November 13, 2011

Mayor Emanuel Commends City Colleges of Chicago for Expansion of Dual Enrollment Program for Chicago Public Schools Students

Dual Enrollment Program Doubles in Size; More than 2,000 Students a Year to Earn Free College Credit While in High School

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Emanuel today commended the City Colleges of Chicago for their expansion of the Dual Enrollment program to 100 seats at each of the College's seven campuses, which will allow twice as many Chicago Public Schools juniors and seniors to earn college credit for free while still in high school through the City Colleges of Chicago’s expanded Dual Enrollment program.  

"In a modern economy and a rapidly changing world, Chicago's students must be able to take advantage of all opportunities to learn and develop, from kindergarten to college" said Mayor Emanuel. "Their success is essential to the long-term health and strength of our city."

The Dual Enrollment Program allows eligible CPS high school students the opportunity to take college courses at City Colleges of Chicago, free of charge.  Upon high school graduation, the earned college credit can be applied to a degree program at one of the City Colleges of Chicago or transferred to a four-year college or university.  

The City Colleges has increased the capacity of its Dual Enrollment program to offer twice the number of CPS students the opportunity to participate in the program.  Beginning in the Spring semester, which starts January 17th, City Colleges will offer 100 seats at each of its seven colleges across the city, for a total of 2,100 seats over three semesters in the 2012-2013 school year. Additionally, the City Colleges has made its course schedules available online at http://www.ccc.edu/student/ClassSchedules.asp, so students and their families may select courses.

“The Dual Enrollment program allows Chicago public high school students the opportunity to save both time and money by accelerating the path to a college degree and reducing the cost of a degree by potentially thousands of dollars,” said Chancellor Cheryl L. Hyman.  “Through our Reinvention effort, City Colleges of Chicago is working closely with the Chicago Public Schools to ensure Chicago students are college ready and are prepared with the skills to succeed in today’s workforce or successfully pursue further education.”

“We are working to provide our students with a quality education and rigorous curriculum that prepares them for college and career,” said CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard.  “Through the dual-enrollment program, City Colleges of Chicago is offering our students a unique opportunity to take college level coursework while still in high school, encouraging our students to explore college options and supporting their academic success. This partnership brings our district one step closer to graduating every student college ready.”

To qualify, students must:

  • Be a junior or senior in high school;
  • Have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA;
  • Have a 90% attendance rate;
  • Place at college level on the COMPASS placement exam or have an ACT reading score of at least 19 and math score of at least 21; and
  • Submit a signed parental permission form.   

Interested students can enroll by speaking with their high school advisor.  They may also contact dual enrollment advisors at their nearest CCC location.  

The City Colleges Dual Enrollment program is one of a number of partnerships developing between City Colleges and the Chicago Public Schools to ensure students are prepared for college-level work and are offered a seamless path to a post-secondary degree.  Approximately 25% of CPS students matriculate to City Colleges of Chicago.  In addition, 50% of CCC associate degree candidates are CPS graduates.  

The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) is the largest community college system in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, with 5,800 faculty and staff serving 120,000 students annually at seven campuses and thirteen satellite sites city-wide. The City Colleges of Chicago is in the midst of a Reinvention, a collaborative effort to review and revise CCC programs and practices to ensure students leave CCC college-ready, career-ready and prepared to pursue their life's goals. The City Colleges of Chicago includes seven colleges:  Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College.

 

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