News & Events

Archbishop Williams High School announces

Collegiate Dual Enrollment Program

BRAINTREE, MA, ISSUED MARCH 5, 2010… Archbishop Williams High School, a leading Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school located in Braintree, announces the introduction of its Collegiate Dual Enrollment Program, slated to begin in September of 2010.

Eligible juniors and seniors participating in the program will have the opportunity to earn collegiate credit at a number of higher learning institutions, including Syracuse University, Regis College, UMass-Boston and Quincy College; several AWHS courses will be taught using collegiate syllabi and students enrolled in one or more of those courses will be offered the option of taking those courses toward high school graduation and for collegiate credit.

“What a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Mary Lou Sadowski, Principal of AWHS.  “As a college preparatory school, we emphasize learning and skills to achieve success; earning college credit while taking high school classes is not only a great learning experience, but also a chance for future savings once in college.”

Colleges participating in the Dual Enrollment Program will charge a fee for credits earned; however according to school officials the fee is a fraction of what the credits would cost if earned as a college freshman.

Archbishop Williams High School hosted an informational session on March 3 about the program, with more than 50 parents attending to gather information and ask questions of the following representatives from participating colleges and universities: Liliana Mickle, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UMass Boston; Dr. Russ Pottle, Dean of The School of Arts and Science at Regis College; Dr. Pat Vampatella, Vice President of Academic Affairs of Quincy College; and Eric Young, Associate Director of Project Advance at Syracuse University.

“In keeping with our commitment to offer a challenging college preparatory program for our students, the dual enrollment initiative allows students to experience college level courses within the high school environment,” said Jane Funderburk, Academic Dean at AWHS.  “The benefits to our students are numerous and this endeavor brings the level of challenge and vigor that already exists in our AP program to electives and core requirements across the disciplines.”

In his opening remarks at the March 3 informational session, Dr. Carmen Mariano, President and a graduate of AWHS recalled taking a “College Math” course as a freshman at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. 

Anxious not to miss a word of instruction he arrived to class early, bearing a notebook, three pencils and a small tape recorder.  When the class ended he realized he had no need to commit any of the teacher’s words to paper or tape “because I had learned everything taught that day when I was a student at Archbishop Williams High School.”

“Yes, I went to this school and it not only prepared me for a college level curriculum, it exposed me to college level curriculum,” said Dr. Mariano.  “Now, thanks to four outstanding colleges, this school will be able to do more; I could not be more indebted to these colleges or more proud of our high school.”