LeTourneau University signed an agreement Thursday with NorthStar
Academy to offer dual credit courses to its online high school students in more than 80 countries
worldwide.
NorthStar Academy is an online school that serves students in
grades 6 through 12. Many of its students are from missionary families living abroad, and
many others are students of foreign diplomats. About 40 percent of their students are
homeschoolers here in the United States.
University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford said LeTourneau
plans to have the first classes meeting online by January. Courses will be taught by LETU
faculty.
NorthStar Academy is part of the Network of International
Christian Schools (NICS) that serves 4,500 students from school campuses in 16 countries. The
university plans to visit other schools in the network and consider expanding the new dual credit
program to those schools in the future.
By focusing on Christ-centered learning in quality programs with
outstanding faculty and flexible delivery methods, LETU has developed an outstanding record in
distance learning. LeTourneau University has been offering online courses since 2001 and
online full degree programs since 2005. In the past two years, online enrollments have more than
doubled. The university was ranked in the top five Best Online Universities by the Online Education
Database.
The new agreement will also open pathways for NorthStar Academy
graduates to further their education at LETU, through its residential program, or online, or as a
hybrid of online and on-ground courses. The program offerings will also include a course to
acclimate missionary kids to American life before they arrive on campus for a residential college
experience. The online classes could also help students build relationships with future
roommates, even before they come to live on campus if they should choose to attend LETU.
