Today, the University of Mount Olive School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences introduced an opportunity for secondary students to enroll in college classes at the North Carolina CTE Conference. The team of presenters today included Dr. Steve Matthis and Dr. Jason Davis from UMO, Mark Stampe, Agricultural Instructor at Wayne Christian Academy, Wylene Johnson, Instructor at Providence Grove, and Isaac Cecil, a UMO '22 graduate, as well as Kimberly Jenkins, a UMO '22 graduate, both of whom graduated from our academy at Providence Grove High School.
The group shared with teachers the opportunity to help students gain college credit while they are engaged in high school. Dr. Matthis and Dr. Davis reemphasized that the academies are not designed to replace high school agricultural programs, but rather to break down barriers for students to enter the agricultural industry. Some of the advantages of our model for agricultural programs include that high school juniors and seniors can remain engaged in their FFA chapters, take classes at their home high school, and attend classes without incurring fees for students.
After explaining to people how the program works, UMO shared the success stories from the current academies. Some of the success of the flex model is that students can engage in collegiate work, even if there are only a few students in a school. Another advantage is that UMO was able to provide many of the resources, including instructors, tools, and textbooks, that the students need to be successful in their classes.
One of the successes of the traditional academy model is that many students can earn their Associate's degree through either UMO and a local community college partner. Another success is that students can engage with the agricultural industry beyond their local communities. Traditional students can also earn certifications that complement their coursework.
From the student experience, it helps prepare students for collegiate work, fosters maturity, enhances writing ability, and addresses the time and cost of attending college, while also allowing students to earn college credit while still enjoying the high school experience.