The following is a letter to the editor submitted by APSU’s Dr. Harriett McQueen.

The APSU Middle College is a partnership between APSU and the Clarksville Montgomery County School System. Planning for the Middle College began in 2006 after representatives from APSU and CMCSS visited other Middle Colleges that are located on campuses of colleges and universities in Tennessee and North Carolina.

After conversations with enthusiastic students and faculty and after observing the success of these Middle Colleges, APSU and CMCSS entered into an agreement to open a Middle College on the APSU campus in Fall 2008. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 120 students: 60 juniors and 60 seniors. The APSU Middle College is one of the eight high schools in CMCSS. There are 109 students are enrolled for Fall 2009.

Students who meet APSU admissions requirements apply for acceptance to the Middle College and are chosen for participation through a rigorous application process that was developed by APSU and CMCSS.

Upperclassmen enroll before Middle College students enroll. Priority registration at APSU is based on hours earned; thus, upperclassmen may enroll before students who are entering the university may enroll. Because Middle College students enroll last, they do not “bump upperclassmen out of spots in the classroom” if the upperclassmen take advantage of their early registration opportunity, confirm their classes and pay their fees in a timely manner.

Middle College students may enroll only in freshman (mostly 1000-level) courses for which they meet the prerequisites. By the time a student has achieved upperclassman status, required 1000-level courses most likely will have been completed. The only other students “competing” with Middle College students for the same slots are those who have the same registration priority.

Middle College students receive high school lottery scholarships available for any dual enrolled student. Middle College students often find the “stuff” of high school unappealing and prefer to move ahead with academic achievement. They, like other dual enrolled students, value the opportunity to begin their college education before completing all high school requirements more than they value participation in extra-curricular activities that may be very motivating for other high school students.

The state of Tennessee has applauded their choice by providing lottery scholarships for those who qualify. This fall, 88 (80.7 percent) Middle College students are recipients of the high school HOPE scholarship. APSU provides no additional scholarships for these students.

Middle College students pay all fees appropriate for the number of hours in which they are enrolled. APSU students enrolled on the main campus pay a program services fee and the amount is determined by full-time or part-time enrollment.

Middle College students pay the same fee that any part-time student pays. Additional course fees apply to Middle College students who are enrolled in those courses, as they apply to any student.

In the event that a Middle College student is enrolled only at APSU at Fort Campbell or is not enrolled in a university class, the program services fee is paid. No special privileges are given to Middle College students. Any fees that are necessary for campus privileges are paid by Middle College students.

APSU is Tennessee’s fastest growing university. Students choose APSU because they feel welcome on campus, find support both academically and socially and see challenging academic opportunities that appeal to them. Because of the additional tuition and fees resulting from growth, the university is able to enhance programs and provide academic opportunities that might not otherwise exist in a time of economic downturn.

We welcome the growth that has resulted from the addition of a Middle College whose students are taking university classes as dual enrolled students. And, happily, of the 48 students who were members of the first APSU Middle College graduating class, 19 are enrolled as first-time, full-time freshmen at APSU.

Middle College students (if you are able to identify them) do deserve a “pat on the back” for being pioneers; but they, as all students do, also deserve a welcoming smile from their fellow university students and from the faculty who teach them.

Read Nicole June’s editor’s related editor’s note here.

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