Michael Jones and Taylor Parks of Salisbury both took college level courses at Catawba while they were still in high school.
Michael, whose mother Jill is a Catawba alumna, graduated from North Hills Christian School. He took two theatre arts courses at Catawba while he was a senior in high school. Taylor, a graduate of West Rowan High School, took a general chemistry course while she was a high school senior. Both are now enrolled at Catawba and they arrived with course credit.
If you’re a local high school junior or senior, you can take free college level courses at Catawba College that give you a chance to enter Catawba or another higher education institution with college credit. Catawba’s Joint Enrollment option allows high school students to try Catawba on for size.
Qualified high school juniors and seniors, including those in Early College programs, can take one course tuition-free each fall and spring at Catawba. This means you could take up to four college-level courses tuition-free, incurring only expenses for textbooks and parking, if needed.
Students must apply no later than Jan. 2 for spring semester (Aug. 1 for fall semester). A written recommendation from a guidance counselor, an official high school transcript and at least one set of standardized test scores (either SAT or ACT) are required of all Joint Enrollment applicants. To apply online, visit www.catawba.edu/requests/appspecial.asp
Credit earned in the Joint Enrollment program will be counted toward hours needed for graduation at Catawba. Some of these earned course credits may transfer to other colleges and universities, but that is at the discretion of those institutions.
“This is a wonderful way for high school juniors and seniors to get a taste of college-level courses,” explained Catawba’s Vice President of Enrollment Lois Williams. “The courses that Joint Enrollment students take here and earn at least a C in count toward satisfaction of course requirements at Catawba.
“Students also get to see if Catawba is a good fit for them as they consider what to do after their high school graduation. We know that often students who experience Catawba, enroll at Catawba.”