LEWISTON — Lewiston High School Principal Gus LeBlanc and guest presenters won over the Lewiston School Committee, gaining approval Monday evening for an early college program for incoming seniors.

In a unanimous vote, the Lewiston School Committee approved a program developed by Lewiston High School and University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College that would allow seniors to spend a portion of their school day attending college-level courses in a campus setting.

LeBlanc began his presentation by telling the committee, “We’re asking for your support. We’re not asking for money.” The intent of the program, said LeBlanc, is to “develop different pathways that may not have existed before at this depth.”

The focus of the program would be to let qualifying, full-time seniors with a grade average of 85 or above to participate in a real college campus experience,  taking classes taught by college instructors. Ideal candidates, according to LeBlanc, would be highly motivated and have a history of positive citizenship.

Students would begin their day at the USM LAC campus in core classes — government and English, led by two LHS teachers. From there, they would be expected to blend into regular college life for two regular USM classes. Students would earn one LHS credit and three college credits for their work.

LeBlanc said students would then return to LHS to finish out their day. This would allow completion of a full-time school day and allow students to still enjoy extracurricular activities as well as life as a high school senior.

Students also could remain on campus to take additional classes at their own expense, LeBlanc said.

The end result would be a graduating high school senior with a semester of college under his or her belt at little to no expense, according to LeBlanc.

This would give graduates a competitive edge when moving on to full-time college, better odds of completing a degree and would offer a more challenging atmosphere for more qualified, gifted students, LeBlanc said.

Joyce Gibson, dean of USM LAC, said that the college, with a small campus and small classes, is a perfect match for this program. 

Gibson said that students would be able to enjoy college services and amenities, as well as boost the demographic of “college-age” students on a campus comprised of mostly non-traditional students. Gibson referred to the program as a “win-win.”

LeBlanc concluded with the expansion potential for the early college program, including offering opportunities to juniors in the second year, giving participants a potential full year of college upon graduation.

This, LeBlanc said, would provide opportunities for students to enter into an accelerated three-year bachelor’s program.

Paired with existing programs at LHS, such as early college programs, CLEP testing and advanced placement testing, LeBlanc said the students’ overall educational potential would be enhanced.

The committee praised LeBlanc for his presentation and expressed wide enthusiasm for supporting the program before all members voted for it to pass.

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