Guidelines

Welcome to Trine Middle College

Highly regarded by state education leaders, the Trine Middle College opportunity opens college classes to high school students for dual/concurrent credit. Our program, begun in 2003, helps college-bound students get a jump-start on their futures. It also provides a glimpse of college coursework to those high school students unsure about attending college. This booklet serves as a reference for you and your family. Within these pages, you will find helpful information about registration, costs, orientation, attendance, contact information, and much more. We hope it will help make your Middle College experience a positive catalyst as you consider a college career.

Mission statement
The purpose of Trine Middle College is to provide area high school-age students educational experiences in a college setting. Middle College students may take one course or they may begin a course of study that culminates in a degree. All classes are fully accredited and will be offered on a Trine campus with university students, taught by Trine professors.

Who should apply to Middle College?

• first generation college students
• skilled, motivated students who are seeking a different challenge
• college-bound students
• students from public or private institutions, including home schooled

What does Middle College Offer?

• advanced studies
• college credit
• campus setting
• evening courses (Trine Merrillville, Trine Angola North, Trine Fort Wayne, Trine South Bend)
• online courses (Trine Merrillville, Trine Angola North, Trine Fort Wayne, Trine South Bend)

Enrollment Stipulations
Students who have passed their grade-appropriate Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) test may enroll in Middle College. However, because home schooled students do not take ISTEP, they should show proof of SAT or ACT scores. Recommended scores for Middle College entrance should be 800 (minimum) for SAT and 18 (minimum) for ACT.

Enrollment is determined by individual schools. Any application given to the Middle College coordinator will receive serious consideration for attendance. An official high school transcript (attached to application or faxed) with test scores (ISTEP or SAT/ACT) is needed for each student.

Registration Procedure

1. Each high school student should complete an application online or give a printed copy to his/her high school guidance counselor. Sometimes, however, students or parents mistakenly give it to the coordinator or branch contact person. When this occurs, the MIddle College notifies the local guidance counselor of the student's application.
   
2. Once the application and transcript are ready for submission to Trine Middle College, registration may occur at Trine. High schools should have master schedules in place, so students know whether morning or afternoon blocks are available for main campus scheduling.
   
3. Billing occurs approximately two weeks after business office submission. Deadline for payment is stated on the course listing sheet, or when the bill arrives.
   
4. All payments are made to Trine University.
   
5. Trine will send the student’s class schedule to his/her home.

Student of an employee
If a student is a son/daughter of an employed Trine University professor or staff member, this relationship needs to be stated on the application. Tuition is free for these students.

A-Z REFERENCE GUIDE

Associates degree
Since students may begin attending the summer following their sophomore year, it is possible for students to achieve an associate degree (or 60 hours towards a bachelor’s degree) before graduating from high school. To achieve this, intense planning with the high school guidance counselor needs to be accomplished throughout the four years of high school to provide time for Trine courses.

Course Cost
Through partnerships with school districts, foundations, and local businesses, Middle College intends to provide its services to students at little or no cost. Trine Middle College charges a maximum of $100 per credit hour. Should a student be a 21st Century Scholar, the cost is reduced to $75 per credit hour.

*Initial application fee is $25.

Should a Trine Middle College student receive a bill that exceeds the Middle College amount, immediate contact should be made with the TSU Business Office (260.665.4108 or 260.665.4112).

Course listing
The main campus course listings are issued twice a year: spring courses are issued the last week of October/first week of November. Interested students should be registered in November/December for spring courses. Summer/fall courses are issued the last week of February/first week of March. Mid-March is when registration for summer/fall courses begins. Off-campus sites (Angola North, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Merrillville) issue their lists several weeks prior to each semester. Fall registration typically trickles throughout the summer.

Guidance counselors are to contact the Middle College coordinator as soon as their school's schedule is completed (in the spring), so students can be registered (for summer/fall). Trine listings can also be mailed.

Course selection
All Trine freshmen level courses (#100 courses: i.e., UE 101, CH 114, etc.) and some 200+ are open for high school enrollment. If no prerequisite exists, students can take any general course. If students are presently taking AP courses, however, some upper-level courses may be open to them. For example, a successfully passing AP Calculus student may enroll in Calculus II class, upon AP completion. In essence, Trine will honor the AP Calculus as a Calculus I college course.

A high school honors class (e.g., Honors English) is not an advanced placement course and will not receive automatic college credit. Students enrolled in honors classes are considered non-AP students, needing to enroll in basic/introductory courses. The only exception to this would be a student who CLEPS out the basic course.

All high school students are encouraged to take the University Experience class, where survival tips and study skills are emphasized. Often students attend, believing they are fully equipped for college-level courses, only to discover otherwise mid-way through a course. The University Experience class helps students adapt to university expectations. It is a one-credit course, offered once a week. University Experience is also offered online.

Dual/concurrent credit
Each high school will decide whether dual credit will be given for course work. Middle College serves each school to meet individual needs, so Trine Middle College will honor individual school policies.

Foreign-exchange students
Foreign-exchange students may attend. They will pay the $100 per credit hour, no deductions. Host family parents will sign the application. Host families should, however, make sure that natural parents have given consent.

IDs
Middle College IDs provide library access and are issued at orientation time. ID pictures are taken at Forman Hall in the Registrar's Office on the main campus and/or at Trine Fort Wayne, Trine Angola North, Trine South Bend and Trine Merrillville.

Online/telecourse:
Online courses do exist. Check listings for availability.
Telecourses are NOT for Middle College students.

Orientations-main campus program only
Three orientations are held annually.

• Winter orientation (December or January) is for students who registered in November for spring (January-May) courses. A presentation covering important aspects of the program, plus textbooks, IDs, student handbooks, and schedules are distributed at that time. Brief tours are also given. Many spring students do not attend fall/summer classes, so a more thorough orientation is required at this time.
  
• Spring orientation (April or May) is a celebration for all: exiting seniors are awarded, while incoming summer/fall students are introduced. After acknowledging seniors, the audience may ask questions of the exiting students and parents to learn more about the Middle College experience. This orientation is open to registered and interested students.
  
• August orientation prepares for the first day of class, introduces key staff members, and covered Trine Middle College policies.

Orientations are also required at Trine Fort Wayne, Trine Merrillville, Trine Angola North, and Trine South Bend. Call campus directors for additional information.

Branch campus orientations
Branch campus staff will alert enrolled students of branch orientations.

Part-time or Full-time attendance
The majority of students attend part-time, enrolling in morning, afternoon, or evening classes. However, mid-term graduates may attend Trine Middle College full-time during their spring semester for the same Trine Middle College cost.

Once a student participates in commencement exercises, he/she is considered a graduate. Summer attendance after commencement is allowed, but at undergraduate cost.

Sessions

Main campus
Middle College students may attend any or all of the three sessions:

• Fall (August–December)
• Spring (January–May)
• Summer:
  • Option one: 12 week session (May 10–July 31)
  • Option two: First six weeks (May 10–June 18)
  • Option three: Second six weeks (June 21–July 31)

Trine Off-Campus sites
Angola North, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Merrillville, Kendallville, and Howe.
Middle College students may attend any or all of the four sessions:

• Fall
• Spring
• Summer

Sports eligibility
IHSAA rules must be followed. Eligibility of MC enrollment depends on individual school policies.

Textbooks
Textbook costs will be the responsibility of all students. Branch students will order on-line; main campus students may purchase from the main campus bookstore. Check with bookstore policies; sometimes textbooks can be "bought" back by the bookstore, as a used text, at the close of a semester. Main campus bookstore phone number is 260.665.4152.

Tutorial assistance
On the main campus, Kathie Wentworth (260.665.4853) directs the tutorial program. Her services are available to both University and Middle College students. She receives notification from professors if a student has a D or F in a class. She receives deficiency reports and calls parents. The Middle College Coordinator/Assistant, is also notified and will speak with students and alert guidance counselor(s).

Trine professors work well with students. Should a student be concerned of a grade or need time individually with an instructor, they may contact the professor by e-mail or phone. Some instructors hold study review groups. It is important that Middle College students seek this aid, if aid is needed.

Financial Advisor, free services
Should a Middle College student have a question concerning what scholarship opportunities exist as an undergraduate or how to fill out the FASFA form, free assistance is provided through Trine Admission. Phone number: 260.665.4438.

*Schools may make recommendations on placement of courses. If a course is needed at a different time than offered, or if a course needs to be inserted (during spring, fall or summer sessions), contact should be made with the Middle College Coordinator, who will speak with Trine heads of departments.

Transportation & parking
Students are to provide their own transportation. A free parking permit is given to each main campus Middle College student. Parking permits are not necessary for off-campus sites.