A partnership between Zane State College and Tri-Valley High School has made such an enormous impact on the lives of college-bound students for the past five years. Tri-Valley students have an opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from Zane State College with the College Credit Plus program, formerly known as Post Secondary.
College Credit Plus (CCP) is completely free to Tri-Valley Students. This means there is no cost for books, tuition, or any other fees. Some students even graduate with an associate degree at the same time they earn their high school diploma, saving thousands of dollars.
The value the program provides is monumental. Besides the monetary benefits, CCP students will gain a better understanding of the expectations of college life and will learn social, organizational, and time management skills in the process.
Grades earned for high school and college credit will be calculated into the student’s GPA and are on their college transcript. General credits obtained through the program can be applied to a bachelor’s degree offered at another college or university. Courses can be taken in person at the high school, on the ZSC campus, online, or any combination of these methods.
Although the state allows students in grades seven through 12 to apply for the program most CCP students are in high school with the vast majority of them being juniors and seniors. To be deemed “eligible” a student must complete an assessment exam. It is a rigorous program where students must adhere to the requirements of the college.
“We really value our Tri-Valley partnership. Tri-Valley CCP students are exceptional students that are able to jump into college rigor,” said Heather Shepherd, Assistant Dean to Provost at Zane State College.
Shepherd is one of several staff members and professors that make up the team at Zane State College’s CCP Program. Kelly Maddox, a CCP Math Instructor at Tri-Valley has been involved in the program longer than nearly all of the other CCP faculty and has seen the program evolve through the years. “I really enjoy CCP, a lot of the faculty do, it has improved over the years,” stated Maddox. The CCP high school teachers are seen as an extension of the ZSC faculty and have the same development and resources as their on-campus colleagues. Likewise, all CCP students are treated equally and are on the same level as all other students who are paying tuition.
For Tri-Valley there are currently 119 enrollments in the Zane State CCP program, some students are enrolled in multiple classes. A total of 400 credit hours have been earned for the fall semester alone. Courses are worth three to five credits each and CCP students can earn up to 30 credit hours per year. Classes fall into four subject areas: math, English, accounting and business, and anatomy and psychology.
Tri-Valley is not the only school where the college’s CCP program is being utilized. Zane State has partnered with 21 different schools, six of which are in Muskingum County! Recently Zane State added three alternative campuses where students can earn more than half a college degree. ZSC is open to adding additional high school partnerships.
Any student who is interested in the College Credit Plus Program through Zane State College can get more information, and start the application process on the ZSC website, zanestate.edu/ccp. Letters of intent are due to the high school by April 1, 2021, and the application is due to ZSC by July 1, 2021.
CAPTION: Tri-Valley CCP Instructors and representatives from the ZSC CCP program pictured in front of Tri-Valley High School from left to right Mysti Hobson, Department Director of Mathematics at Zane State College; Krista Campbell, CCP Math Instructor at Tri-Valley High School; Lori McLoughlin, CCP Anatomy and Psychology Instructor at Tri-Valley High School; Kimberly Devoll, CCP Accounting and Business Instructor at Tri-Valley High School; Kelley Maddox, CCP Math Instructor at Tri-Valley High School; Brooke Graham, CCP English Instructor at Tri-Valley High School; and Heather Shepherd, Assistant Dean to Provost at Zane State College.
