Washburn University Celebrates 348 Shawnee County High School Students Achieving the CEP Dean’s Honor Roll for Fall 2022

          Topeka, Kan. – Hundreds of Shawnee County high school students are already making the Deans’ Honor Roll, in college. Three hundred and forty-eight area high school students made the Dean’s Honor Roll for the Washburn University Concurrent Enrollment Partnership program (CEP) in fall 2022. Students in the CEP Dean’s Honor Roll achieved a 3.5 or higher in their Washburn University course(s) (selection was determined by the student’s CEP course grades only and does not include their high school classes). Washburn University had 758 Shawnee County high school students enrolled in CEP courses for fall 2022 and 495 for spring 2023.

         High school students with a 3.0 or higher GPA can qualify to begin taking CEP classes their sophomore year, enrolling in up to six credit hours each semester. These students are expected to demonstrate active engagement in the course and a commitment to learning, as well as achieve the objectives outlined in course syllabi.

           “CEP courses give high school students a way to sample college while in the comfort of their own high school and at half the cost of regular tuition,” said Carissa Schmidtlein, director of student orientation and transition programs for Washburn University. “Some students have even used the CEP program to jump start their college career, entering the university classified as a sophomore or junior having completed their entire first year of college while in high school.”

             CEP courses are taught by instructors qualified to teach college-level courses, with standards compliant with the standards outlined by the Kansas Board of Regents and the Higher Learning Commission.

             “We have found that students who have taken CEP courses are more prepared for the academic rigor of college and have higher rates of graduation,” said Dr. Alan Bearman, interim executive director of enrollment management and dean of the Center for Student Success and Retention at Washburn University.

             Washburn University offers CEP coursed at Hayden, Highland Park, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake, Topeka High, Topeka West and Washburn Rural High School.

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Founded in 1865, Washburn University is a public institution with more than 6,000 students involved in more than 200 academic programs. Washburn’s programs lead to certification, associate, bachelor, master's degree or doctor of nursing practice and juris doctor degrees. The programs are offered through Washburn’s six primary academic units – College of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Studies, School of Business, School of Nursing, School of Law and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech).

     All programs are offered on either the 160-acre residential campus in the heart of Topeka, Kan., at Washburn Tech’s campus on Topeka’s west side or in the east Topeka facility. Washburn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and many of the individual programs have additional accreditations.

     Washburn is ranked best public regional university in Kansas and 14th best public regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report 2022-2023.