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May 9

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT:
Emma Stokely
Public and Media Relations Manager
531-MCC-2726, office
estokely@mccneb.edu
 
MCC expands access to college education, offers CollegeNOW! courses at
no cost during summer quarter

OMAHA, Neb. (May 9, 2022) — For the second consecutive summer, Metropolitan Community College is offering significant savings to Nebraska high school students who want to get a jumpstart on their college education. During the summer quarter, high school students can take college classes for credit at MCC at no cost.
 
Jordan Pirtle, director of Secondary Partnerships and Gateway to College, said the no-cost offering made a dramatic impact in CollegeNOW! enrollment last summer. CollegeNOW! is an MCC open enrollment program for high school-aged students. More than 1,600 high school students were served by the program last year—the equivalent of a large Class A high school in Omaha.
 
Pirtle said she anticipates students to continue taking advantage of the opportunity this summer to reduce not only the cost of college, but the time it can take to earn a degree after high school.
 
This summer, high school students residing in Nebraska and graduating 2022 through 2025 qualify to participate in CollegeNOW! at no cost. The program regularly offers college credit at half price. Registration is currently open, with courses starting June 6.
 
“MCC strives to eliminate barriers to college education whenever possible and is pleased to be able to impact our community by making college credit courses more accessible to Nebraska high school students,” Pirtle said.
 
Taking CollegeNOW! classes this summer also provides an opportunity for students to get back into an academic rhythm. Two years of interruptions to traditional learning caused by the pandemic has affected student learning and achievement across the country, according to multiple studies.
 
“Due to the pandemic, many students fell behind. CollegeNOW! offers an opportunity for students to get ahead and overcome challenges they’ve encountered with COVID-19 by pursuing their academic and career goals through dual enrollment and explore fields of study for college,” Pirtle said.
 
The timing of the summer program is also beneficial for students to build on knowledge learned during the school year, stay academically active and to keep a routine. 
 
“Not all students are involved in athletics or clubs that keep them engaged in the summer and supplement what they learned in the school year. I love that [this program] gives students that opportunity and bridges the gap between the high school and college experience,” Pirtle said.
 
College credits earned through CollegeNOW! will appear on a student’s MCC transcript, giving them a head start on their associate degree while they continue their high school education. MCC credits may transfer to other colleges or universities, and can potentially save students thousands when they complete high school with college credits in-hand. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost per credit hour of any four-year institution in 2022 is $636, meaning taking one 4.5-hour CollegeNOW! course with MCC this summer could amount to an average savings greater than $1,900 per course in a semester-based academic year.
 
CollegeNOW! classes are taught by MCC faculty, either on campus or online. More than 1,500 classes are offered during the summer quarter. Concurrent Enrollment Navigators, Success Navigators, Contact Center representatives and other MCC employees are available to help students set appointments, answer questions, assist with the registration process and keep CollegeNOW! students informed about what they need when classes begin.
 
“We are looking forward to CollegeNOW! keeping us busy this summer by serving Nebraska high school students,” Pirtle said. “We strongly encourage families to take advantage of this special opportunity.” 
 
Funding is provided through the Board of Governors’ approval of a resolution in April 2021 to use federal Higher Education Emergency Rescue Funds. For more information on CollegeNOW!, please visit mccneb.edu/collegenow or call 531-MCC-2400.  
 
 
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Metropolitan Community College, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a comprehensive, public community college that offers affordable, quality education to all residents of Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. Founded in 1974, MCC has the largest enrollment out of six community colleges in Nebraska and is the second largest postsecondary institution in the state. MCC serves more than 40,000 unique credit and noncredit students.