Lexington Two, MTC form dual enrollment partnership

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A new agreement between Lexington School District Two and Midlands Technical College will allow students to receive exemption credit or dual enrollment status in specific courses.

Academic areas covered by the agreement, announced Wednesday, include engineering, information technology, business, health care and select industrial and building industries.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for our students to save time and money in pursuit of their careers,” Lexington Two Superintendent William James Jr. said in a news release. “ … This partnership will allow Midlands Technical College to have a pipeline of advanced students who’ve already experienced instruction in their chosen fields.”

Lexington Two is the first area school district to partner with Midlands Tech on the program, which will launch in January.

Lexington Two also partnered with MTC on an Early College program which allows high school students to earn college credit and potentially an associate’s degree. Twenty-four Lexington Two students participated in the Midlands Tech graduation ceremony this past spring, according to the release, with some exempting their first two years of college coursework.

Midlands Tech advisors will develop individualized plans for students participating in the new program.

“In the past, we concentrated a lot on helping students take general education courses, but the importance of career-driven education can’t be understated,” said Sandra Hackley, associate vice provost for career programs at Midlands Tech. “Now, we are making concerted efforts to align the career-program pathways in our area school districts with those at MTC.” 

Ron Rhames, Midlands Tech  president, said the agreement will be an advantage for Lexington County businesses.

“Some of the greatest benefactors of this agreement will be our local business and industry partners,” Rhames said. “Midlands-area employers have a critical interest in the pipeline of new technical talent coming from the high schools, through MTC’s career pathways, and into the workforce. This partnership creates a winning situation for everyone.”