Agreement means second location for University Academy

PINEVILLE — High-schoolers seeking college credit will have a new option north of the Red River come August. Louisiana College announced Tuesday a one-year agreement to host University Academy of Central Louisiana students in dual enrollment courses.

The private "early college academy" for ninth- through 12th-graders opened in 2014 on the campus of Louisiana State University of Alexandria. This agreement is not expected to impact the school at LSUA, said Marc Kelly, UA chief executive officer.

"When we opened last year, the goal was to raise the education level of Central Louisiana," Kelly said. "We felt that dual enrollment was the way to do it. ... I think what makes this thing so special is there's a group of students on the north side ... that we're not going to be able to reach down where we're located currently, but they'll be able to come here and achieve their education goals."

Kelly said several students commute long distances from south of LSUA, but this agreement will give students who live "on the north side of the river" the opportunity to earn up to 48 college credits at the private Baptist college in Pineville before they graduate high school.

University Academy juniors and seniors who meet dual enrollment criteria can take courses from LC faculty, with LC students, in LC classrooms, as students do at LSUA. Louisiana College will offer an orientation class and one about receiving a "Christian worldview education," which are being designed, President Rick Brewer said.

Brewer said the high-schoolers can attend LC student activities like football games and chapel. They can purchase meal plans like their college counterparts.

"Welcome to the Louisiana College family," Brewer said at an announcement Tuesday.

Brewer emphasized the importance of collaborating with other institutions to reach more students. The school has agreements with Louisiana Tech University, the Rapides Parish School District and home-school groups to give students more options.

The partnerships get students on campus early and often help the college.

"We hope familiarity will produce acceptance," Brewer said. "We see this as an opportunity for them to matriculate seamlessly to Louisiana College."

Kelly expects the same.

"There is a large group of kids in this area who want to go to Louisiana College," Kelly said. "I think this is an opportunity to reach them. ... Those students have the potential to leave here with 48 hours of college completed, and if they choose to be here on the campus of Louisiana College they have the benefit of already being assimilated here. It'll be a seamless transition for them to continue their education as well."

He said completing college courses at the reduced rate of dual enrollment is important to both students and parents.

For more information, contact University Academy at 318-427-0123. To participate in UA athletics, students must be registered by July 1. The school also offers eighth grade on the LSUA campus.