Early College is Early Admissions

A high school student is sitting in their guidance office, looking at the pennants on the wall representing institutions from across the state and across the country. They see the Husky, Bald Eagle, and Mountaineer on the pennant for Commonwealth University: Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. 

For those who know which major they want to take, they wonder, "Why can’t I start now? I am ready!" Those still deciding on their major may think, "I wish I could explore a few courses first before making a decision." 

Commonwealth University can help students in either situation through our Early College program. At CU, by combining the legacy dual enrollment programs of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield, we have created the Early College Program, which combines on-campus and online opportunities for students across central Pennsylvania. 

What makes CU’s Early College program different from others is the access and connection between our staff and students. 
It begins with our cultivated relationships with the school districts within our respective regions. Understanding the context, needs, and cultures of our district partners provides us with the ability to tailor our offerings to fit our students’ collective needs.

Our team communicates regularly with administrators and counselors and works to build upon and bolster that relationship among all parties to support students.

Our students are each assigned an Early College staff member. This helps create a deeper connection between the student and the university, and provides them with a “go-to” person on campus to further connect them with campus benefits. CU Early College students have access to many of the same services as full-time students. This includes support services and offices such as disability services, tutoring, and student success, among others, all of which are vital components in helping ensure success.  

The professional relationship-building between university faculty and staff members with engaged high school students is critical to the next phase of the students' transition.

It’s all in the handoff

Once a student has made their admissions deposit for full-time enrollment, we connect them with their future department advisor. This allows the advisor to forge connections with their future students and provides students with the opportunity to schedule their first-semester classes. 

Nearly half of our Early College students who complete an undergraduate application go on to enroll at Commonwealth University. This opportunity for early engagement helps to determine scheduling needs.

For our students planning to attend another institution, we assist them with the process of transferring credits to the next step in their journey. What is critical here is cultivating a positive relationship with those students, even though they may be leaving the relationship they established with CU. We have seen an increase in students either returning to CU for Summer and Winter Session courses or even transferring back in for their undergraduate programs. 

We want students to believe that they will always be a part of the CU family. 

Early College is early admission.