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2015-16 Edition The Reynolds Advance

WHERE OUTSTANDING GET STARTED Reynolds ACA Partners:

Goochland County Public

ACA programs are evidence that Reynolds and our public district partners are working together to respond to Virginia House Bill 1184 and satisfy the requirements of Virginia Code section 22.1-254.13:1. Message from the Director Partnerships (NACEP), Reynolds adheres Is an ACA the Right Choice for to NACEP’s rigorous standards of program Welcome to the You and Your Family? Reynolds Advance College quality for , , and students. Academies (ACA)! The Reynolds ACA Over the last few years, we have learned provides outstanding high school students In 2015, we reached two significant that the success of a in the ACA the opportunity to earn an milestones: the Reynolds ACA won First depends on two major factors. First, how while completing the requirements for their Place in Virginia dedicated are you, the student, to work hard high school . We have carefully System’s Excellence in Awards in and commit yourself to your studies? Second, selected and sequenced the college course the category of Improving Student Success, how supportive is your family of your school work in the program so that you can satisfy and the first cohort of 34 students in the requirements? Students and families who the requirements of the high school diploma Reynolds ACA at J.R. Tucker High School are motivated to do the following things and associate degree at the same time. received associate degrees in Social Science make the best ACA candidates. at the Reynolds Commencement ceremony. Students typically apply to the Reynolds For more on the Reynolds ACA, visit our Successful Reynolds ACA Students... ACA in the 8th grade through their local website at www.reynolds.edu/aca. Choose to take challenging courses and school division, enroll in advanced high programs in their school. These students school courses in the 9th and 10th grade, will have completed Algebra I, at least and take the required college coursework one year of world language, and, if for the associate degree during the 11th and possible, other high school-level courses 12th grade. Students in the Reynolds ACA before entering ninth grade. program are required to attend a five-week session of college courses during the R egularly study at night and on the summer between their sophomore and weekends and are prepared to take two junior year. college classes in the summer between their sophomore and junior year of high Reynolds Community College is accredited school. by the Southern Association of and Schools Commission on Colleges to award demonstrate the maturity to take associate degrees through its Advance responsibility for their own education College sites. As members of the and have a proven track record of National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment motivating themselves to keep up with Miles S. McCrimmon, Ph.D., is the director of school work, especially when coursework the Reynolds Advance College Academy.

3 and projects provide them an extra Benefits of Completing a challenge. Reynolds ACA Program Are involved at their school through High school students participating in college clubs, service opportunities, athletics, credit courses often have social, emotional, music and art programs, or other similar career, and academic advantages over their activities. peers who do not participate in such Families of Successful Students… programs. Reynolds Community College Provide the support necessary to offers the ACA program to allow students to encourage the student with their academic increase the academic rigor of their high responsibilities. school experience. The desire for rigor should be the ultimate goal of participating in an Provide access to a computer and Reynolds Admissions and Advance College Academy. internet service for the student outside Placement Requirements hours. Students participating in one of the ACA ACAs are considered specialized high school programs attend a designated high school Plan around their student’s required programs and as such have separate selection in their school division and participate in enrollment in college courses at Reynolds processes determined by each local school the program as a member of a cohort all during a five-week summer session before division. Students should consult with their four years of high school. The cohort model the student’s junior year of high school. and/or high school counselors allows the student to develop strong peer for more detail about admission requirements. relationships the student can utilize as a support system throughout the program. After admission into an ACA, prior to enrolling Students also receive career coaching services in the first Reynolds courses, students must from Reynolds beginning in the ninth grade complete the Reynolds Community College year. application, demonstrate readiness in English and Math, and place into English 111, College Visit www.reynolds.edu/aca for your school Composition I, on the Virginia Placement division’s specific Reynolds ACA curriculum. Test for English (VPT-English) and Mathematics 163, Pre-Calculus, on the Virginia Placement Test for Mathematics (VPT-Math).

4 Transferability of Courses participation in the ACA programs. It is declares a major, or at some other time important to note that the college or during the student’s enrollment at the When any high school student with any may make the decision about college or university. form of college credit decides to attend a the transfer of college credits during the four-year college or university, the college Prospective ACA students should consult admissions process, once the student or university makes three decisions about the transfer guides of the specific colleges the student. or they wish to attend. These guides can often be found by accessing the First, the college or university makes an Hands-on learning is at the core transfer admissions portion of the college or admissions decision. Based on the high of Reynolds ACA programs. university website. Students can also utilize school record, does the student meet the the Transfer Tool of the State Council of admissions requirements of the college of Virginia (SCHEV). The or university? tool can be found at: www.schev.edu/ Sec ond, the college or university will students/transfer. make a decision about the acceptance of Bear in mind that the information on the transfer credit. This decision may be transfer tool does not constitute a made at the admissions level or within evaluation of transfer credit or a guarantee the academic department to which the of the transferability of courses and credits, student’s major belongs. and it is subject to change from time to time third, the college or university will make to ensure accuracy. For questions regarding a decision about the social standing of the content of the transfer information, the student. Social standing decisions please contact the appropriate college or vary by institution and might relate to university. housing or course registration windows. Once enrolled in an ACA program, students All transfer decisions are made by the should contact the specific college or specific college or university to which the university of interest, their high school student has been admitted. Reynolds makes counselor, their ACA career coach, or one no guarantee about the transfer of the of the career, , and transfer college credit students earn through counselors at Reynolds for more information.

5 College & Career Coaching Services 10th and 11th grade students as they navigate 2. The ACA Career Coach builds the Reynolds application and enrollment relationships with ACA students. Students participating in one of the Advance process; and finally, help 12th grade students College Academy programs will be assigned ACA career coaches are relationship enroll at a college or university upon to work with a career coach. The career builders. Each career coach gets to know completion of the program. coach is a Reynolds employee dedicated to the students and is better able to match this special student population. The coach There are four signature characteristics of opportunities and interventions to will work closely with the school program every Reynolds ACA Career Coach. particular students. The relationship between the career coach and the ACA coordinator and the designated school 1. The ACA Career Coach is available. counselor to design programming to facilitate student begins in the 9th grade year and the exploration of self, work, and educational The ACA career coach has office hours continues until the student graduates opportunities. The career coach program each week at each ACA designated high from the program. will begin in the 9th grade year with interest, school. Students in the program will skills, and value assessments for each student. know where and when they can find 3. The ACA Career Coach is the link to In the 10th grade year, the career coach will their career coach. Reynolds for ACA students, parents, guide the student through the application and local school division personnel. and enrollment process at Reynolds. Career Reynolds ACA students are proud of the In most instances, the ACA career coach coaching in the 11th grade will focus on academic challenges they are able to meet. will be the Reynolds employee most preparing the best admissions application to familiar to the ACA student. Thus, the colleges and universities. In the 12th grade, career coach can help students identify students will be encouraged to identify appropriate college resources (such as scholarship opportunities, participate in a the testing center or the academic job shadowing experience, and explore support center), act as an intermediary college majors. between the student and other The overall goal of the Reynolds ACA career departments of Reynolds (such as the coach is to help each student successfully Office of Dual Enrollment or Admissions navigate the many transitions they will face and Records), and serve as an advisor. between middle school and college. The ACA career coach will help welcome 9th grade students to their new high school; assist

6 4. The ACA Career Coach is knowledgeable. 3. Exit ACA students are completing degree The Office of Outreach and Recruitment programs designed to lead to further supports the efforts of the ACA career study at baccalaureate institutions. The coaches through specialized training and ACA Career Coach provides students with resources. Though each ACA student only opportunities to explore careers and has one career coach, students benefit programs of study so the ACA student from the collective body of knowledge is prepared to make informed decisions and experiences of all the ACA career about the college or university the coaches. student will attend as well as the The interventions ACA Career Coaches plan appropriate major the student should for ACA students focus on three areas: select to lead to the student’s desired career. 1. Entry The ACA Career Coach plans activities For more information on the ACA Career designed to help the students make the Coaches, see: transition from middle school to high acacareercoach.wordpress.com school. Students in the program must Hilda M. Billups, MSHE is the Reynolds ACA Career Coach Coordinator and a frequent identify themselves as members of the contributor to our blog. ACA community and find commonalities with their cohort members. 2. Retention The ACA curriculum is rigorous. The ACA Career Coach designs interventions aimed at helping ACA students successfully meet the curriculum demands and continue in Advance College Academy the program through completion. Read & Follow Our Blog!

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Advance College Academy Frequently Asked Questions ensuring the student meets all of the Will I be considered a freshman or a requirements of the Virginia Advanced junior when I apply to a four-year college How do I apply? High School diploma and the associate or university? Consult your school division about its specific degree program at Reynolds. While While each institution is different, most application process and deadlines. Decisions Reynolds does not anticipate any changes ACA graduates will be considered first-year about acceptance into an ACA are made by to these curricula, each student’s final students with transfer credit when they the school division, not Reynolds. curricular path at Reynolds is ultimately apply to four-year institutions. determined by the college catalog of the Who teaches in the program? Will I be able to transfer some credits to an High school faculty members who teach in when the student begins. In out of state college or university if I decide an ACA must either possess or earn a ’s addition, there could be curricular changes not to attend college in Virginia? degree in the teaching field or a master’s at the school or school system level at the Each individual college or university will degree in another field with at least eighteen discretion of the student’s local school division. make decisions regarding transfer credits. graduate credits in the teaching field. These Students should also realize that a college faculty members, once or university may accept credentialed by Reynolds, go courses for transfer but may through a rigorous and Highland Springs High School’s first ACA class will graduate in 2017. not count those courses ongoing process of training, towards the program or mentoring, and regular site major selected by the visits conducted by full-time student because certain Reynolds faculty liaisons in courses in the associate their teaching field. degree program may not be required for the major the How likely is our curriculum student plans to pursue. to change? The curriculum for the program Transfer of credits should has been carefully crafted by not be the student’s primary constituents representing motivation for participating Reynolds and the local school in an Advance College division with the aim of Academy program.

8 (See also, the “Transferability of Courses” What about transportation to the campus 11th and 12th grade. Because this transition section on page 5 of this brochure.) of Reynolds Community College? will require quite a few new skills, the summer During the fall and spring semesters of the learning community is expressly designed to Will we be able to contact the for junior and senior years, the majority the help students develop those skills. help if we need it? courses students will be offered at the The vast majority of the classes in the student’s high school. The courses will be Will transportation be provided during associate degree program are taught by taught by high school teachers who have the summer? high school faculty who have been trained been trained and credentialed by Reynolds. Students and their families are responsible and credentialed by Reynolds. These high Depending on their curriculum, students for transportation during the summers. school faculty members, whether they are may need to take one Reynolds elective to teaching advanced high school courses in complete the program. If a student wishes During the summer, how long will the the 9th and 10th grade or college-level to choose an elective that is offered on the classes usually be? courses in the 11th and 12th grade, will make Reynolds campus instead of one offered The summer classes, SDV 100 and HLT 115 themselves available to students on a daily online or on the high school campus, that will be taught during the second 5-week basis. student will need to make individual session of the summer before the junior transportation arrangements. year (traditionally late June to late July), Will the Reynolds Community College two days a week for three hours a day. courses be offered before school, after Will SDV 100 and HLT 115 be offered online Reynolds determines the schedule for the school or in the summer? or will students have to come to campus? summer semester annually. Once those Though there are a few exceptions (SDV 100 Students in SDV 100 and HLT 115 are taught dates are announced, students and their and HLT 115 and some electives), all of the together as part of a dedicated learning families will be notified. Reynolds courses will be taught during the community on a Reynolds campus during a regular school day, during the regular five-week summer session in the summer academic year at the student’s high school. before the junior year. Completion of these two introductory courses is mandatory for entrance into the rest of the Reynolds coursework. ACA students must successfully manage the transition from the high school honors courses in 9th and 10th grade to the college courses required for this program in

9 Advance College Academy For more information about Class of 2015 Reynolds ACA Valuable Web Pages the ACA, feel free to contact: graduates have been admitted to: reynolds.edu/ACA Dr. Miles McCrimmon Christopher Newport University Reynolds Community College’s website Director, Advance College Academy about its Advance College Academies [email protected] includes information on curriculum, program (804) 523-5606 College of William and Mary design, faculty and staff, important dates, East Carolina University Ms. Hilda Billups Eastern Mennonite University four-year institutions, and FAQs. Coordinator, ACA Career Coaches Fisk University Southern University nacep.org [email protected] Georgia State University The National Alliance of Concurrent (804) 523-5637 George Mason University Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) is the Hampton University Ms. Tracy Green Hollins University accrediting body for concurrent enrollment Director, Outreach and Recruitment Howard University partnerships. NACEP defines concurrent [email protected] James Madison University enrollment as opportunities for high school Johnson C. Smith University (804) 523-5789 Lynchburg College students to take college credit courses Mary Baldwin College taught by college-approved high school Ms. Tracy Banks New York University faculty. Coordinator, Dual Enrollment North Carolina A&T State University [email protected] North Carolina State University sacscoc.org (804) 523-5320 Old Dominion University The Southern Association of College and University of Maryland-Baltimore County Schools Commission on Colleges is the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore regional accrediting body for Reynolds J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is University of Mary Washington Community College. SACS sets the accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges University of Miami University of Richmond requirements for faculty credentials. All high and Schools Commission on Colleges to award University of South Carolina school faculty teaching in the program must associate degrees and certificates. Contact the University of Virginia meet these credentials. Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Virginia Commonwealth University Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 Virginia State University for questions about the accreditation of J. Sargeant Virginia Tech Virginia Union University Reynolds Community College. Virginia Washington College (MD)

10 The ACA’s Gift of Time Investing your effort in the ACA in high school returns the dividend of time in your college years. While in high school… You gain valuable experience about the behaviors and attitudes necessary to be successful in a baccalaureate program. You enjoy the freedom to experiment in the role of the college student in a richly supportive environment. You have a network of supportive professionals from both Reynolds and your high school to help you navigate this role. During your college years… J.R. Tucker High School’s first ACA class (pictured above in 2012) You could choose to pursue a double major at Reynolds’ commencement in 2015 (below). within a four-year span. You could complete a combined bachelor’s/ master’s program in four years. You could choose to take fewer than 15 credits per term, leaving extra time for part-time (pre-professional) work, athletics, extracurricular activities, student government, internships, etc. You could take full advantage of global “study abroad” options or semester-long or even year-long internships. You could use summers normally spent catching up on credits for work or other exploration. You could graduate early and move into the workforce sooner than your typical peers.

11 WHERE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS GET STARTED

reynolds.edu | Downtown • Goochland • Parham Road

Reynolds Community College does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other non-merit based factor. Reynolds offers programs under its open admissions policy. Admission to select vocational programs is based on a separate application process that is non-discriminatory. For the full policy and a list of select programs, visit reynolds.edu.