Feb. 9, 2000
Contact: Dawn Fuller
513-556-1823
dawn.fuller@uc.edu

Students who meet the requirements in Withrow's Academy of Finance program can receive advanced credit toward an associate of arts degree in University College s business management program. Students who complete the high school requirements will not be required to take the college-level classes, Principals of Accounting I or Business Computer Applications. That means they save tuition and time advancing six credit hours toward their 90 credit-hour degree.

Tech Prep partnerships are part of a national educational initiative in which businesses, high schools and colleges work together to provide highly trained professionals for growing careers in business, health and engineering technologies. The Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium (GCTPC) includes eight southwestern Ohio colleges, 62 school districts and businesses in a nine county area.

University College is a two year, open access college, located on UC's main campus. "We want to give people an opportunity," says Associate Professor Patrick Kumpf, head, business technologies department, University College, and member of the Southwest Ohio Tech Prep Advisory Board. "Some of these high school students never thought about going to college. I think these agreements let them know our doors are open, and we will help them move from high school to college."

Furthermore, University College has agreements with UC's College of Business Administration and College of Evening and Continuing Education which provide smooth transitions from a two-year to a four-year undergraduate degree.

Withrow students must meet requirements to be considered for the high school program their junior and senior years, including a 90 percent attendance in 9th and 10th grade, a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA), a passing score on all five parts of the Ninth Grade Proficiency Test, and at least a "C" average in Algebra I.

To continue to University College, they must graduate from high school with at least a 2.0 GPA, successfully complete their college placement test and Tech Prep curriculum, pass four years of high school English and complete Algebra II. University College will launch its pathway in fall, 2000.

The Withrow High School Academy of Finance has 28 juniors and seniors enrolled in the Tech Prep Business Technology program. The Academy has also enrolled 20 juniors in the new Tech Prep Business Information Systems program, which trains students in computer programming and support technology.

Paul Ramstetter, principal, Withrow High School will be among the educators attending Wednesday's ceremony, along with Kathleen Ware, associate superintendent, Cincinnati Public Schools; Pat Samuels, director, Academy of Finance, Withrow High School; John Bryan, dean, University College; Terry Bullock, associate dean, University College; Patrick Kumpf, head, business technologies department, University College; and Connie Cooper, associate professor, business technologies, University College. Representatives from the GCTPC include Karen Blocher, director, GCTPC; Carolyn Love, associate director of curriculum and Terry Benedict, assistant director of marketing.