News Release

News Release MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY Contact: Jessica Novak Office of Marketing and Communication	Men's Center Women's Center Date Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Topic: Lakeland helps students without a high school diploma start college
Printer Friendly Version: Lakeland helps students without a high school diploma start college
Starting college without a high school diploma Learn more about Lakeland's First Rung to College Program. (www.lakelandcc.edu/FirstRung) In response to people who wish to start college but did not graduate from high school, Lakeland Community College is starting a program, “First Rung to College,” where individuals can obtain a GED and start college at the same time. Lakeland is currently recruiting for the program which runs from September 15 through December 10. In addition to GED test preparation, participants will take a college class, “Skills for College Success.” Those accepted into the program may attend free of cost. The majority of classes are slated to take place at Lakeland’s off-site location in Painesville. For more information, call 440-525-7447. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will include four hours of instruction per week to prepare for the GED test, plus two classroom hours per week for the “Skills for College Success” class. Participants will receive college credit and a grade for the “Skills for College Success” class. “Many students applying to Lakeland do not have their GED which makes them ineligible for financial aid,” said Jim Shelley, manager of the Men’s Resource Center at Lakeland. “In lacking their GED or high school diploma, they will also be unprepared for college classes, including remedial classes.” Both the Men's and Women's Centers at Lakeland saw the need in many individuals who are interested in “Ladders to Lakeland” support programs for first-time college students but did not graduate from high school. “First Rung” is seen as the first step toward one of the many Ladder's programs such as SMART (Single Mothers Achieving Real Triumph) or Pathfinders (support for black, male, first-time students). “Too many students who are eager to get started in college just aren't as prepared as they should be and set themselves up for possible failure. Participation in this program ensures that they will have the best possible chance to go all the way in obtaining a college degree,” said Shelley. For more information on Ladders to Lakeland programs, visit lakelandcc.edu/women or lakelandcc.edu/men. The “First-Rung to College” program is a partnership with Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) in Painesville. Lakeland Community College was the first public college in Ohio established by a vote of the people in 1967. Lakeland offers career programs that prepare students for immediate employment, transfer programs that prepare students for successful transfer to four-year schools, classes and certificate programs to improve job skills, noncredit continuing education classes, and workforce development training.