Post by admin1 on Aug 25, 2007 1:10:00 GMT -5
HCC offers free tuition for low-income honor students
Houston Community College is opening the doors to a new college
designed to help low income, academically-gifted students get a college
education.
Admitted students in The Honors College at Houston Community College,
will receive The Honors College Fellows Award, which covers the cost of
in-state tuition, fees and books.
The college-within-a-college is at 1300 Holman at HCC's Central
College, 3100 Main St.
"Our program is targeted toward low-income and minority students, a
significant focus at HCC," said Cheryl Peters, academic dean at HCC
Central, who is overseeing the program.
"The free tuition and community-like environment will help these
students stay in college and obtain a degree."
Making the grade
Students must have a grade-point average of 3.7 or a combined score of
1200 on the SAT (or comparable score on other college entrance exams).
Jonathan Cloud,18, applied for the program after seeing a flyer at
school.
A graduate of Lamar High School, Cloud said he was headed to University
of Houston Downtown, until he found out about The Honors College.
" The program is everything to me," Cloud said. "It's like if I do well
in this honors program, I could go to an Ivy League school."
Cloud, who wants to study engineering, said his parents were concerned
about paying for college.
"They think it's great; Now they won't have to pay any tuition."
More to come
Peters credits former board president, Jay Ayier for initiating plans
to open the new college.
"He heard about an honors college at Miami Dade (Florida) and we are an
organization like Miami Dade: We are a large comprehensive community
college that has multiple sights and a large enrollment," said Peters,
adding a delegation from HCC visited the Florida-based institution in
September 2006, and the board approved the new HCC college in late
April 2007.
The aim is to help disadvantaged students, she said, "but students who
have all of the potential talent, but not the finances, are welcome to
apply."
Peters said students must have a 3.70 grade point average an"Any
students who are close to these requirements may call me," she said.
"If people have any trouble finding anything, call me, call me, call
me."
The first day of school is Monday, but Peters said there still are some
slots available.
"We're still trying to recruit 25-40 students, that's our realistic
number," said Peters. "We're accepting first time college students,
recent graduates, or if they have been out of school four or five
years."
About the program
Peters said the program is taught around common themes and students
will take classes together in a cohort.
She said each student will be assigned an individual mentor and receive
individual counseling plans. They also will attend leadership seminars
once a week.
"We think of it as a whole program and we're going to do a lot of
things to develop leadership skills in these children."
Peters said they plan to offer study travel opportunities.
"We are determined to help create global students," she said. "I'm
going to push, push, push travel opportunities."
Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com
Houston Community College is opening the doors to a new college
designed to help low income, academically-gifted students get a college
education.
Admitted students in The Honors College at Houston Community College,
will receive The Honors College Fellows Award, which covers the cost of
in-state tuition, fees and books.
The college-within-a-college is at 1300 Holman at HCC's Central
College, 3100 Main St.
"Our program is targeted toward low-income and minority students, a
significant focus at HCC," said Cheryl Peters, academic dean at HCC
Central, who is overseeing the program.
"The free tuition and community-like environment will help these
students stay in college and obtain a degree."
Making the grade
Students must have a grade-point average of 3.7 or a combined score of
1200 on the SAT (or comparable score on other college entrance exams).
Jonathan Cloud,18, applied for the program after seeing a flyer at
school.
A graduate of Lamar High School, Cloud said he was headed to University
of Houston Downtown, until he found out about The Honors College.
" The program is everything to me," Cloud said. "It's like if I do well
in this honors program, I could go to an Ivy League school."
Cloud, who wants to study engineering, said his parents were concerned
about paying for college.
"They think it's great; Now they won't have to pay any tuition."
More to come
Peters credits former board president, Jay Ayier for initiating plans
to open the new college.
"He heard about an honors college at Miami Dade (Florida) and we are an
organization like Miami Dade: We are a large comprehensive community
college that has multiple sights and a large enrollment," said Peters,
adding a delegation from HCC visited the Florida-based institution in
September 2006, and the board approved the new HCC college in late
April 2007.
The aim is to help disadvantaged students, she said, "but students who
have all of the potential talent, but not the finances, are welcome to
apply."
Peters said students must have a 3.70 grade point average an"Any
students who are close to these requirements may call me," she said.
"If people have any trouble finding anything, call me, call me, call
me."
The first day of school is Monday, but Peters said there still are some
slots available.
"We're still trying to recruit 25-40 students, that's our realistic
number," said Peters. "We're accepting first time college students,
recent graduates, or if they have been out of school four or five
years."
About the program
Peters said the program is taught around common themes and students
will take classes together in a cohort.
She said each student will be assigned an individual mentor and receive
individual counseling plans. They also will attend leadership seminars
once a week.
"We think of it as a whole program and we're going to do a lot of
things to develop leadership skills in these children."
Peters said they plan to offer study travel opportunities.
"We are determined to help create global students," she said. "I'm
going to push, push, push travel opportunities."
Brought to you by the HoustonChronicle.com