Informational meeting Tuesday for Hope Collegiate Academy

HOPE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Hope and the Hope Public School District will host a public informational meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Hope High School Auditorium for parents and guardians who have students interested in attending the Hope Collegiate Academy.

The meeting is to inform parents/ guardians about the Collegiate Academy requirements, expectations and application process. Students entering the 10th grade next school year are eligible.

The goal of the academy is to provide students with a three-year curriculum that allows them the opportunity to complete a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously.

“We will go over what the collegiate academy is, the application process and what students need to do if they are interested in becoming a part of it,” said Mikki Curtis, dean of secondary programs. “We will talk a bit about the testing requirements that are needed to be able to apply for the program. We’ll just make sure that the parents and the students know exactly what the collegiate academy is, how it is different from a traditional high school and how they’ll work towards that associate degree, while working on that high school degree at the same time.”

The Arkansas High Collegiate Academy was mirrored after the Hope Collegiate Academy, which was the first collegiate academy UAHT developed. They are going into the fourth year with HCA.

“First off, it’s free. They get college credit for absolutely free,” Curtis said. “They would graduate high school with an associate’s degree that cost them nothing. They’re getting ahead in their higher education degree so that when they transfer, most of them will only need two more years to graduate. Ultimately, they’re saving a lot of money.”

Students entering the 10th grade can apply for the program through June 1. Students must be enrolled or be eligible to become enrolled as a Hope Public School student and meet the collegiate academy entrance requirements to attend. The academy is a public school and is located on the University of Arkansas Hope campus.

Students must submit the collegiate academy application and college entrance scores by June 1. To apply, visit uaht.edu/hope-collegiate-academy/ online.