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Baldwin High School Partners with SUNY Nassau Community College on Innovative Early College Program

Written by Chris Boyle  |  20. September 2021

Baldwin Union Free School District is unveiling an exciting initiative with Nassau Community College (SUNY Nassau). Through SUNY Nassau’s Dual Enrollment Program, starting this month, pre-qualified Baldwin High School Seniors are starting their back-to-school journey by walking onto a college campus instead of through the front doors of the high school. 
 
Thirteen students from the Class of 2021 started taking college courses on September 1, 2021 at the SUNY Nassau Campus to earn college credits towards a degree as part of an innovative education partnership between the Baldwin Union Free School District and the College. Baldwin is the first district to enter a dual-enrollment partnership with the College where students are on the community college’s campus and considered full time. 
 
“We are excited to launch our partnership with Nassau Community College and provide our students with the best all-around college experience before graduating high school,” said Dr. Shari L. Camhi, Superintendent, Baldwin UFSD. “The district’s unique Early College Program will allow our students to not only earn college credits, but they will attend classes full time on the campus of one of a top community college. Our students will take courses that will help determine their future area of study and be able to graduate high school and attend higher education, not only prepared and confident, but as sophomores. The collaboration is part of the district’s mission to ensure that every student in Baldwin graduates future-ready.”
 
The students are taking up to 6 classes this semester, including a math course, a political science course, an  economics course, a science course, an English course, and a Physical Education course. These classes are dual enrollment courses that were selected to align with high school graduation requirements. The students will simultaneously earn high school and college credits.    
 
“Community Colleges are a critical access point to higher education and a bridge to fulfilling the dreams of so many students. SUNY Nassau’s Dual Enrollment Program seeks to provide high school students with the opportunity to advance in their collegiate academic journey while still enrolled in high school,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President, SUNY Nassau. “I appreciate Dr. Camhi’s innovative and strong leadership that has been a driving force for bringing this partnership to fruition. As New York State’s, largest single campus community college, it is imperative that we are meeting the needs of the communities we serve and providing equitable opportunities for students so they can achieve their goals both inside and outside the classroom.”
 
The credits the students earn at SUNY Nassau will be transferable to any State University of New York (SUNY) College. This distinctive partnership will allow the high school students to be full-time non-matriculated college students and take their courses on the SUNY Nassau campus next year, which will save students time and money, as they will already have one year of college study completed whether they attend a two-year or four-year college or university.

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