High School Program (PSEO)

The Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program was created by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1985. Minnesota law allows high school students (whether currently in public, nonpublic, or home schools) to take courses at eligible postsecondary institutions. Students must meet the admissions requirements of the postsecondary institution.

WHAT IS COVERED?:

• Tuition for fall and spring courses
• Required textbooks and course packets
• Consumable supplies specifically required for a class such as art supplies and film

WHAT IS NOT COVERED?:

• Tuition for summer courses (includes May Session, Summer Session I, Summer Session II, and Summer Term)
• Recommended/optional textbooks and course packets
• A copy of a required material in an alternate format unless the alternate format is required for the student under an agreement through the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
• Non-consumable equipment or supplies required for a course such as calculators, instrument rental, uniforms.  
• Basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

You are eligible to participate in the University of Minnesota Morris Online Learning program if you are a Minnesota high school junior or senior, including nonpublic and home school students. Students in cultural exchange programs are not eligible. If you are attending a public or private high school, consult your high school counselor. If you are home schooled, contact the Morris Online Learning office for more information.

While other factors may be considered, there are four main areas used to evaluate PSEO student admission in the Morris Online Learning program. Most PSEO high school students who are successful in courses offered through the Online Learning program meet more than one of the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on 4.0 scale
• Are in the top 10 percent of their high school class;
• Have an ACT composite score of 25 or greater
• Exemplify academic strength (grade of A or B) in the course area

Admission to the University of Minnesota Morris as a degree seeking student is not required to enroll in courses offered by the Morris Online Learning program.

Registration is based upon acceptance in the Morris Online Learning PSEO program and space availability in the requested course.

ADMISSION STATUS

The Morris Online Learning office administers online courses at the University of Minnesota Morris. Admission to the program as a PSEO student is not the same as undergraduate admission to the Morris campus. As a PSEO student you are not formally admitted to a degree program within the University. Officially, you are considered a non-degree seeking student.

If you wish to attend the University of Minnesota Morris after your high school graduation, you will need to apply for undergraduate admission like all high school students.

ON-CAMPUS PSEO PROGRAM

Admission to the Morris Online Learning program as a PSEO student is not the same as admission to the on-campus Morris PSEO program. If you wish to take on-campus classes through the PSEO program, you must apply to the on-campus program. On-campus PSEO students may take online courses with the permission of the PSEO Adviser.

COURSES AND CREDITS

In working out a balanced program, consider that a full-time high school load is generally six high school classes per day. A full-time load at Morris is 12 to 15 credits per semester. One way to think about college credits is that four Morris semester credits are usually equal to one year of high school coursework.

EXPECTATIONS FOR COLLEGE COURSEWORK

The courses and credits you take and the grades you earn as a PSEO student become part of your permanent University of Minnesota transcript and may influence your future academic career, such as acceptance to college, graduate and professional programs, and scholarship opportunities. For each credit, expect three hours of academic work per week. A typical college course is four credits so you can expect twelve hours of academic work per week from one course. See Expected Student Academic Work per Credit policy

EXPECTATIONS OF MORRIS ONLINE LEARNING PSEO STUDENTS

• Plan schedules with high school counselors
• Plan for three hours of academic work per credit per week
• Be self-motivated, well-organized, and able to work independently
• Read and write at an advanced level
• Seek and request help when needed
• Read the course syllabus thoroughly
• Check University-assigned email account often
• Complete assignments by due dates
• Take exams on time
• Track own progress and grades (not all instructors use the Canvas grade book)
• Maintain high GPAs
• Submit a new Minnesota Department of Education PSEO Notice of Student Registration form each semester
• Return textbooks at the end of each semester
• Request an official UMN Morris transcript be sent to your high school

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Students, guidance counselors, home school educators, and parents should read the PSEO Student Handbook carefully and completely.

PSEO students need to take the following steps to participate in the Morris Online Learning program:

• Meet with your high school counselor or home school educator about Morris Online Learning course selections, program planning, and registration requirements. They will be best at helping you fit online learning into your schedule and showing you how the credits may apply to high school graduation requirements.
• Evaluate your daily schedule and consider course work expectations and how to balance it with other commitments.
• Many high schools provide students with access to computers and an Internet connection during a free class period so that students may work on their online coursework at the school during school hours. If you plan to register for an online course, you must read the technical requirements.
• Register for courses »