Southern Cross University Gold Coast has launched an innovative program to give students in Years 11 and 12 a head start into university.
SCU Head-Start has been designed to give students in their senior years of high school the opportunity to complete a unit of university study, while still at school.
Students who successfully complete the program will be offered a place in a select number of Southern Cross University courses and receive advanced standing.
Information sessions for students who are heading into Years 11 and 12 next year, and their parents, are being run at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses in the coming weeks. The first information session will be held at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus on Tuesday, September 13.
Danielle Fisher, project officer for SCU Head-Start and an experienced secondary school teacher, said the program had been developed to give senior high school students a taste of life at university and the opportunity to get ahead in their studies.
“We are excited to be offering this new program to high schools within our region at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour,” Ms Fisher said.
“We have had some excellent feedback from high schools about this initiative and there has already been strong interest from students to participate.”
SCU Head-Start has been designed to fit in with most high school timetables. Senior high school students will have access to a tailored orientation program, delivered on campuses at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.
“There will also be opportunity to connect with like-minded high achieving students through a range of social networking and academic activities,” Ms Fisher said.
Two units of study are available through the program, with each unit mapping to a variety of undergraduate degrees. The program is exempt of University fees.
Ms Fisher said a series of information sessions were being held to give students and their parents information about how to apply, advanced standing and support. Lecturers and current Southern Cross University students will be on hand to provide advice.
Information sessions are being held at:
Gold Coast
Gold Coast campus, Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga
Tuesday, September 13
6pm to 7.30pm
RSVP to headstart@scu.edu.au. More information is available at www.scu.edu.au/headstart
