCP stands for College Credit Plus. According to the Ohio Department of Higher Education, “College Credit Plus is Ohio’s dual enrollment program that provides students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities.” Three years later, how have these advanced courses impacted students?
Dr.Hale, a teacher at Lowellville, is certified to teach college courses. He previously e taught CCP through Eastern Gateway Community College for two years. Based on his experience students were successful in his CCP Biology I and II courses because they were prepared for the higher expectations and level of responsibility. He also thinks an in person class is more beneficial in comparison to an online one because of the level of engagement. He stated, “something as simple as writing an assignment by hand is a slightly different experience than typing it, much like a real in a laboratory is different from looking at a slideshow.” He noted that students can learn about subjects in varied ways and have a deeper/broader understanding of the material. “Overall, it takes commitment and the ability to work through your academic problems as they arise, whether that be on your own or with support” he added.
Senior Joslyn Delisgnore took the CCP biology courses with Dr. Hale the first year it was offered. She said, “I definitely felt like the class was a better environment compared to how a high school class is set up because we were able to do more hands-on assignments and work at our own pace. I felt like I learned more information and I liked being able to ask Dr. Hale questions directly compared to emailing my professors for an online class.” Participating in CCP classes has helped Joslyn develop a stronger sense of responsibility and feel more prepared for the transition to college.
Junior Reeve Donatelli has been taking CCP for two years and is currently enrolled in Writing I. He shared that he is learning how to write longer papers in less time and is held to a higher standard compared to high school classes. One challenge he’s facing is that deadlines come up much faster than they do in regular high school classes.
Senior Maddie Esposito started taking CCP classes this year. Initially, she was planning to attend school out of state but realized the credits wouldn’t transfer. Since then, she decided to apply to colleges in Ohio. Maddie is glad she chose to take CCP classes because they will benefit her future. She explained, “A big benefit is getting some of your gen-eds out of the way, which saves you more money.”
Overall CCP has proven to be a valuable program for students. It provides a view into the expectations of college and students earn credits in advance. There is a common theme of time and workload management that students have been learning while taking these advanced classes.
