USM -LAC announces new College Scholars partnership

USM -LAC Dean, Joyce Gibson, poses with USM mascot, Champ

Lewiston High School (LHS) and USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College (USM LAC) are pleased to announce a new partnership, the College Scholars Program.

The College Scholars Program will allow interested Lewiston High School seniors to take their required senior English and Government courses as well as enroll in tuition-free college courses, all on the campus of Lewiston-Auburn College, starting Fall 2013.

The program is being created with students in mind who are ready to take “the next step” toward transition to college while still in high school.  The students engaged in the College Scholars Program will still be considered full-time Lewiston High School students and will graduate with their class, and they will still be allowed and encouraged to participate in their senior year activities and events.  Most students will be dual-enrolled and still take some additional coursework at the high school.

Participating students and their families will also learn more about applying to, financing, and succeeding in college, thanks to activities offered by College for ME-Androscoggin (C4ME-A), a third partner in this initiative.

The new program could save students and their families thousands of tuition dollars by facilitating completion of required high school courses and, at the same time, accumulation of transferable college credits.  A typical College Scholar will be able to graduate from Lewiston High School and enter college with as many as a full semester’s worth of college credits already accumulated.  They will also have a unique opportunity to be a part of USM LAC’s campus.

Lewiston-Auburn College Dean Joyce Gibson expressed her enthusiasm for the new program, saying, “This collaboration with Lewiston High School is an example of a strong educational partnership that is a win-win for our respective institutions and an even bigger win for our community!”

The Lewiston School Board unanimously approved the initiative at their meeting on March 11, 2013.  Read more in the Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal.