http://www.lowell.k12.or.us/lhs/CollegeNow.htm Students may enroll in courses from both the academic transfer and professional technical programs for just $30 per year. If students enrolled in these same classes at Lane (in 2003-2004), the cost would be $63 per credit or $189 for a 3-credit class. For a single 3-credit class at one of OregonŐs public universities, in-state tuition would be almost $600. By taking advantage of the classes offered by College Now, students can get an early jump on college and save themselves a substantial amount of money. http://www.lanecc.edu/collhigh/tpfaqs.htm What does College Now cost per course? The College Now fee has been eliminated for 2004-05. ALL COURSES ARE NOW FREE OF CHARGE! http://www.lanecc.edu/presoffc/BrdDec04.htm College Now The College Now Program is a dual credit partnership between Lane Community College and 23 high schools which offers college classes at the high schools and awards simultaneous college and high school credit to students. By eliminating the former $30 fee, we hope to increase the number of high school students enrolling at Lane following their College Now high school classes; increase professional technical enrollment, which was typically less than half of all students enrolled; remove the barriers of paying a fee and obtaining a parent signature; and eliminate the staff time involved in billing College Now students at home. Fee elimination also prevents the possibility of late fees that prevent a student from enrolling in subsequent courses and having a negative first involvement with Lane. The short-term benefits of dropping the fee are to involves more students with College Now classes and reduce the number of Lane staff hours spent on billing explanations and problem solving, and long term the benefits are to double FTE from 206 in 2003-04 to 400 for 2004-05. College Now FTE is the lowest-cost FTE generated at Lane and it encourages newly graduated high school students to enroll at Lane. The fee elimination pilot project will be 2004-05 and 2005-06 with an extension decision to be made in spring 2006. Our College Now and Institutional Research offices will assess our effectiveness. http://www.lanecc.edu/mpr/success/story2.htm College Now is offered in 18 Lane County high schools. Students pay $20 per year for academic transfer classes, and $20 peryear for professional-technical classes, for unlimited credits in each category. In 2001-02, 1,444 Lane County high school students participated in the College Now Program and saved $448,000 in college tuition. Judith Gabriel, College Now coordinator, says, "When students enroll in College Now courses they gain several benefits. They earn college credits for courses they do not have to repeat when they reach college, save themselves and their families time and money, and have the opportunity to take classes taught using a college format. After graduation many students tell their high school teachers that they were better prepared for the level of difficulty in college by taking College Now courses." College Now offers experience, knowledge and inexpensive college credits. Academic transfer classes for high school juniors and seniors include math, science, history, and English. A minimum grade of C is required for most classes. Professional technical classes are open to grades 9-12 and include business, early childhood education, drafting, welding, hospitality and tourism courses. A grade of A or B must be earned for college credit in professional technical College Now courses. The courses offered vary from school to school. Kristin Gunson, Lane ESD coordinator for the federal Carl Perkins Grant, says, "The College Now program, sometimes called tech prep, is a win-win for students, parents and LCC. Students receive college credit in high school and avoid duplication of courses. Parents save money on tuition, and LCC gets students who are better prepared for their college program. Truly a win-win!"