UWGB Rising Phoenix offers degree program to rural high school students in 16 counties | Latest News | insightonbusiness.com
High school students in participating rural districts in northeast Wisconsin will have access to a a new program in fall 2023 that will allow many to graduate with a college degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program will expand to districts within the university’s 16-county footprint that are labeled “rural-remote” by the Department of Public Instruction.
Providing access to dual credit services in rural Wisconsin creates opportunity in underserved areas of the state for high school students to jumpstart their college education while still in high school. The application is now open for the program.
Current sophomores from participating districts will have the opportunity to apply for the Rising Phoenix Program and if admitted will be enrolled during their junior and senior years of high school. Rising Phoenix students will be concurrently enrolled in courses at their high school and UW-Green Bay.
Rising Phoenix courses are selected to meet Wisconsin high school graduation requirements and the UW-Green Bay Associate of Arts and Sciences degree. Courses will be offered in students’ high schools and online, providing students flexible options to take courses and participate in extra-curricular activities at the high school and on the university campus.
“Preparing our students for their futures can be a challenging task for any district. That challenge is much greater for us, due to the barriers and obstacles that come with being Wisconsin’s smallest school district.” Said Washington Island Principal and Curriculum Director Timothy Verboomen. “Partnering with UW-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix program for the rural district cohort offers our students access to opportunities that we hadn’t imagined possible.”
The Rising Phoenix program started in fall 2020, and the program’s growth in each successive year has been significant. Rising Phoenix was created with the goal of reducing college debt, closing the achievement gap and providing advanced learning opportunities for high school students in Wisconsin.
The goal for participating students is to earn both their high school diploma and get a significant head start on their college degree with an opportunity to earn an AAS degree at the same time they graduate from high school. Students who complete an AAS degree will have the first two years of a bachelor’s degree completed. The accomplishment will apply whether students decide to continue at UW-Green Bay, transfer to a different college or university or enter the workforce upon graduation with an earned college credential.
Every student enrolled will work consistently with UW-Green Bay’s Rising Phoenix Student Success Coach, who will:
- Assist students through the admissions process
- Facilitate academic advising
- Provide social and emotional support
- Serve as a transition specialist upon graduation (college applications, scholarships, FAFSA and financial aid assistance)
To learn more about the program, visit the Rising Phoenix website at www.uwgb.edu/rising-phoenix/
