College in the Schools Follow-Up Student Survey

Abstract

The College in the Schools (CIS) program delivers introductory-level University of Minnesota courses to high school junior and senior students in their local high schools. These courses are taught by their high school teachers and are a means of providing advanced curriculum to those students who are ready for highly challenging content. There is a range of subject areas in CIS courses – world languages, English composition and literature, economics, history, and political science. The high school teachers are supported by professors from the University of Minnesota in terms of the content to be taught and instructional methods. The classes are offered within the regular school day and meet for a semester or the entire year. There is no charge to students to take the classes; however, there is a small amount of tuition which the schools pay to the University for coordinating their participation in CIS. Students are able to earn college credit for their participation in CIS courses. The CIS Follow-Up Student Survey sought to gather the opinions of past participants five years after they had taken a CIS course. The survey asked about participants’experiences after high school including whether they attended college, whether the University credit received was recognized at their college, and how CIS did or did not prepare them for college. The survey also asked about their future plans after completing their postsecondary education.