Parkland College, Champaign Unit 4 Schools Partner for Early Transfer Academy

Space is limited in each cohort

At Monday's meeting, the Champaign Unit 4 School District Board of Education was presented with a new partnership between Parkland College and Unit 4 creating educational pathways for students looking to complete necessary general education requirements for an associate's or bachelor's degree upon their high school graduation.

Unit 4 leadership and Parkland College President Pamela Lau introduced the new Unit 4 Early Transfer Academy (ETA), which will launch summer 2026. This ETA will allow eligible Unit 4 high school students to earn their high school diploma and the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) credential from Parkland College upon high school graduation. A recommendation will come to the Unit 4 Board of Education in January to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Unit 4 and Parkland College.

"Parkland is the community’s college," said President Lau. "We are excited to launch this new partnership with Champaign Unit 4 School District, creating pathways that open doors of opportunity for area high school students. The Early Transfer Academy expands access to college-level courses for more students and families across Unit 4 and accelerates progress toward earning a post-secondary credential. Together, we are fostering a culture of learning and discovery."

"We are committed to expanding educational opportunities for all of our students and pleased to join in this partnership with Parkland College," stated Unit 4 Schools Acting Superintendent Dan Casillas. "The ETA opens doors for students to take courses we don’t offer in our schools. It’s an excellent way to expose them to college-level courses they can’t normally take. The ETA will provide a smooth transition for our students to get an early start on their college journey on Parkland’s campus."

The ETA provides a structured four-year pathway program that includes Advanced Placement courses, dual credit courses taught in the high school setting, and college courses taken on the Parkland College campus. Participants can fulfill general education course requirements in social sciences, fine and applied arts, humanities, communication, physical and life sciences, and mathematics.  

"The Early Transfer Academy offers an opportunity for students to explore and expand their learning while earning college credit," said Dr. Angela Ward, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Engagement. "With rigorous instruction that begins in Unit 4 and extends over to Parkland’s campus, students can now rest assured that their college credits are protected with the GECC certification. We are proud to offer another unique path for our students–one that includes just the right amount of rigor and support to help scholars reach their college, career, and life goals."

Students accepted into the Early Transfer Academy program will jumpstart their college and career goals through access to discounted tuition, hands-on counseling support from both institutions, and the ability to explore disciplines before committing to an academic pathway. Application is open until Friday, January 16, 2026. Space is limited in each cohort. 

Parkland College plans to open the ETA to other high schools throughout the 505 District in the future. 

"Most college degrees require general education courses to provide a broad foundation in the Arts and Sciences. The ETA offers the opportunity to explore all Parkland has to offer while students and families explore academic and career pathways," said Parkland Vice President for Academic Services Nancy Sutton. "This partnership with Unit 4 marks the first step in the college's plan to expand ETA and, by extension, increase access to higher education for more high school students across District 505."

The GECC is a selection of courses accepted by all public four-year institutions in Illinois and many private institutions. GECC completion ensures students have completed necessary general education requirements and can begin courses specific to the student’s area of interest. 

For more information, contact Unit 4 Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning David Reif at reifda@u4sd.org or Assistant Director of College and Career Readiness Lashonna Harden at hardenla@u4sd.org, and online at parkland.edu/ETA and champaignschools.org/o/cu4sd/page/early-transfer-academy.