Simon’s Rock Provost on How Early College Reimagines Path to Higher Ed
In a moment when the competition for college admission dominates the 11th and 12th grades, Bard College at Simon’s Rock creates opportunities for students at a critical moment in their education to focus on ideas rather than getting in.
Conventional high schools prepare students for college admission rather than college
education, writes Simon’s Rock Provost and Vice President Ian Bickford in an opinion piece for The Hechinger Report.
The educational movement known as early college began at Simon’s Rock over 50 years ago. In 2001, based on knowledge gained from the success at Simon’s Rock, Bard College established one of the nation’s first public early colleges, laying the foundation for the Bard Early Colleges[BROKEN LINK] network and hundreds of other early college programs across the United States.
Early college has been shown to improve the quality of education, increase college persistence and completion, and reduce achievement gaps. Ian asserts that for many high school students, the path to and through higher education can be reimagined in six years rather than eight—resulting in greater success and a more compelling college experience.