{"id":577,"date":"2020-05-22T11:55:05","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T16:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/m-cubed\/?p=577"},"modified":"2024-06-05T12:17:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T17:17:31","slug":"m-cubed-honors-2020-class-of-mps-seniors-graduating-with-early-college-credit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/m-cubed\/news\/m-cubed-honors-2020-class-of-mps-seniors-graduating-with-early-college-credit\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u00b3 honors 2020 class of MPS seniors graduating with early college credit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest class of MPS high school seniors to complete the M3<\/sup> early college program was honored with a virtual ceremony, capping a year of growth for the trailblazing partnership involving Milwaukee\u2019s three largest public education institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M3 <\/sup>(pronounced M-Cubed) is a joint initiative among the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee Public Schools aimed at closing equity gaps and transforming the future of young people through the power of public education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The partnership celebrated the 2019-20 early college program class of 54 MPS seniors, a 70% increase from last year\u2019s inaugural class. The latest class is also the first to take two semesters\u2019 worth of college courses after the program launched in the Spring 2019 semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming difficulty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The accomplishments are all the more impressive given how students had to navigate the challenges that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the switch to full-time online instruction at MPS, UWM and MATC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough we are not able to walk across the stage, every single last one of us will always be able to walk into our future with our heads held high and with renewed strength,\u201d Tanya McNeal, a senior at Washington High School of Information Technology, said in a recorded address shown during the online ceremony on Thursday. The event can be viewed at the MPS YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early college program, which is also called the M3 <\/sup>Pathways program, provides MPS seniors an opportunity to experience the rigors of college life by attending courses on the MATC and UWM campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2019-20 class met in the fall and spring semesters, with students earning up to 20 transferable college credits in core courses including math, English and science, as well as electives including cultures and community and educational psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cM3<\/sup>, as a public education network, is going to lift our city and nurture you as you develop into critical thinkers, strong leaders and the innovators who are going to help Milwaukee for decades to come,\u201d UWM Chancellor Mark Mone told the students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like an extra scholarship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The MPS seniors put themselves in position to reduce their costs to attend college. Collectively, the 54 students representing 16 MPS high schools earned 887 college credits. The average cost per credit at most four-year institutions is $337, meaning the total value of the 887 credits earned amounts to nearly $300,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MPS Superintendent Keith Posley told the graduates that the cost savings amounted to an additional academic scholarship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is an amazing accomplishment and one that carries value as you transition to full-time college,\u201d Posley said. \u201cWhile this accomplishment not only demonstrates your readiness for college, it also represents a monetary benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic presented a different kind of test after UWM, MATC and MPS moved their classes online. Vicki Martin, president of MATC, said it was OK for students to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of the last two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘A bright future’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But, she added, \u201cTo see you come through so strong is a credit to your determination to succeed. \u2026 I am certain you possess the flexibility and adaption skills necessary to thrive in any college format. With so much uncertainty, I\u2019m certain you have a bright future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pathways early college program is just one prong of the multifaceted M3 <\/sup>partnership<\/a>, which seeks to close equity gaps by working to achieve goals in three areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n