Allegan County students can now earn free associate's degree

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, February 12, 2015

Allegan Tech Center

It's called Early College and it's a new way that students who attend school in Allegan County can get an associate's degree without paying tuition.

Through a partnership between the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency and Lake Michigan College students will have an opportunity to graduate high school with an Associate's Degree.

The program is scheduled to start in the fall of 2015 with approximately 50 students.

Classes for Early College of Allegan County, or ECAC, will be offered at the Tech Center in Allegan.

To get a degree, students take a mix of high school courses and college courses over three years--in 11th grade, 12th grade and in the following year, or "13th" grade.

There is no fee for classes, books, or transportation to the Tech Center for college courses.

Further, Early College students can participate in high school sports and extra-curricular activities during their junior and senior years as their schedules permit. During the 13th year, they are eligible for college intramural sports teams and clubs.

To be accepted in the ECAC program, students must apply. Selection is based on GPA, test scores and recommendations. Applicants and their families will be interviewed by the ECAC advisory team.

The 50 students who are enrolled in the program will come from across Allegan's seven school districts--Allegan, Fennville, Hopkins, Martin, Otsego, Plainwell, and Wayland.

Students can obtain more information at their high school guidance offices. For more information about ECAC, go here for more information about Early College Services at Lake Michigan College, please click here.

Lake Michigan College currently provides early college services in 52 area school districts. “We’ve had a lot of success so far," says LMC President Dr. Robert Harrison, "and we’re expanding and improving the program each year. We’re excited to extend this exceptional opportunity to students and families in Allegan County."

Source: Candice Elders, Lake Michigan College