The Mt. Hood Community College District Board approved Wednesday policies which will make it easier for high school students to earn college credit.

The Dual Credit Programs Policy, which allows high school students to receive college-level credit for some high school courses, and the Dual Credit Instructor Qualifications Policy, which sets the minimum requirements for the classes in high schools to be considered for college credit, were both approved.

District President Robert Silverman said Oregon community colleges are held to more stringent standards than universities when evaluating whether to accept college-level courses taken by high school students. He said the problem is that, as enrollment continues to fall in community college across the state and as universities strengthen their push to attract high school students, it becomes obvious that “something is wrong with the rules.”

“The problem,” said Silverman, “is it’s not an even playing field and it’s not very competitive.”

Oregon community colleges have rules and laws prescribed to meet accreditation standards set by the NWCCA.

Dan Hannon, coordinator of the Study Abroad Program, spoke on the progress and success of the program.

Asked about the level of student interest in the study abroad program, Hannon said the board would have to wait and see.

“Every year, for the past five or six years, we’ve added students to the program,” said Hannon. But, added Hannon, as the value of the dollar versus the euro continues to fall it’s becoming more expensive to participate in study abroad overseas. “That’s why,” said Hannon, “we’re trying to offer more destinations in the Americas” since they’re less expensive and closer.

“At various times we’ve had to keep this [program] quiet, especially during tax times,” said Hannon. But, added Hannon, “We shouldn’t try to hide study abroad” and we shouldn’t apologize for having the program.

The board told Hannon they were proud of study abroad.

The board will be meeting for a retreat Jan. 22 and will discuss possibilities for acquiring money for the college and marketing strategies.

“If we keep doing the same thing, we’ll get the same result,” said Silverman. He said the college needs to distinguish itself from other local colleges and needs to identify what MHCC can do for new students that other colleges in the area cannot.