Through our partnerships with Ohio Christian University, Christian Halls International (Southeastern University and Dallas International University), and the non-biblical offerings with Acadeum (Trine University and Cambridge University,) Bridgeway Academy’s online College Now! program is quickly becoming a favorite among homeschoolers. High school juniors and seniors and now some of our gifted sophomores are completing the requirements for graduation while at the same time earning fully accredited college credits (3 credits per course)! By planning ahead, Bridgeway can help position middle and high school students for college-level courses early in their high school careers. This is a natural lead-in to our dual enrollment opportunities, where students can earn both college and high school credits for the same advanced courses. With College Now!, terms are offered 12 times a year between Fall and Spring semester courses and multiple start-dates for a growing selection of 8-week courses including Summer terms. These online college courses allow students to interact with highly qualified professors and other students as they complete the requirements for each class. At the end of each term, students will receive one high school credit and three to four college credits for each successfully completed course. If your student is interested in pursuing the dual enrollment program, talk to your advisor in your freshman and sophomore years to ensure your student is put on the right track. Your advisor will be able to provide feedback on which courses are recommended and which university to take the credit through. Textbooks for College Courses Courses taken will require that students purchase their books on their own. It is advised that students purchase them at least two weeks before the start of the course. The University will email the student which books need to be purchased after the student is fully enrolled and all paperwork completed. Start Dates Ohio Christian University - The fall semester starts in mid-August, and students must have applied at OCU by April 15th and be enrolled at Bridgeway by July 1st. Spring semester starts in January and students must have applied at OCU by October 15th and enrolled at Bridgeway by December 1st. Christian Halls International- Southeastern University and Dallas International University – Fall semester starts in mid-August and students must have applied to CHI and their chosen university by August 1st and be enrolled at Bridgeway by the same date. Spring semester starts in early January and students must have applied to CHI and their chosen university by December 15th and be enrolled by the same date. Acadeum- Trine University and Cambridge University offer start dates almost every month for their 8-week offering. The application process is quick, though students must be enrolled with Bridgeway before applying at an Acadeum school. Students are also placed in a “Homeroom” at Bridgeway where regular updates are given by the dual-enrollment advisors, links to extra help are provided, and students can engage with each other on a forum. Work Deadlines It is important for students to understand that all of these courses are college-level courses, and we expect our students to perform and behave at a collegiate level. All courses have hard deadlines that must be met without exception. Assignments are handed out on a set day of the week and are due by the following week when the next assignments are issued. Points will be deducted for late submissions up to four days. After that, the student will receive a zero on the assignment unless arrangements are made with the professor. Each course requires a forum post regularly and responses to other students' posts. Extension Policy OCU has an extension that they call the Incomplete Policy. For the student to receive additional time in the course, the student will need to apply for an Incomplete and it will need to be approved. This is NOT something that Bridgeway can do, and it must be completed before the class ends, all the way up through the last day of the class. The only exception would be hospitalization. The Incomplete Policy is outlined in the OCU Academic Catalog. Students must have completed at least 50% of the course at the time of the appeal. CHI and Acadeum's schools each have their own, separate extension policies but it is vital that students reach out to their professors long before the end of the course. Withdrawal Policy At OCU, students have up to 5 days after the start of the course to let us know if they wish to withdraw from their course. At CHI partner universities, students have up to 2 days after the start of the course to let us know they want to withdraw from the course. Acadeum students have up to 3 days after the start of the course to let us know they want to withdraw. To ensure students are prepared for the course and know if they can successfully complete it, students should review the course syllabi prior to the start of the course. They will receive access to their courses several days before the course starts. The withdrawal policy for courses is outlined in the university’s Academic Catalog and in the startup emails after a student is registered. An official request should be emailed to their university Contact and CC’ed to their Bridgeway Advisor. Who to contact with concerns If the student has concerns about the course, the first course of action is to reach out to their professor for all courses. If the professor doesn’t respond in a timely fashion (24 hours- to two business days) then they should reach out to their university contact and copy their Bridgeway advisor. Their advisors will then reach out to the professor or their supervisor depending on the situation. Learning to communicate with professors is key to being successful in college. These are not high school courses and won’t be treated as such. Professors will expect students to turn in college-level work and address concerns like college students, with maturity. Technology Assistance Each university encourages students to use technological advances to enhance their personal educational experience. The IT Helpdesk on the university's platform provides assistance regarding access to the university systems. Students are assigned passwords upon their enrollment and may contact the IT department through directions given when a student enrolls and is registered for their courses.
