WKU News

Today’s 20-year anniversary celebration of WKU in Glasgow’s campus home on Hilltopper Way was the perfect backdrop to launch an early college program for juniors and seniors.

WKU’s Amy Bingham has details in this week’s View from the Hill.

Beginning in the fall of 2023, juniors and seniors within 30 minutes of WKU in Glasgow will have the chance to earn 30 hours of college credit, getting a big head start on their college career.

“This campus, it’s ready for its next generation.”

WKU is launching an early college program at the Glasgow campus for high school juniors and seniors in surrounding counties.

“There are seven high schools across five counties, so they’re Barren and Glasgow, Caverna, Hart, Metcalfe, Monroe and Allen County school districts.”

The students will study alongside other degree seeking students and will have five tracks of curriculum from which to choose.

“They are, agriculture, crime and legal studies, education, management and nursing.”

“We looked at what were the biggest needs in our region, like what jobs do we need for our region and then we decided from there what majors we wanted to offer these professional career tracks in.”

Glasgow High School sophomore Ava Jackson is excited to jump start her college career.

“I think that it would be a great opportunity for students to get more college credit hours and get used to college campuses and used to what it’s like to take a college class.”

And Barren County Superintendent Bo Matthews agrees it is a tremendous opportunity for students.

“Thanks to Dr. Strode and President Caboni, WKU Glasgow campus is gonna be home for a number of our students to physically be in those spaces while they’re a high school student.”

Starting college with thirty credit hours also means less of a financial burden for parents.

“These courses are gonna be offered at the dual credit rate which is 91 dollars per credit hour this semester so it’s gonna be a tremendous savings for families.”

And a tremendous boost of energy to a campus that is celebrating the past while looking toward the future.

“The first year will have 100, the second year will have 200 juniors and seniors here so we are ready for youthful energy around here.”

Sophomores must have a 3.5 GPA to be considered for the program.  A series of parent night events will be held at each participating high school starting next month. The early college program will maximize Kentucky’s Dual Credit and Work Ready Scholarships.

For more information about Early College at WKU in Glasgow, visit https://www.wku.edu/regionalcampuses/glasgow/earlycollege.php