BANGOR — Husson University announced recently that its college of business and the Bangor School Department have signed an agreement creating the Bangor High School Business Academy. The initiative will allow high school students to earn college academic credits as they work toward a high school diploma.
To qualify, high school students must demonstrate that they have met the academic requirements necessary to earn course credit at Husson University. Students must meet specified learning outcomes in order to earn advanced standing toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. Advanced standing is earned by either demonstrating proficiency in specific course content or scoring at appropriate levels in advanced testing programs.
Husson University College of Business Dean Dr. Marie Hansen calls the agreement, “…a great opportunity for high school students interested in jump-starting their college careers. Students should be thinking about their future as early as the ninth grade. High school success can now count toward academic credit at the college level.”
In their freshman year, students will begin taking classes that expose them to a variety of business and accounting concepts to help them determine their career interests. Courses that count for college credit will be held at Bangor High School and on the campus of Husson University. Additional activities at Husson will include speakers, career fairs and other experiential learning opportunities for high school students. All courses carrying the potential for college credit are reviewed to ensure that learning aligns with college-level education.
Depending on the program of study, students entering college could receive credit for up to 30 credit hours. College credit in offerings beyond business may be earned by successfully completing advanced testing programs that determine a student’s level of knowledge in art history, languages, biology, chemistry, physics, economics or history.
“College credits earned via this agreement can be applied toward associate and bachelor degrees at Husson University,” said Hansen. “They can also be transferred to other colleges and universities. This provides students with a variety of options for planning their higher education trajectory.”
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Husson University to provide our students more opportunities for post-secondary learning and careers,” said Dr. Betsy Webb, superintendent of the Bangor School Department. “Having our students’ accelerated learning in high school recognized and rewarded is a great benefit and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff.”
For information, go to husson.edu.