MacEwan University Associate Dean Michael Henry (left) shakes hands with Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Superintendent David Keohane Thursday afternoon at the District Office in St Albert. Greater St Albert Catholic Schools have partnered with MacEwan University in providing an opportunity for students to earn university credits while still in high school. – Lucie Roy Photo
By Morinville News Staff
Morinville – Students at Morinville Community High School will be able to begin registering for university credit courses at the school next week thanks to a new five-year partnership between MacEwan University and Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools.
The agreement signed by the two partners Feb. 28 will allow the district’s students to earn university level credits while attending high school.
It is the first such arrangement in the region and establishes an International School of Business with a focus on language and business programming. It will allow students to earn credit towards a high school diploma, which will also be eligible for credit at university, a combination that will allow high-performing students an enriched opportunity for a business career before finishing high school. Students will hold two student cards and can become MacEwan students as early as within the next eight months.
Both partners are excited about the joint opportunity and feel the courses offered will be attractive to students looking to accelerate their diploma course requirements and whom have an interest in pursuing post-secondary studies.
“Our students are ready to begin preparing for post-secondary when they enter our high schools and the opportunity for them to earn university credits in advance of formal entrance is tremendous,” said Greater St. Albert Catholic School Superintendent David Keohane in a press release Thursday. “We are always looking at ways to assist with the transition to post-secondary studies and this partnership supports this fully.”
Elsie Elford, Dean of MacEwan University School of Business finds the partnership equally beneficial. “We welcome any opportunity to enhance the student experience, on or off our campuses,” she said. “Our focus is on student well-being, providing them with as much accessibility as possible to higher education. The more career-focus we can provide in their high school years, the better prepared that student will be when they walk through our doors.”
Students starting Grades 9 to 12 in September 2013 can take advantage of the new course offerings. With enough enrollment MacEwan instructors will be on site to teach university-level business courses to the three senior high schools or students may be bused to any of the three participating schools: MCHS, St. Albert Catholic High School and École Secondaire St. Marguerite d’Youville.
In Grade 10, Chinese Language 10 would be offered as well as an introductory course. In the MacEwan University Asia-Pacific Management Diploma program students have an opportunity to do a six-week practicum in China, which was selected because three years ago Greater St. Albert signed an educational partnership with their sister jurisdiction – the Chongqing Nanan District Education Council in Chongqing.
Students and families interested in learning more should contact Morinville Community High School. Information on the program will be available during Morinville Community High School’s open house Mar. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.
