Recently, Riverland Community College reconnected with a former student who graduated with an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in 2006. He continued his higher education at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 2008.

Zachary Paro's Riverland story is not unusual unless you consider that he also graduated from Owatonna High School (OHS) in 2006. Paro took advantage of the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program offered at our campus in Owatonna.

The PSEO program is available to students throughout the state to promote "rigorous educational pursuits and provide a wider variety of options for students." Through PSEO, students receive both high school and college credit for college courses completed. PSEO students may take courses on a college campus or at their high school if available. PSEO courses offered at the high school are commonly called concurrent enrollment courses.

The program was created for high school juniors or seniors who rank higher in their classes or receive an acceptable score on a nationally standardized, norm-referenced test, such as the ACT or SAT. For those who do not meet the eligibility criteria, an appeal process is available that may help them enter the program.

Paro decided to pursue PSEO by taking Riverland courses at the Owatonna College and University Center (OCUC). He said this allowed him to become accustomed to increased freedom and responsibility at a younger age, in essence encouraging him to mature faster than he would have in the high school setting.

"Riverland and the OCUC have a very diverse student body, and being exposed to so many people of different ages, characters and cultures did nothing but good for me as a teenager," Paro said. "This has had a positive effect on me socially, as it pulled me out of my comfort zone and forced me to adapt and prepare myself for later life experiences."

The most obvious benefit to Paro, however, was financial.  "I saved thousands of dollars--potentially tens of thousands--when taking into account room and board for two years at a university. I am 22 years old, have been at my job for over 1 year, and I have less than $5,000 in student loans."

Many students use the PSEO program to "get ahead." In Austin, we have 30 students taking PSEO credits at Riverland. We also have a healthy partnership with Austin High School to offer concurrent on their high school campus. In fact, 132 students take concurrent dual credit courses. In Albert Lea, we not only have students taking PSEO credits at Riverland, we also have a healthy partnership with Albert Lea High School to offer concurrent on their high school campus. In fact, 224 students take concurrent dual credit courses. We are grateful to the high school for offering higher education options to its students.

Paro's success is interesting because he completed both degrees simultaneously. Not all PSEO students choose to complete their AA degree before their high school graduation. Some take courses to "get ahead" before continuing at Riverland or transferring. In fact, during the spring semester, 64 Owatonna students are taking PSEO dual credit courses at Riverland's campus in Owatonna while still enjoying the extra-curricular activities high school offers.

Paro's advice to students interested in the program: "Plan early – the classes you decide to take in ninth or 10^th grade can affect your options during 11^th and 12^th grade. It is better to make things as easy as possible through early planning." To learn more about Riverland's PSEO choices, visit www.riverland.edu/pseo or set up an appointment with a Riverland admissions representative or counselor.