Beep. Beep. Beep.
An alarm clock goes off at 6 a.m. sharp. It gets louder by the second, until its nagging, blaring noise fills the whole room. It takes almost two minutes for the high-school student in bed to reach over and turn the alarm off, smacking the top of the clock until it ceases.
He sits up groggily, blinking against the harsh light of the overhead fan he’s turned on to look for an outfit for the day. A hoodie and sweatpants fill his arms as he trudges to the bathroom to shower.
In the living room, an equally tired, annoyed college student waits, scrolling through social media to stay awake. She has to drive him to his school, as his car is in the shop. Once the high school student has showered and dressed and gotten ready, he heads out to the living room. The college student glares at him over her phone.
The car is cold as they drive to the school, the sun having just breached the horizon. Cars are lined up in the parking lot to drop their kids off. The high school student gets out, walks in and heads to class. He remains there for one hour in a shop class, the smell of wood stain in the air and sawdust clinging to his clothes – then, the college student returns to take him back home before she goes to her university for the day.
That was then.
Now, Graham Jenkins, a junior at Northwest High School, takes four College Credit Plus classes online through Shawnee State University. He has switched from the strict schedule of high school to the flexible pace of online learning, from the distracting environment of a rowdy classroom to the quiet, familiar space of his home.
College Credit Plus, or CCP, is a dual-credit program offered by Ohio’s Department of Higher Education. According to ODHE’s website, students enrolled in this program can earn high school and college credit at the same time through public state universities or community colleges, for free. Some high schools have contracts with certain universities for specific courses. These college courses can be taken in-person, at the high school campus or online – as in Jenkins’ case.
“I got way more freedom after going into CCP,” Jenkins said. “Being in high school was like torture to me. It was a bunch of annoying kids who didn’t do anything except yell a lot. It gave me no focus, and I don’t miss it at all.”
Jenkins began CCP classes at Shawnee State during the 2025 fall semester, with two online classes. He still took one class at Northwest but decided this spring semester to go fully online at Shawnee, with four online classes.
“I like how I can do it from home,” he said. “I love CCP and want to keep doing it until I’m in college. I’m definitely gonna continue my education at Shawnee.”
Since switching, Jenkins has reported general improvements in his daily life. Better sleep, less stress and a happier mood – a change which is noticeable to those around him.
“Graham really struggled with traditional high school,” Teresa Jenkins, his mother, explained. “Every day was a struggle. He was miserable with the structure, and he said he couldn’t concentrate there because it was so loud. He does seem happier; he’s been able to customize his schedule and pick his classes based on what he wants to learn.”
Teresa originally encouraged Graham to pursue CCP at the beginning of his junior year at Northwest. Graham was looking into vocational school, Teresa remembered, because his friends were pursuing education there. But, after Graham took a tour of the school, he decided it was not for him.
“I thought CCP was the perfect option,” Teresa said. “It got him out of the monotony of traditional school while still meeting requirements for his diploma and earning free college credits at the same time.”
Like Graham, Teresa has a very positive opinion on Shawnee’s CCP program.
“I think it’s been a great option, and I’m very happy so far,” she said. “All the counselors have been very helpful, and I haven’t seen any drawbacks. I think Shawnee is doing an excellent job with this program. By the time Graham graduates, he could be close to earning his associate degree free of charge. I know some people worry they will lose their high school experience, but every child is unique, and I think you have to consider if that would be a drawback for your child or not.”
Jasmine Currie, the CCP administrator for Shawnee State University, sees students choosing CCP for multiple different reasons. The biggest reason, she claimed, is the cost savings.
“It’s a huge benefit and selling point to this program,” she said. “And in recent years, I think students have started piecing together the value of being able to earn college credits while in high school.”
Through advising practices and partnerships with high school guidance counselors, Currie and her team have worked very hard to help students understand the dual-credit aspect of CCP. “If we choose the right courses, they can count toward both high school and college graduation requirements.”
The students that Currie sees are highly motivated, she said. They want to enter college with a semester or even a year or two completed. Other students, she noted, are looking for a more rigorous academic environment or the opportunity to explore academic areas and majors before they graduate from high school.
“One of my favorite joys of working with the students in this program is being able to see the growth beyond what we immediately know to be a benefit of participating in CCP,” Currie said. “Of course, the financial benefit is incredible, and it’s amazing to see how many credit hours our students are able to achieve from start to finish.”
However, Currie said her favorite part is seeing the personal growth in students. “They’re developing strong time management, study, self-advocacy and critical thinking skills.”
Through CCP, students quickly learn that they must take ownership of their learning through communicating with professors, keeping track of deadlines and managing multiple responsibilities. These skills benefit students long after high school. Currie also noted that students in CCP often build confidence. “Students realize, ‘I can do college-level work, and I can excel in it.’ That shift in identity is powerful.”
Many students who start CCP at Shawnee State continue their education here – especially local students.
“For many of them, whether SSU was initially a top college choice for them after high school, they have built such a strong foundation here already that they choose to stay,” Currie said. “Students who have a positive CCP experience here often feel comfortable on our campus.”
These students have completed a portion of the GEP program, started working toward their major, built relationships, navigated student systems and platforms and experienced college coursework. That familiarity reduces anxiety about the transition from high school to college, said Currie.
“When students choose not to continue here, it’s usually because they want a different geographic location, a specific major we may not offer, or a larger campus,” she added. “But even when they leave, they often tell us that CCP prepared them well for wherever they go next.”
Of course, CCP is not for every student.
“We work hard to counsel students and families honestly about college-readiness because success in CCP isn’t just about academic ability – it’s about independence and emotional preparedness,” Currie said.
While a good GPA and good test scores are considered in CCP applications, they are not the sole indicators for success in college. Participating in CCP requires maturity, commitment, strong time management and intrinsic motivation, said Currie. College classes do not move like high school classes – they are quicker, and expectations and responsibilities for students are higher. There are fewer reminders and less flexibility than most high school courses.
“For students who struggle with organization, procrastination or consistent attendance, CCP classes can become overwhelming,” Currie said. “It also may not be the best fit for students who thrive on the social structure of high school or are heavily involved in activities that limit their availability for college coursework.”
For Currie, one of the most meaningful aspects of working with CCP students is the transformation she sees in them. Most students begin excited but nervous.
“The reality of being a CCP student, and all the expectations that come with it, often don’t hit them until that first week of class,” Currie said, noting that something shifts over time. CCP students begin to take part in class discussions. They email their professors and the CCP team with more confidence. They show up to advising appointments more prepared. They begin to handle their workload independently.
“There’s a noticeable increase in maturity and self-belief,” Currie said. “It’s the perfect storm of boosted confidence and a clearer plan for the future. I’ve seen students who were quiet and unsure as sophomores graduate from high school with an associate-level credit load and a completely different level of confidence. The enthusiastic seventh-grader who was excited to take Introduction to Art becomes the confident high school senior who has made a jump start into a degree in Gaming & Simulation Arts.”
CCP provides social benefits, too, such as broadening students’ perspectives. Students take classes with students of different ages and life experiences, which encourages discussion and exposes them to diverse viewpoints.
“Ultimately, CCP isn’t just about earning credits early,” Currie said. “It’s about helping students see themselves as capable, independent learners. When students are ready for that challenge, the growth can be remarkable.”
