Last month, in partnership with educational company StraighterLine, the Community College of Denver (CCD) launched CCD Academy, which provides an opportunity for students to return to college and work toward their degree at a lower cost.
According to EducationData.org, the overall dropout rate for undergraduate students is 40%, with 30% of college freshmen dropping out before their sophomore year.
“Too often, students may just need a short break from higher education but lack the ability to take it,” said Burck Smith, StraighterLine’s founder and chief executive officer, in a statement. “CCD has recognized that by providing flexible, self-paced online courses, CCD Academy can offer stop-outs a way to start, pause as needed and continue their education, helping students balance their lives while progressing toward their degree.”
Some students leave college because of high tuition costs or other fees, family expenses or also “potentially a lack of confidence, ability or a belief they can do it,” said Ruthanne K. Orihuela, provost and vice president of academic affairs at CCD.
“Our hope is to reach out to those students who, for whatever reason, have made a decision earlier to not continue with their college education or to not begin,” she added.
Through CCD Academy, students can choose their academic course of study and complete lower-division courses such as general education requirements.
All the college-credit courses are offered online and depending on their degree program, students can enroll and take up to six classes through StraighterLine. Students can also choose how many classes to take at a time.
