Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Concurrent Enrollment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District discusses shifting concurrent-enrollment anatomy course from University of Minnesota to South Central
Summary
Teachers and district staff discussed moving the high school's concurrent-enrollment anatomy and physiology sequence from the University of Minnesota to South Central to improve credit transferability for students entering nursing and allied-health fields.
St Clair County Schools staff and teachers discussed a proposed change to the district's concurrent-enrollment anatomy and physiology offering, saying a switch from the University of Minnesota's course to a South Central course would better meet transfer requirements for students planning careers in nursing.
A district teacher explained that, under current transfer practices, the University of Minnesota's anatomy course transfers to colleges as a generic "science with a lab" credit rather than as a named human anatomy course. "By switching to South Central, especially for those students that are considering, like, the nursing field, that course would actually fulfill that anatomy requirement if they were to go into nursing," the teacher said.
Speakers explained the proposed change is intended to protect students in case the U of M course is discontinued. The teacher relayed that the current U of M instructor is nearing retirement and that the U of M department may not continue offering the course. To avoid a potential gap for students, district staff said they prefer to transition ahead of a possible discontinuation.
District presenters described how the South Central sequence would likely be offered as an anatomy course in the fall and physiology in the spring, aligning more directly with postsecondary requirements for certain health programs. They also said credit nomenclature may be adjusted over time to align with MSU (Minnesota State University) conventions but that the content would remain the same.
Kristen Cox, identified in the meeting as dean for the science department at South Central, was named as a contact the district has consulted. A student — Justin Ollier — was present and was referenced during the discussion as an example of a student who would be affected by the change.
No formal board action to change the concurrent-enrollment partner was recorded in the public meeting; staff described this as a transition being planned to protect students' ability to receive named anatomy credit that would be recognized by nursing programs.
