When classes begin today at the University of Cincinnati, dozens of local students will have a jump-start on their required college credits.

        The first class of seniors to participate in a joint program with UC at Western Hills High School will arrive on campus with some 33,500 other students — 4,846 of those as freshmen — with up to 27 college credits already in the books.

UC FACTS

Founded: 1870.    President: Joseph Steger, since 1984.    Tuition: $6,936.    Expected fall enrollment: 33,500.    National alumni: 209,634.    Alumni in Greater Cincinnati: 105,101.

        The program, which began last year, was designed to offer a group of about 100 Western Hills students, who qualified academically, the opportunity to receive both high school and college credit in English, math and economics in their high school classrooms.

        “We began with 106 (students), and by the end of the third term there were 83 still enrolled,” said John Bryan, dean of UC's University College.

        “That's a pretty good retention rate, given it was the pilot year. We hope to encourage students who are on the fence. (By) taking college to the students ... they see it as a real opportunity.”

        Twenty-two of those students enrolled at UC.

        Program organizers were pleased enough with the participation rate that a new class will be offered this year. “Biology in the Human Context” was developed by UC faculty for non-science majors as an attempt to show how science relates to everyday life.

        Withrow University High School is considering adding a similar program next year.

        Huey Do, a 17-year-old Western Hills graduate, completed 18 credit hours in the program.

        “Most of us were really blown out by all the work we had to do,” the Westwood resident said. “I think the program was great. I think I'm prepared for (college) now. I know it's going to be harder, but I got a good taste.”

        Huey, who was accepted into UC's mechanical engineering program, hopes to work in production or design in the automotive industry.

        “I want to learn to improve them, to learn to make the cars perform better.”

        For Huey, whose family moved to the United States from Vietnam in 1991, the program was attractive for several reasons — especially saving money.

        Students who participated in the program last year paid $10 per credit hour. On campus, it would have been $131 per credit hour. Because of tuition price hikes and state budget cuts, this year's rate will be $15 per credit hour. But that's still a substantial savings, said Lea Brinker, program coordinator at Western Hills.

        The rest of the cost is divided among the Cincinnati Business Committee — a group of local business leaders who try to promote economic development and education in the city — the University College and Cincinnati Public Schools.

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