Sandhills Community College and The O’Neal School have teamed up to offer a joint Career and College Promise Program for O’Neal Upper School students starting the fall semester of 2025.
O’Neal students will have access to free college credit courses offered by Sandhills Community College faculty. A signing ceremony was held on Monday, Dec. 16, with representatives from each institution to commence the program at the O’Neal campus in Pinehurst, beginning next year. This is the first time in both of the school’s history to form an educational partnership.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to gain college credit while in the Upper School,” said Dr. Dale McInnis, O’Neal head of school. “I’m grateful to Dr. Stewart to help us meet a demand from our students and families to supplement and enhance our already rigorous curriculum.”
Career and College Promise is a statewide program authorized by the General Assembly for all high school students in North Carolina. With the Sandhills Community College-O’Neal agreement, students can take up to four community college courses to be offered annually. Classes will be offered on the O’Neal campus and will be instructed by the Sandhills Community College faculty. Processes will be built to identify and enroll interested students and offer student support services as well as tracking progress.
“This is a natural partnership centered around students and opportunity,” said Dr. Sandy Stewart, president of Sandhills Community College. “Anytime we can form partnerships to enhance educational opportunities for students in Moore County, we are happy to do so. Sandhills is pleased to be working with The O’Neal School for dual enrollment for high school students and college credit, and we look forward to working with Dr. McInnis and his team.”
O’Neal students will be expected to meet all course prerequisites that other college students are required to meet for Sandhills Community College courses. Students will participate in the same process of registration, drop-add, and withdrawal as availability of seats in courses allows. O’Neal’s director of college counseling will monitor course actions of the students in the program. In addition, O’Neal students will have access to Sandhills Community College amenities, including use of the Boyd Library, Dempsey Student Center and access to student support services, including free tutoring.
Feature photo: Dr. Dale McInnis Head of School at The O’Neal School (left) signs Career and College Promise agreement with Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Stewart, President of Sandhills Community College (right).
Contributed article and photo.
