The Nebraska College Preparatory Academy expanded its influence to include not only the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but also Metropolitan Community College in Omaha.
“Our purpose is to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students who go on to higher education, both in high school and college,” said Amber Hunter, director of the NCPA. “Students are identified in their eighth grade year and then join us in ninth grade.”
Formed in 2006, the NCPA provides services such as financial aid, ACT test preparation, college prep courses, contact with UNL and MCC staff as well as summer research conferences and projects to prepare students for college coursework. NCPA has a student retention rate of 72 percent.
Additional services include help focused on math and science, areas which have been shown to be especially difficult for first-generation and low-income students.
With this program, students will be able either to graduate directly to UNL or go to MCC before transferring to UNL.
“Students who plan to attend UNL immediately upon high school graduation must maintain a 3.0 grade point average,” Hunter said. “Students’ GPAs between a 2.99 to 2.5 may be eligible for admission to MCC prior to UNL.”
Thus far, the NCPA students attending Grand Island Senior High School have maintained an average GPA of 3.47, and the Omaha North High Magnet School students have a combined GPA of 3.42, both well above the minimum requirements for either college.
The academy began this process at Grand Island Senior High but expanded to Omaha North last year. So far, 40 freshmen from Omaha North are participating in the program with another 20 expected to join with the partnership of MCC.
The new programs also allow college-bound students to mentor other high school NCPA students as well as helping with the summer research programs.
“This is a great opportunity for Metro Community College and UNL to work together on a project in Omaha that will help Omaha North students transition to higher education,” said Randy Schmailzl, president of MCC.
ALEKSANDERZAYAS-DORCHAK@dailynebraskan.com
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