Mid-Plains early entry enrollment sets record

    Early entry enrollments have hit a record high at Mid-Plains Community College.
 Area high school students are enrolled in approximately 5,272 early entry credit hours through Mid-Plains this fall, which accounts for 30% of MPCC’s total enrollment.
     “It’s hopeful,” Paul Knopick, director of early entry and program development for the college, said of the results.
    “I am happy more students and families are taking advantage of a great opportunity presented to them by MPCC and their local high schools.”
     Early entry allows high school students to be accelerated into college without first obtaining a high school diploma. Classes can be taken as dual credit, meaning they count toward high school and college credit at the same time, or as a separate course load.
     “Early entry and dual credit classes offer students a tremendous head start on their education,” said Knopick.
    “In addition to providing a time and cost savings, it gives them exposure to what a higher education is, potential career fields and what Mid-Plains can provide.”
    Moving the registration process online helped grow MPCC’s dual credit enrollment, he added. However, he believes customer service is the biggest reason for recent success.
     MPCC staff has been meeting with high school administrators to convey the importance of dual credit, he said, and the purposefulness of taking certain classes.  
    “We’re being more proactive to make sure no one is falling through the cracks,” he said.
     Forty-three high schools both inside and outside of MPCC’s 18-county service area currently partner with Mid-Plains for dual credit classes.
     “On average, every school in our service area utilizes dual credit or early entry,” Knopick said.
    “Additionally, the number of our full-time faculty who can teach dual credit classes is growing. As of right now, we have 30 instructors who are either certified or in the process of becoming certified to teach dual credit.”
     CCS 7-12 Guidance Counselor Trent Herbert said at the start of this school year, 45 CCS students were enrolled in dual credit courses.
    Five CCS teachers are certified to teach dual credit courses—Carl Zuege, Chelsea Zuege, Jason Speck, Sandy O’Neil and Kara Hagan.
    More information about MPCC’s dual credit and early entry offerings is available by contacting Knopick at knopickp@mpcc.edu or 308-535-3639.