Two dozen juniors and seniors from the Warren County School District's four high schools are taking college accredited courses through St. Bonaventure University's new dual-enrollment program, according to program committee member Bob Crowley.
"The kids absolutely love the program," Crowley told the audience in attendance at the WCCBI's Eggs and Issues series Friday morning. "They love the experience, they love the challenge. I believe everything is going very, very well."
The dual-enrollment program between the New York State private university and the school district is in its first year.
Construction of a permanent facility for the program at the Pine Grove Ambulatory Surgery Center in Pine Grove Township is scheduled to be completed later this month.
The program's second semester is scheduled to begin at the Pine Grove center on Jan. 13.
Warren County students participating in the program will be able to earn up to 59 college credits, just shy of earning official junior status in college by the time they graduate from the school district.
St. Bonaventure began offering classes in the county at a temporary site at Holy Redeemer Center in Warren earlier this fall. The permanent facility will include four classrooms, two labs, break rooms and office space for administration and faculty.
"Some of the students are now taking five courses, 16 to 18 hours," Crowley said. "We think this is excellent for this first year."
Crowley said there are plans to sit down with the school district's sophomores next semester to discuss the benefits of joining the dual-enrollment program.
"Any number of us are available to talk to students and parents who are interested in finding out more about the program," said committee member John Papalia, CEO of Warren General Hospital. "Any opportunity we can have to talk to people about how this works, we are happy to do that."