Lyndon State and Lyndon Institute Announce New “Learning Collaborative”

New Agreement Will Make College More Affordable, Degree Completion Faster

December 18, 2014

Lyndon State College President Joe Bertolino and Lyndon Institute Headmaster Daren Houck have announced the creation of the Lyndon Learning Collaborative, a new partnership between the schools to enhance dual enrollment and early college initiatives.

The Collaborative’s early college program will provide Lyndon Institute (LI) students in their senior year with a rigorous high school experience that gives them credit toward their freshman year at Lyndon State College (LSC) at no additional cost to the student or the taxpayer. The program is slated to begin in fall of 2015; twenty-five students are expected to participate.

Under the terms of the Collaborative, LI seniors may attend LSC for free; the last year of high school and first year of college is a “joint” year, completed simultaneously; and all classes are to be taught at LI. The program’s college credits are free for students who stay through their sophomore (second) year at LSC; otherwise they pay a per-credit fee to award and transfer the credits to another college.

Bertolino said, “The partnership makes sense on so many levels and I’m excited about it. Our proximity is an advantage, our shared faculty, resources, and facilities allow us to be more productive and fiscally responsible. Our similar missions have a focus on student preparedness for future success. And this program is a terrific way to make college affordable.”

Houck added, “We are committed to creating new pathways for our students so they may secure a successful future if they decide to settle here in the NEK. I hope this partnership is the first of many as we continue to target new business and economic development initiatives that provide sustainable and cutting-edge opportunities for our students.”

“On a personal level, Dr. Bertolino and I are proud of the world-class education we provide our students,” Houck said. “Our love, support, and belief in Lyndon and the Northeast Kingdom led us to create this unique opportunity for local residents to afford an outstanding high school and college that not only provides excellent academic preparation for their students, but also cares and believes in them.”

Bertolino also noted, “This program dovetails nicely with national trends discussed at recent American Association of State College and Universities meetings. The conversations centered on ‘core liberal arts plus experiential learning equal jobs.’ That’s what we’re already doing here at LSC and now in cooperation with LI – turning passions into professions.”

Over the next several months, LI Assistant Head for Academics Adam Norwood will be working with the College to finalize details of the agreement.