Some exciting news for the gifted education space: the highly respected online research program for high school students, Pioneer Academics, broke new ground in terms of college accreditation.
Pioneer Academics and Oberlin College & Conservatory jointly announced that, after a comprehensive evaluation conducted by Oberlin’s Education Plans and Policies Committee, the Pioneer Research Program’s credit value will be doubled from two to four college credits. This new level of credit awarded will be valid for all Pioneer scholars in 2024 and beyond.
This represents a new standard – Pioneer Academics offers the first and only online research program for high school students that is qualified for the maximum number of college credits for an undergraduate-level research course.
The approval of the college credit increase was enabled by Pioneer’s long-standing record of rigor since 2016. Internal and external auditors in the latest program review recommended that the increased academic components of the program and the quality of work merited the doubling of credit to the maximum amount offered in a full undergraduate course. Oberlin’s Educational Plans and Policies Committee faculty voted unanimously to adopt the credit increase.
What Does This Mean for Students Who Become Pioneer Scholars?
- This development is further proof that Pioneer scholars’ research meets the highest standards. Colleges and universities look for differentiators that indicate genuinely rigorous academic experiences. The doubling of the college credit value to the maximum amount speaks volumes about the quality of the program and of your accomplishment in being selected for and completing it.
- The award of each credit hour has strict programmatic and academic quality requirements. Whether through credit transfer or as recognized in Pioneer scholars’ college applications, being part of an institution that offers the highest level of college course credit can significantly distinguish them in the competitive academic landscape.
Read the full coverage on what enabled the college credit increase without increase of tuition.
Please note that the Summer research program deadline (Pioneer’s final 2024 research program) is coming up on Sunday, April 7 at 11:59pm US eastern time. (Unfortunately, late applications cannot be considered.) Interested students can apply.