DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton and Dayton Public Schools have launched Ohio's first early college high school.

Nearly 100 ninth-graders were accepted into the program, which opened Monday and offers personalized learning plans and the chance to earn up to two years of college credit. The new high school is part of the Dayton Public School system and will be temporarily housed in available spaces across the UD campus.

The partnership is the only example in the state of an urban school district teaming with a private, four-year residential university, officials said. Students who enroll will mostly be first-generation college students from low-income families who are at risk of dropping out of a traditional high school.

Gateway expanding

FORT MITCHELL - Gateway Community and Technical College in Northern Kentucky hired six new faculty members for the fall term and will offer the institution's first full-fledged array of general education classes.

General education classes are offered in biology, history, math, speech, political science and psychology.

Tuition is $79 per credit hour. For information, call (859) 441-4500.

Get peek at med school

The University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine is registering those interested in participating in the fifth session of Mini Medical College, Oct. 7-28.

The $69 session is designed to give participants a look into the life of a medical student in an educational, yet easy to understand way.

This year's presentations touch on health issues and technology related to lung cancer, obesity, bioterrorism, hepatitis C, heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, surgery and stroke.

The program, co-sponsored by the office of development and alumni affairs at the College of Medicine, offers two presentations each week from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Included are eight presentations, a notebook of materials, a T-shirt and a certificate of participation. Info: www.uc.edu/cece/minimed.html. To register, call 556-6932.

Xavier hires new VP

EVANSTON - A University of Cincinnati graduate has been named Xavier University's vice president for information resources.

Linda L. Naimi, who began her job Aug. 18, oversees the offices of information systems, instructional technology services, Web development, strategic information resources and Xavier's libraries.

Central State rebounds

WILBERFORCE, Ohio - Recruiting has helped produce a surge in enrollment at Central State University as Ohio's only public historically black university recovers from years of financial problems.

School officials anticipate that 725 new students - up from 400 last fall - will arrive on campus next week.

Central State emerged from state fiscal oversight in April 2002, five years after the state took over the school's finances. The university continued its recovery last October by opening an $8 million dormitory.

New applicants are being deferred to the winter quarter because of a shortage of housing. Some new students might have to live at neighboring schools or motels in Wilberforce, a town about 15 miles east of Dayton.

Kristina Goetz

Campus notebook appears every Friday. E-mail college news to kgoetz@enquirer.com, call 784-8476 or fax 768-8340.