Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) in Spangle, Wash., is expanding our dual-credit program for the 2019–2020 school year. We are pleased to welcome Laura Pierce to our faculty team. She earned her doctorate in U.S. history from California's Claremont Graduate University, and she has taught at several universities in the years since. Pierce has a passion for making kids and adults excited about history. She will be teaching U.S. history, the West and the world, and American government. Students will receive credit through Walla Walla University.
An increasing number of high school students enroll in Running Start programs for college credit. While this has definite advantages, many of those students are sacrificing the privilege of attending an Adventist school in order to accelerate their college education. Recognizing this trend, UCA has partnered with Walla Walla University to make dual-credit courses available to our students, allowing them to take advantage of exciting academic opportunities while still participating in an Adventist academy experience.
In addition to new history classes, dual-credit classes offered at UCA include anatomy and physiology as well as music theory. We also have advanced placement (AP) classes, including AP language and composition and AP calculus.
UCA has plans to continue working with Walla Walla University to grow the dual-credit offerings in coming years. “We are excited about the future and the opportunity we have to continue to provide an excellent, Christ-centered education to our students," says Eric Johnson, UCA principal. "We are committed to making Upper Columbia Academy a place to grow — spiritually, emotionally, physically and academically.”
