Morgantown native Erin Fansler was able to finish the biology requirements for her major and get a feel for the college experience while still in high school.
Now a sophomore at West Virginia University, Fansler was enrolled in WVU’s ACCESS program as a senior at University High School.
“I would recommend it to anyone who can do it,” Fansler said. “I was able to get a better idea of how my college courses would work, what the first day would be like, syllabus, tests and labs. It really helped me learn how to study, and in the end I got A’s in all of my classes.”
Any West Virginia high school student who has exhausted all of a particular class, has a GPA of 3.0 or above, has received permission from their parent or guardian and high school principal, vice principal or guidance counselor can participate in the program.
Students who live in close proximity to WVU’s campus can take courses on campus, while students who live in other parts of the state are able to take courses through an online ACCESS program.
Recent numbers show that approximately 160 students from the Monongalia and Preston county areas participate in the on-campus program, and an estimated 640 students from around the state participate in the online program – and numbers continue to grow.
“This program is great. There is no downside. The online courses allow students from rural areas to become more familiar with college coursework. There is also a really high matriculation rate of students who participate in this program and go on to WVU,” said Cheryl Crowley, ACCESS coordinator with WVU Extended Learning.
Students across the state who take the online math course through WVU are able to take the course for a reduced rate of $195, and some districts will even cover some of the cost.
Students enrolled in the math course take the online class in a room with an in-school facilitator. The specially trained facilitator helps to make sure the students can access the course online, supervises any labs or tests and is there to answer questions.
Many students also take psychology, sociology and computer science through the ACCESS program.
“Many students enter college with 20/30 credit hours between Advanced Placement courses and the college courses. It allows them to graduate early from college or take a lighter course load, and the parents love it because it gives the students a chance to challenge themselves,” said Adele Siba, assistant director of the Office of Admissions.
For more information on the on-campus ACCESS program, visit
http://adm.wvu.edu/freshman/access .
For more information on the online ACCESS program, visit http://elearn.wvu.edu/Courses/access/index.html .
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cd/01/22/10
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