A Head Start on College

American International College is proud to announce a new partnership with Phoenix Charter Academy in Springfield, giving students the opportunity to earn free, fully transferable college credits while still in high school. This initiative marks AIC’s fourth collaboration with a local high school to help students get a head start on college.

Through the Pathway to College program, Phoenix students will take college-level courses on-site, taught by Phoenix faculty members Marie Keith and Diarmaid King, who have been formally accredited as AIC adjunct professors. Students receive official transcripts from AIC, giving them a significant head start on postsecondary studies and helping reduce the long-term cost of a degree.

Building Confidence and Preparing for the Future

The program is intentionally designed to support students historically underrepresented in higher education. By introducing college coursework in a structured, supportive high school environment, Pathway to College helps students build confidence, gain familiarity with college expectations, and see that postsecondary success is attainable.

“By allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school, we are reducing the distance between aspiration and achievement,” said Michael Dodge, Provost of AIC. “Through this collaboration with Phoenix, students gain clarity about their futures and confidence in navigating higher education—experience that can be transformative as they move from high school into college.”

More than 25 Phoenix students—nearly 15% of the student body—are set to begin earning college credit through AIC this March.

“Succeeding at the college level while still in high school can be an incredibly impactful experience, especially for first-generation students,” said Marie Keith. “Our students at Phoenix deserve the very best, and our partnership with AIC now allows us to combine the rigor of a college education with our unique support system, right here at Phoenix.”

This partnership reflects a shared commitment by AIC and Phoenix to equity, persistence, and long-term student success. It also serves as a model for how secondary and postsecondary institutions can collaborate to strengthen college readiness and outcomes.