DANBURY — Western Connecticut State University has joined with several local school districts to offer early college dual enrollment programs for high school students.
The expansion of an existing program was made possible through a $166,000 grant secured by Stephen Hegedus, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. The school districts involved in the programs include Brookfield, Bethel, Danbury, Immaculate, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford and Ridgefield.
“The grant money will help WCSU offer more classes to high school students, which will benefit them and also showcase the university’s professors and courses to college-bound juniors and seniors,” Hegedus said. “This infusion of funds will allow us to enroll dozens or hundreds more students who can begin earning credit for college courses.”
The program is administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education with money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is designed to encourage more high school students to take college classes. By passing college-level courses before graduating from high school, students can decrease the amount of time needed to earn a bachelor’s degree.
WestConn math Professor Becky Hall, professor of Mathematics, is working with the school districts to bring students into the program.
“The focus of this grant is to make college credit accessible to more students, including those who might otherwise not pursue higher education,” Hall said. “Early college courses are a step in the right direction for closing equity gaps.”
About 200 high school students were enrolled in WestConn’s Early College and Dual Enrollment programs during the 2023-24 academic year. With the grant, the goal is to double that over the coming years.
