As tuition costs rise, students are accumulating more college credit through Advanced Placement tests in high school to try to save money in the long run. For sophomores and juniors interested in a career in the health professions, the Kent Intermediate School District is offering free college credit through the Grand Valley State University’s College of Health Professions.

GVSU’s College of Health Professions has run the Health Sciences Early College Academy for six years, said Roy Olsson, dean of the College of Health Professions. In the past year, KISD and GVSU forged an agreement that allows students enrolled in the academy to earn six credit hours in the health professions.

“This is the only program that allows students to acquire college credit while being enrolled in high school,” said Duane Kiley, KISD Regional Career technical education supervisor. “More importantly, this program allows students to interact in a college setting with college courses and professors, which gives them advanced preparation for their career in high education.”

To enroll in the academy, students must have a 3.0 GPA. This year, 22 students met the requirements and enrolled, Olsson said. Of those students, nine plan to attend GVSU in the fall of 2010.

According to a GVSU press release, students can take classes at three different Kent County locations: Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Grand Rapids Central High School and the Byron Center Complex of Metro Health Hospital. The academy plans to expand courses to Ferris State University and Grand Rapids Community College in the fall.

“Currently, the health care fields in the U.S. lack diversity and our participation in this program is aimed at achieving a more diverse student body within our health care majors,” Olsson said. “If we achieve a more diverse student population, we will better serve the needs of those seeking health care.”

Olsson said he believes this program resonates with high school students from inner-city schools who many not have the support system or the opportunity to attain higher education. The students are initiated into the college experience and are more likely to enter college after graduation from high school.

“This program exposes students to the academic transition from high school to college as well as the environment at Grand Valley,” Olsson said. “Grand Valley has the benefit of getting a more diverse population of students interested in pre-course work in the health sciences.”

For more information about the Health Sciences Early College Academy, visit the KISD Web site at http://www.kentisd.org.

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