Vinson Pressley/ Contributing Writer
Students at the Biscayne Bay Campus may be sharing their campus with more high school students.
There are discussions being held about the Maritime and Science Technology Academy being brought to BBC in order to give high school students who are taking dual enrollment courses at MAST the opportunity to experience college life.
“Once in place, we will have a significant dual enrollment program whereby students from MAST can walk over to attend FIU and earn college credits while still in high school with Miami-Dade public schools covering the cost of the college credits,” said Steven Moll, vice provost for BBC.
Moll also went on to say “if [expansion plans] go through, MAST will educate students from eighth through 12th grade. This will enable FIU and Miami-Dade public schools to work more synergistically to create a better educational partnership for the citizens of Miami-Dade County.”
Some students see the positive outcome from the relationship between the University and the magnet school.
“I’m for it for educational purposes. Kids [will] be exposed to the college life and it will bring more business to the bookstore and café,” said Malynda Point du Jour, junior nursing major who has attended classes at BBC for the past two years.
While some students see the potential benefits of expanding MAST Academy to BBC, others have concerns and question if this is a good idea.
Henry Zelaya, senior biology major believes that bringing MAST academy students to BBC would be too much considering that students from Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School already come to BBC for swimming practice.
“We already have kids running around in their speedos,” Zelaya said. “It would be too many kids.”
Although Zelaya is comfortable with students taking dual enrollment courses, he is not okay with intertwining high school and college students in the same environment.
“I wouldn’t mind signing a petition against [the expansion plans],” said Zelaya.
Kaytien Franco, public relations assistant for Campus Life BBC, does not think this is a good idea and is concerned that blending high school and college students on the same campus may be a safety issue.
Although Franco, like Zelaya, is in favor of “bright, smart and hard-working” students taking college level courses, she expressed discomfort at having high school and college students together on the same campus.
Despite the mixed opinions, one thing must be noted: the expansion plans have not been determined and decided on yet.
“The MAST Academy at BBC expansion is still in the process of negotiation, so nothing is final,” said Moll.
However, Moll is in favor of this expansion.
“Finally, this partnership should assist FIU in recruiting top local student[s] to finish their degrees at FIU.”
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