Over the last couple of weeks we have been busy traveling the state and visiting partnerships in the Cooperative Alliance Project.
The Alliances, if you don't know, is how students in Oklahoma's technology centers can earn transcripted college credit for certain technical courses. They are able to do this for only $8 a credit hour!! Sounds awesome doesn't it? Sadly, there are some issues.
One of the issues that has been discussed is students not taking advantage of the opportunity at enrollment. There are several reasons why and we have discussed many of them. One that keeps coming up is that the parents never get the information that they need to make an informed decision.
Parents are required to sign permission for the student to participate in the program. After all, it is very serious and will be a part of the students permanent academic record. We want the parents to know what their student is doing.
This works fine for the student who wants to participate and be involved. They take the information home, inform mom and dad that they can get college credit for $8 an hour and that they can save money in the long run. Mom and dad sign the form and the student is on their way to earning an Associate of Applied Science degree and transitioning to a high-wage career.
But what about the students who don't want to participate?
If I was a student that did not want to participate, I would take the form and toss it in the trash can before I got off the bus. My parents would never have seen the information!!
How do you get the message home? During one visit, it was discussed how the technology center requires students to take home a letter to their parents that they must sign in order to opt out of the program.
By the student being required to take the letter home, they have to have a conversation with their guardian. They have to tell them that they do not want to participate and be involved, even thought this is a great deal. Hopefully, the parent recognizes what the Alliances are, and can get more information to make the right decision with the student. Hopefully, more students will be persuaded with parent support and the program will grow.
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