Special to The Message
Reitz Memorial High School in Evans
ville recently announced they now offer the Indiana College Core, a block of 30 credit hours of college-level coursework that students earn to save time and money toward their higher education. The Indiana College Core is offered at Reitz Memorial through a partnership with the University of Southern Indiana.
Implemented in 2012, the Indiana College Core is a block of college-level general education coursework that applies seamlessly to all Indiana public institutions and some private institutions and is made up of six competency areas. The certificate allows high school students to earn a full year of general education credits for little to no cost.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity for our students,” Reitz Memorial Principal Aaron Schmitt explained. “On average, over 60 percent of our students attend an in-state public university each year. While we offer a wide variety of AP and Dual Credit courses, this will be an opportunity for our students to earn a block of 30 credits that will transfer to any public college or university in the state of Indiana as well as a handful of independent colleges.”
The Indiana College Core is central to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s goal of increasing the college-going rate and college completion. Students who earn the Indiana College Core in high school are more likely to graduate from college on time or early. Recent data show nearly 2,100 high school students earned the Indiana College Core in 2021, and about 90 percent of those students went on to attend college. Currently, 222 high schools offer the Indiana College Core, up from 141 last year and 84 in the previous year. The Commission has set a goal to have over 500 high schools in the state offer the certificate by the end of 2026.
“USI is pleased to partner with Reitz Memorial to provide this opportunity for students to earn a transferable block of credit, which can be used toward degree programs at institutions around the state,” USI interim provost Dr. Shelly Blunt said. “Dual credit and AP both help ease the cognitive transition to college, and we are pleased to support Indiana’s students as they work toward their future educational and career goals.”
Students who are interested in earning the Indiana College Core are encouraged to talk with their school counselor. Learn more at https://mycollegecore.org/about/what-is-it/.