Every A day at 8:20 AM, junior Kassandra Granados steps onto a bus for a seven minute ride to a whole new experience.  She has accepted the challenge of a college course with an actual college professor.  However, it isn't just any professor.  It is BETA's own Kathleen Carroll.  
                

Thanks to UTPA and South Texas ISD Superintendant Marla M. Guerra, students  like Granados have the unique chance to take UTPA classes on their home campuses any time of the day.   STISD is the only school district UTPA is working with for the Dual Enrollment Program. 

Ms. Cindy Keller, STISD/UTPA partnership coordinator, said,“It is because of our history of excellence, our commitment and the kind of students we produce,” she said. Keller said Dr. Guerra pursued the start of this cooperative program as well as several other summer programs for a specific purpose.    

The purpose of taking any college course throughout a high school career is to become more prepared for university-level curriculum and this additional choice of venues makes it much more convenient to do so.

“The aim is to make the student indeed feel like a university student," she said.

The courses offered at each of the schools in the district will depend on which teachers are qualified to instruct college courses.  To be eligible they must have a master’s degree in the subject they will teach.  At BETA, there are five teachers who will be taking part in the Dual Enrollment Program.  Casses offered will be English 1302 and 2305, Math 1450 and 1401, and History 2314.  

One advantage in taking these courses through UTPA is for those students aiming for the University Scholars Program.  By earning credit either with UTPA or through Advanced Placement exams for four courses, or 12 hours, students are given the chance to earn scholarships of up to $24,000 for four years.  Classes taken through dual enrollment with UTPA automatically count toward this scholarship.

Another advantage to earning college credit through this program is cost.  The cost per credit hour is only $50 amounting to only $150 for an average class.  This is a savings of approximately $1000.  However, according to Ms. Keller, the original contract with UTPA specified that the courses would be free and possibly could be again. 

She explained the reason for such changes is simple.  Superintendant Guerra had a contract with UTPA to offer dual enrollment on campus, taught by STISD faculty free of charge.  However, the contract was drawn up when Dr. Blandina Cardenas was president of UTPA.  When she recently resigned, all matters went to the interim president, Dr. Charles A. Sorber, who is not honoring the former contract. 

Although the many changes in the program's policy are discouraging many students from taking part, there is hope.  In January, the new president, Dr. Robert S. Nelson, will take control of UTPA and our situation.  He is reportedly very supportive of the idea of a permanent partnership between STISD and Pan Am.   “It’s all very political,” Ms. Keller said.

In addition to the change in price, the change in administration also meant a delay for the start of the program.  Instead of starting in the fall as planned, a trial run was requested with a common denominator as the go-between – Ms. Kathleen Carroll.  Ms. Carroll is not only an English teacher at BETA, but a professor of English at UTPA, making her the perfect choice for this test run. 

Since the beginning of the year, members of the top 25 percent of juniors have been bused to and from UTPA for Ms. Carroll’s 1301 Composition class.  They said they have found the experience more exciting and valuable than they expected.  Furthermore, they are proving to be much more successful in college courses than was expected.  

According to Ms. Carroll, almost 50% of the students in this dual enrollment class currently have A averages.  Compare this to the 25% of Carroll's actual 1301 class at UTPA. 

"It's been an awesome experience," Ms. Carroll said.  

Additionally, going to the UTPA campus has added an element to the class that could not have otherwise been possible.  

"When they leave this campus, they just act differently," Ms. Carroll said.

Leaving the home campus, seeing other college students, and being in a UTPA classroom has given these students a much more realistic college experience than the average dual enrollment class.  

Ms. Carroll says that if she had a choice for next semester, she would want to continue going to UTPA for just this reason.  

 “Attending UTPA has been a great experience," junior Linda Cerda said. "I already have an idea of how college life is, and it’s pretty awesome!” 

Although the program is tentatively expected to be on BETA’s home campus next semester, taking away the main component of the college experience, it still gives students who are eligible the opportunity to be a part of a higher learning environment. 

“This is a milestone in the relationship [with UTPA],” Ms. Keller said.