Early College Alliance(sm) @ Eastern Michigan University

Early College Alliance(sm) @ Eastern Michigan University
220 King Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Contact: David Dugger, Director
Phone: 734-487-4290
Email: dugger.eca@gmail.com
Website: www.earlycollegealliance.org

The Early College Alliance(sm) (ECA) is a unique public school consortium partnering Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Eastern Michigan University, Chelsea Public Schools, Lincoln Consolidated Schools, Milan area Schools, Ypsilanti Public Schools and Whitmore Lake Public Schools. The ECA @ EMU is located on the campus of Eastern Michigan University, with a curricular focus on the areas of math, science, technology, critical thinking and problem solving. The ECA @ EMU program enables students to complete their requirements for a high school diploma while earning up to 60 transferable college credits from Eastern Michigan University. ECA graduates are equipped to enter a variety of high-demand areas in the fields of health, medicine, mathematics, science, technology or business.

Begun in the fall of 2007 with 45 students, the ECA @ EMU will have a fall 2010 enrollment of 360 students. In general, each incoming cohort is grouped together on campus for a traditional school day, taking high school classes in math, science, social studies and English. Eventually all students, depending on their skill demonstration and mastery, transition into full-time EMU students taking university courses throughout campus. Throughout the program, ECA students receive support from a CORE adviser/mentor who is assigned to them for the duration of their career at the ECA.

The ECA @ EMU is a universal access program, with 30% of the available slots reserved for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. During the 2008-2009 academic year, ECA students enrolled in approximately 2,000 credit hours at Eastern Michigan University, receiving grades of 'C' or better 82% of the time, making the ECA @ EMU students the best performing group on EMU's campus. The ECA @ EMU continues to expand its partner districts and it is expected that Willow Run Public Schools and Ann Arbor Public Schools will join the Early College Alliance for the 2011 academic year.



Final Report