St. Norbert College is pleased to be part of the Early College Credit Program (formerly the Youth Options Program), which allows public high school students in Wisconsin to take college courses for high school credit and, potentially, college credit. According to Wisconsin legislation, the cost of college classes, books and course materials will be paid by the public high school student’s school district if the high school does not offer a comparable course, or if the student has exhausted the course curriculum.
Adhering to this compensation philosophy supports the maintenance of a strong community based on the Norbertine tradition.
How It Works
All courses taken by Early College Credit Program students at St. Norbert College will be recorded and transcribed as postsecondary credit, and they will become part of a student's permanent college record. Credits earned through the Early College Credit Program are accepted by most other colleges and universities. However, St. Norbert College does not guarantee acceptance, since every institution is governed by its own policies.
All students are expected to adhere to St. Norbert College's campus rules and regulations. These will be explained in greater detail at orientation.
Admission Procedures and Timeline
Timeline
Tips for Selecting Your Courses
Fill out an Early College Credit Program form and have it signed by your district. Students must apply to their counselor who will then take their application to the local school board for permission to participate. New students should fill out this form and give it to their counselor. Signed forms should be submitted to St. Norbert College using the address information on the last page.
The form is due by the following dates:
Talk to your high school counselor to see which courses are appropriate for Early College Credit Program (ECCP) students. ECCP students may take day or evening classes as approved by their high school.
Course offerings and schedules are listed on the registrar’s office website in April for summer and fall courses and in November for spring courses. Admission is ordinarily restricted to students in their junior and senior years of high school.
Students may want to contact the ECCP office at dualenrollment@snc.edu for course recommendations.
Students must take care of all class prerequisites by either submitting Advanced Placement scores or taking a placement test. Some coursework may require referral to the academic department for a recommendation and approval of advanced courses. Language courses require a language placement exam. (Please contact the Early College Credit Program office at dualenrollment@snc.edu for more information.)
If a student is interested in taking a foreign language class such as Spanish, French or German, a proctored pre-test must be taken. Pre-tests are given twice per semester on the SNC campus. Please contact the ECCP office at dualenrollment@snc.edu to find out the specific dates of the test for the semester you are interested in.
The Early College Credit Program director will register you for your classes when the registrar's office opens registration for non-degree-seeking students. This usually occurs in December for spring classes, May for summer classes and July for fall classes. Enrollment for a specific, approved course is not guaranteed. Early College Credit Program students are enrolled on a space-available basis.
Schedules will be mailed to both the high school and the student.
Students are limited to a total of 16 SNC dual credits, either through the Early College Credit Program, College Jumpstart or a combination of the two.
All Early College Credit Program students must attend a mandatory orientation in August for fall classes, in January for spring classes or in May for summer classes.
Find more information on the Early College Credit Program through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, including communication tools, FAQs and more.
All students are expected to adhere to St. Norbert College's campus rules and regulations. These will be explained in greater detail at orientation.
Benefits of Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for Early College Credit Program courses and how?
According to a formula devised by the Department of Public Instruction each year, the school district pays a private school a fee based on a certain formula. The specific amount is determined in October for a particular school year. School districts will be billed this amount along with books and course fees. Districts are to pay the college within 30 days after the semester ends.
If a student withdraws prior to completion of the semester, fees will be handled on an individual basis. If a student receives a failing grade in a course, the student’s parent or guardian is required to reimburse the school district if requested.
Course grades become part of your permanent college academic record. Poor or failing grades in an Early College Credit Program course could cause you to be placed on academic probation when enrolling in college after high school graduation. This could, in turn, jeopardize your access to financial aid.
Does the Early College Credit Program apply to courses offered during evenings or weekends?
A student may take an Early College Credit Program course during or after regular school hours.
Why does St. Norbert need my Social Security Number?
Please note that all Early College Credit Program registration forms request that you provide your Social Security Number. This number is used solely for internal identification purposes and is not shared with others. Not supplying your Social Security Number will make later retrieval of your grade history more difficult and time consuming if you do not have your St. Norbert College ID number. International students may not have a U.S. Social Security Number; if this is your situation, please let the director of the Early College Credit Program know and other arrangements will be made.
Will I receive a St. Norbert College identification card?
During orientation, we will go to the Michels Commons lobby to have your ID picture taken. You will need your ID to purchase books in the bookstore. Your ID will also be needed to use the library and to log on to the SNC computer system. Your St. Norbert College ID number can found on your student ID card. It is a 10-digit number and is needed to identify you at St. Norbert College. You will need that number whenever contacting anyone at SNC or when ordering transcripts.
Where do I get my books?
Students need to purchase textbooks at the campus bookstore in Todd Wehr Hall. The cost of textbooks is invoiced back to the high school by the bookstore.
Where should I park?
During orientation, you will need to register your vehicle with the parking office and get a parking "hanging pass” to park in the assigned lot, Lot #14, across from the Kress Inn. See our parking map.
Can I use the campus library?
Absolutely! As a SNC student you enjoy full library privileges. The Mulva Library resources can be access remotely – at your school or home – by using your SNC ID number on campus. You can access databases and many full-text articles from academic journals. You may use these resources for any of your courses, not just your Early College Credit Program courses, as long as you are enrolled as an Early College Credit Program student.
How do I add or drop a course once the semester starts?
If you feel your class selection is not a fit for you for any reason, you may drop the class without financial obligation by either you or your district before the add/drop deadline. Visit the registrar’s office for more information or to add/ drop classes by the deadline.
How do I get my SNC grades sent to another college or university?
Courses you take through the Early College Credit Program will appear on a St. Norbert College transcript. This is your official record of enrollment at the college and is maintained by the registrar’s office. You must request an official transcript from St. Norbert College to be sent to the university or college you are attending (unless you are coming to SNC, then no transcript is needed) in order to transfer your credits. Contact the university you are attending to find whether the transcript needs to be a hard-copy or electronic version.
St. Norbert College transcripts are ordered online through the National Student Clearinghouse. A link to this request form can be found on the registrar's website. Very important! When filling out the request form, remember to mark the box “hold for grades.” This will ensure that only complete transcripts will be sent to your institution, saving you both time and money.
Former Student Survey
We hope that your college or university experience has been enhanced by your participation in the Early College Credit Program during high school. Please help us improve the St. Norbert College Early College Credit Program for our future students by completing our brief questionnaire to assist in the evaluation of the program. Your comments are entirely confidential and will be used exclusively for program improvement. We are always looking for ways to improve the program and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
https://www.snc.edu/collegejumpstart/survey.html
