Students struggle to complete FlexNet courses

by Rachel Ranfeld

As the first semester nears a close, high school students hurry to wrap up their online college classes through Iowa Central Community College. 

These classes are FlexNet courses, which means the students are free to complete fifteen topics at their own pace from the beginning the semester until Friday, Dec. 16. They are also dual credit classes, which means the students gain one high school credit for the course as well as the same two to four credit hours a college student would receive at Iowa Central Community College.

Natalie Kirton, who is taking a psychology course this semester, says, “These classes are a lot of work, and while they pay off in the long run, procrastination is the worst thing to have. If you slack off, you’ll end up in over your head. You really have to be honest with yourself in thinking you can get it done on time.” 

Due to the flexibility in the courses, most students took advantage of the opportunity to procrastinate at the beginning of the semester, and are now scurrying to finish all fifteen topics in a shorter amount of time. 

Andrea Farrington, who is also taking a psychology course, says, “Taking an online class is a good experience, but it made my stress level skyrocket. If you don’t do it on a weekly basis, it’s a hassle to get it finished on time. If you’re a procrastinator, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

A few students planned accordingly to complete one topic each week to avoid this last minute stressed-out struggle. 

Mariah Hirsh, who is taking a composition course this semester, says, “My class has been very helpful, not only because I don’t have to take it in college, but it makes essays easier in high school.” 

According to John Gallagher, who enrolls the students in these courses, the majority of students take humanities classes and other general education classes that transfer into most liberal arts colleges. The humanities include classes for composition, history, psychology, sociology and religions. 

Students take these courses at no expense to them, courtesy of the Montezuma High School. If a student happens to fail a course or feels the need to withdrawal from a course after the full refund period, the student is responsible for reimbursing the school for the wasted funding.