College Credit Plus Soldering Class Enables PEP Students to Excel
“It’s so pretty! I can’t wait to take it home and brag to my family about it,” smiled Alawna as she spun her light-up fidget spinner. She made the toy herself as part of a college class on soldering at Tri-C, which partners with PEP to offer the College Credit Plus program. Alawna, along with 13 of her peers from four PEP Day Treatment Centers, had the opportunity to earn college credit through the program during their regular school day. On the last day of class, it was clear they were proud of themselves and what they had learned.
Long-Term Benefits
For some of these young people, the program was transformative. The students at PEP all face significant challenges, from trauma, to difficulty regulating emotions to mental health issues. Many of them will be the first in their families to graduate from high school. To not only take a class at a college, but to also earn college credit before graduating high school, changed the way some of the students saw themselves and what they perceived their futures to be.
Their teacher counselors are impressed by the program as well. “This program helps teach independence,” said John Harris, associate teacher counselor at PEP Phoenix. “My students are 11th and 12th graders, so this is it,” he said. Harris also liked the hands-on nature of the class for his students. “Some of our kids struggle academically. To have this experience where they excel, it means a lot.” Not to mention, the final project was really cool!
Immediate Benefits
In addition to the more long-term impact this programming has on students, it is also has more immediate positive benefits. First, the classes are different than what they typically encounter in the classroom, giving students the chance to try something new that many of them find very engaging. The skills required for these classes are also repetitive, rhythmic and rewarding — a combination that brain science tells us helps people with emotional regulation.
“It’s not just sitting in a classroom and lectures,” explained Matt Dugovics, vocational manager, when asked about the program when it began. “It prepares them for what comes next, whether that is college or the workforce. If they want to attend Tri-C, it’s an easy transition. They have started to see their futures in a whole new light.”
What’s Next
In the spring students will be able to enroll in Robotics, another college-level class offered through Tri-C as part of the College Credit Plus program. PEP began offering students the opportunity to participate in College Credit Plus in 2022. Since then, the program has grown in popularity and a larger group of students participate.
To learn more about PEP’s Day Treatment Centers visit our website. Contact Nicole Molnar, sr. director, clinical services, at 216-361-7760 ext. 110 or via email to see if a student in your district may be a good fit for Positive Education Program.
Please note, referrals to PEP’s Day Treatment Centers are made through school districts in consultation with parents. Interested parents or caregivers should contact their school administrator.