Plans to add 50 ninth and eleventh graders to the Guilford community next fall are quickly shaping up.Although there is no formal agreement yet between Guilford College and Guilford County Schools, specific details of the early college pilot program are emerging.

Senate President Megan Page sent an e-mail with documents outlining the program to

all students last week. Page and faculty members met with Superintendent Terry Grier of Guilford County Schools Feb. 1.

Teachers employed by Guilford County Schools will instruct the ninth graders in Bauman and the Frank Family Science Center beginning around 8 or 8:30 a.m. each day. The 11th graders will be dispersed throughout regular Guilford classes. About 30 ninth graders will participate in the pilot along with a minimum of 15 eleventh graders.

If the program continues into the following year, 20 to 50 students per grade will participate. GCS teachers would also instruct the 10th graders while the 12th graders would be in Guilford classes.

The high school juniors and seniors will be dually enrolled at Guilford and Guilford County Schools. Upon graduating from high school, they would also receive a two-year associate’s degree from Guilford.

However, an associate’s degree is not currently offered at Guilford. The curriculum committee and faculty would need to craft and approve one if the program were to happen.

“I still have concerns about the program,” Page said. “But they are easier to stomach now

after Terry Grier responded to concerns raised by faculty at the meeting.”

Page mentioned a concern raised by biology professor Lynn Mosely about a possible shortfall of lab space and equipment. Grier said the school corporation could buy more equipment for the Frank Family Science Center.

Other concerns were raised about the increased pressures on the computer labs and the

Academic Skills Center. Grier also said the program teachers could supplement the Academic

Skills Center’s staff and that more computer labs could be installed.

According to Randy Doss, vice president for enrollment, a brochure is being prepared for

interested students and parents at the Guilford County Schools Magnet School Fair on Feb. 23.

Academic Dean Kathy Adams is negotiating specifics of the proposed curriculum and

agreed to be the “point person” at Guilford to work on establishing the pilot with the school corporation. Chuck Morris, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services, is the “point person” at Guilford County Schools.

The Weaver Foundation accepted a request from Guilford County Schools to provide

$75,000 to renovate the George White House, which will serve as the program’s center. The house is on Friendly Ave. across from Quaker Village.

“This is another benefit to the college since we wouldn’t have been able to afford to renovate it alone,” Doss said.

Guilford and the Guilford County Schools would likely apply for a charter school status in the 2003-2004 school year. The number of charter schools in North Carolina is limited by the

state legislature and currently the allowable number is at the maximum.

Page said that Academic Dean Kathy Adams proposed forming a focus group of main

campus students to communicate concerns.

“Even though the faculty approved this before the students, we can still play a role in

developing a program that could be positive for the community,” Page said.

The pilot program is somewhat modeled after one at the all female

Mary Baldwin College, in Staunton, Virginia. Judith Shuey, director of the program at Mary Baldwin, says the two types of students interact well together in the classroom.

“Some of the younger students have to learn that you can’t raise your hand for every question asked in class,” said Shuey, “but they are pretty well accepted by the traditional students.”

Shuey also said that the program creates good publicity for the school. Mary Baldwin has been featured on national shows like Good Morning America.

If the program happens at Guilford, it would be a first for North Carolina and would be one of few early college partnerships throughout the country.