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Under Indiana’s new high school diploma system, students who complete the most rigorous pre-college track will be automatically accepted into the state’s seven public universities.
Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday announced a series of partnerships that could make college, trade and military options more accessible to high school students who complete certain requirements under the new diploma framework.
Students who earn the enrollment honors plus seal—which requires over 75 hours of work-based learning, a minimum B cumulative GPA and additional high-level courses—would receive automatic acceptance into any of the colleges involved.
Those schools include Indiana University, Purdue University, Indiana State University, the University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College, Ball State University and Vincennes University. The state said additional universities are expected to be added.
Students must still apply to their university of choice but will be automatically admitted. Students who don’t receive the enrollment honors plus designation can still apply but won’t be guaranteed acceptance.
Braun and Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said these changes would hopefully result in more Hoosiers finding their career path sooner, whether they decide to go to college or not.
“We’ve finally now formalized, hopefully, where kids can choose according to their own skills, their own interests, the pathway that will have them hit the ground running when they graduate,” Braun said, “where it’s going to be the right choice, and they know that you’re not going to waste money or time. ”
The new benefits and diplomas will be available beginning next year for students whose schools choose to opt in, and will be standard for the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade.
Indiana’s baseline diploma is 42 credits, but students can elect to earn one or multiple “readiness seals” for enrollment, employment and enlistment. Those seals can be upgraded with honors and honors plus distinctions.
To earn enrollment honors, a student must take additional credits, earn a cumulative B average and pass college-level or Advanced Placement classes. The honor plus distinction requires at least 75 hours of work-based learning and a “credential of value,” such as an associate’s degree, an AP Scholar with Distinction award or an International Baccalaureate diploma.
Students also have the option for tracks dedicated toward direct employment or military service.
Under the employment track honor seal guidelines, students would need to earn an occupational credential and complete 150 hours of work-based learning. Jenner said the state is working to build up automatic opportunities for students in this track.
Under the enlistment seal, students would prepare to qualify for ROTC in college, attend a service academy or enlist through public service activities, career exploration program and preparation for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test.
“This is exactly the type of innovative, bold step that the state needs to take to help ensure Indiana has a robust talent pipeline in place,” Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders said in a news release.
The state’s colleges criticized the initial diploma proposal last summer, saying the standard requirements would not meet their benchmarks for admission.
Purdue University President Mung Chiang and IU President Pamela Whitten told reporters Wednesday that critical feedback given early in the diploma redesign process allowed the state to find a landing place that made the announcement possible.
“It’s our highest priority at Indiana University—I know it is for my colleagues at the other public institutions—to serve the students in the state of Indiana,” Whitten said. “We should all be very, very proud of this initiative in Indiana. It’s really a nation-leading activity.”
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I like this approach. Good job for those involved to make it a reality.