Edison’s PSEOP a ‘fast track’ to achieving college goals
By Bob Robinson

GREENVILLE – The hallways of Edison Community College’s Darke County Campus are alive with students taking a 15 minute break between classes before heading to their next 75 minute session. Some are grabbing snacks, some study in the lounge; others are standing outside the doors of their next classroom waiting to go in. A few students are sitting or standing together in animated conversation.

They are not the typical college students, such as high school graduates or adults looking to change careers… most are high school juniors and seniors.

According to Janice Michael, Dean of DCC, at least 50 percent of the students during the day are students from local school districts attending college under the PSEOP (Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program).

It’s an opportunity for students to meet general education requirements for technical and transfer associate degrees.

“It’s free college,” said Alyssa Baumgardner, a junior at Greenville High School. The same was noted by Cassie Gray, a junior at Fort Recovery High School, and Emily Beanblossom, a Greenville High School senior. “It’s free!”

However there’s more to it than that.

Alyssa said it will move her forward in her career faster. She’s on a path to get her associates degree before she graduates from high school.

Cassie hopes to work toward her associates degree as well. “I really like the program here.” She drives 30 minutes each way to attend classes at the Edison Darke County Campus. The Fort Recovery junior spends all of her time at the DCC.

“I’m a Fort Recovery high school student,” she said, “but all of my classes are here this semester.”

Emily said her sisters went to Edison under the program.

“It’s a good way to get some of the basic college courses out of the way,” she added.

Contrary to the perceptions of many, PSEOP is an option for all high school students, freshman through senior years.

“New students at Edison have to take the COMPASS test as part of their entrance requirements,” Michael said. “This applies to juniors and seniors… it helps evaluate skills and college readiness in different areas.”

Freshman and sophomores, however, can’t qualify unless they have already passed the state ACT exams.

“There are benchmarks,” Michael noted. “These students have to have a score of 18 in reading and writing and 21 in math to be eligible.”

Juniors and seniors can use ACT or COMPASS or both.

All three students thought their schools could be a little more proactive in getting the word out about the PSEOP options.

“They never actually told us about it,” Cassie noted. “They just made an announcement that there was a meeting we had to attend if we wanted to do this.”

She said her oldest brother would have done it but he never knew about it.

Emily was concerned there was no attempt to let students know the option is open to freshmen and sophomores as well as juniors and seniors.

According to Michael, the schools are required by law to have a meeting or disseminate information about the program in some manner.

“A lot of schools don’t have newsletters anymore so it’s not unusual to do it with announcements. However, we have students from every school in the county,” she added.

Is this a program for all students?

“It’s better for some than others,” Michael said. “It’s disappointing when some students take courses while they’re in high school but never take another… we don’t see them here or get requests for transcripts.”

It’s possible that one of the things some students like about college level learning – self-discipline and motivation - others aren’t ready for.

“College is more organized,” said Alyssa. She likes that.

Emily appreciated that college work was more laid back; a different method of learning.

“I like being treated as an adult,” she added.

Published courtesy of The Early Bird