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College and Community Combine at ABE/GED Open House

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College and Community Combine at ABE/GED Open House

ABE and GED advisors gathered for an open house to answer students’ questions about the Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Education Development (GED) program in the Hedlund Building on October 1.

“It’s a great event to welcome people from across campus,” Larry Briggs, dean of general studies, said. “It’s a nice opportunity for people to learn about what the ABE/GED program offers.”

GED courses are designed to fulfill the same requirements as a high school diploma, allowing students to qualify for credit-bearing college courses. ABE is designed for adults falling below a 12th grade level in mathematics, language, writing, social studies, and science. Both programs are tuition-free. The only costs to students are the four GED completion exams at $30 each.

Students were eager to take the opportunity to advance their education.

“I’m excited, I’m actually excited,” Lloyd Pitcher, new enrollee, said “I don’t even know what I want to do, I just want to get my GED and go to college. I want to advance. I’m tired of being a nine-to-fiver, blue-collar guy.”

In addition to offering ABE/GED instruction the Coeur d’Alene center offers tuition-free non-credit-bearing classes to current college students wanting to improve their COMPASS scores.

“We work with students who haven’t made it through high school, and with high school and college graduates too,” Mary Edwards, adult education coordinator, said. “One big thing is that it’s good for self-esteem, knowing they’ve completed a diploma. They have something to go on.”

ABE/GED is aimed not only at college students or potential students, but also at the community.

“We’re trying to spread awareness of this program, not just on campus, but in the community as well,” Edwards said.

After application, ABE students go through an orientation and assessment where they are placed in basic levels of education. The classes are eight weeks long, after which students are given a post-assessment to determine readiness for the GED tests and/or credit-bearing college courses.

“This program opens the gateway to opportunities people otherwise wouldn’t have,” Briggs said.

 

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