SPINDALE -- The number of high school students taking courses at Isothermal Community College has grown almost three times in two years.

Educators have long known that the educational experience is different for each student. However, improvements in technology, as well as collaborative efforts between high schools and community colleges, have led to more options for students who may want to take a less traditional path.

Rutherford and Polk County students who wish to learn at a different pace or study something that isn’t currently offered in traditional high schools, have other choices available at Isothermal Community College. Alice McCluney, college liaison for high school programs, said there is a growing number of students taking advantage of those options.

McCluney joined the college in 2006 when the Rutherford Early College High School (REaCH) was in its first year, and there were just 12 Huskins courses offered on campus. Huskins courses are available to high schools from their freshman year on up and are taught by community college instructors either at the college campus or at the high school. The courses are named after the law that funded the program.

There was also concurrent enrollment, which allowed high school students, 16 or older, to take college courses while still in high school.

Concurrent enrollment courses are taught at ICC only.

At that time, there were 179 total high school students enrolled in those three programs at Isothermal.

As of the Fall 2008 semester, there are 581, a growth of 325 percent.

Two years ago, a fourth option was added with the NC Learn and Earn Online program, and this year Isothermal is increasing that program as well.

“ We had not focused on online classes,” said McCluney. “We had online classes already on the schedule, and there were students who were fortunate enough to get them before adults had signed up for them. But the summer semester (2008) was the first time that we did Learn and Earn specifically for high school.”

McCluney said she has made it her mission to let high school counselors, teachers, administrators and parents know that their children can earn college credit while in high school.

All of these programs are free, so it amounts to attending college tuition-free. With NC Learn and Earn, the college is offering college transfer courses, such as computers, psychology, English, humanities, art appreciation, and criminal justice.

All three traditional Rutherford County high schools have students participating; REaCH and the Rutherford Opportunity Center have students taking college courses and even Cleveland County has a couple of students enrolled. The Polk County campus of Isothermal also has students participating.

“ We’re looking at expanding, particularly with the Learn and Earn online we’re going to continue what we’re doing and add some more classes, mostly in college credits so that the students have transfers,” said McCluney. “And with the Huskins, we’re looking at expanding, and offering broadcast for them and an engineering (class). We tried it this fall, but didn’t get enough interest, so we’re going to try it again in the spring.”

Mike Gavin, Isothermal’s director of Marketing and Community Relations, says that for the student, there is a lot to be gained by getting a jump on college while still in high school.

“I think it opens the door,” he said. “That familiarity with campus and knowing what it’s really like over here goes a long way. And they can come here for free while they’re still in high school. And then they find out about programs like the Powers Scholarship that’s going to allow them to go maybe another year in some cases and finish an Associates Degree with little or no cost to them. That just gives them a real edge before heading off to do whatever they’re going to do.”

“In years past I’ve gotten calls from parents who call me and say, ‘This was the most awesome thing. My kid got the State Employee Credit Union scholarship, and I know it’s because of dual enrollment and Huskins,’” said McCluney.

Decisions about which courses to offer are made through a collaboration with the schools by talking with counselors and finding out what the students are requesting. There are also student surveys in which students can indicate the types of classes they would like to have.

Students and parents who would like to find out more about the college courses which are available through the Huskins Program and Dual Enrollment, should contact Alice McCluney at Isothermal Community College at 828-286- 3636, extension 473. Students who want to learn about the courses available through NC Learn and Earn online should talk to their school counselor or computer lab facilitator.