Debt-Free Pathway Opens Doors for Future High School Art Teacher

For Arin Albrecht, graduating from the Community College of Vermont (CCV) without student debt wasn’t just a milestone — it was a gamechanger.

Albrecht grew up in White River Junction and graduated from Hartford High School. Just one year later, they earned an associate degree in Liberal Studies. This fall, they begin classes at Vermont State University–Castleton (VTSU) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Inclusive Adolescent Education with a double major in Fine Arts. Their goal: to become a high school art teacher, inspired by Hartford High School art teacher Amanda Nelson.

“Mrs. Nelson seemed pretty comfortable in what she was doing,” Albrecht said. “She had hobbies outside of school and just seemed very content. I wanted a similar path for myself.”

That path was made possible by Vermont’s Early College program, which allows high school seniors to enroll full-time in college courses at no cost, and the McClure Foundation’s Free Degree Promise, which offers CCV Early College completers an accelerated pathway to a debt-free associate degree.

With an associate degree in Liberal Studies, Albrecht has a big head start on their bachelor’s at VTSU. “It just seemed like the smartest catch-all major in terms of what I wanted to do in the future.” At CCV, many students with the goal of becoming K-12 educators follow a similar major track.   

For Albrecht, the decision to enroll in the Free Degree Promise was driven by practicality. “Money. It’s not a heartfelt answer, but it’s the real one,” they said, noting that with their family facing medical challenges, they initially thought college wasn’t in the cards. A fast-track, debt-free associate degree changed that.

“Without this program, I probably wouldn’t have pursued college at all—and now I’m going for my bachelor’s.”

Thanks to the program’s flexibility, Albrecht found that balancing work and school was manageable. They took a mix of online and in-person classes while working at a local food co-op. They credit CCV advisor Erin Wetherell with helping them navigate course planning and stay on track for graduation.

“Erin was there for every step,” Albrecht said. “She worked closely with my high school counselor and helped me get through my associate degree efficiently.”

Wetherell says that many young people feel pressured to go straight into the workforce after high school to start earning an income rather than going to college.

With Early College, they can do both.

“Most of the Early College students I know are working while they're at CCV, and the credits you earn through Early College are an investment in your future,” says Wetherell. “Even if you don't want to get a degree or credential right after high school, credits never expire.  If and when you do decide to get a degree, you already have a head start. In some ways, it can actually be easier to work while in Early College as you can design a class schedule that fits into your life.” 

Albrecht believes more Vermont students would take advantage of Early College if they knew it could mean graduating debt-free: “It’s really good for first-generation college students and folks whose parents didn’t get that same opportunity.”

Early College is part of the state’s Flexible Pathways Initiative, created by the Vermont State Legislature in 2013 to help more students graduate from high school, get ready for college or job training, and keep learning after graduation. Historically, most students who enroll in the Early College program do so at CCV, which is serving a growing number of students from populations for whom college is all too often out of reach.

"Since the launch of the Free Degree Promise, we've seen increases in enrollment and student success, particularly among underrepresented student groups," said CCV President Joyce Judy. "Last fall marked a 150% increase in the number of low-income students enrolled in Early College, and more than half of the Free Degree Promise cohort were first-generation college students.”

Some students are completing the Free Degree Promise and going directly into the workforce. Others, like Albrecht, are transferring to another postsecondary institution toward a bachelor’s degree.  

“Transferring from CCV to VTSU-Castleton was seamless. They waived the application fee — they waived basically everything,” Albrecht said. “All of my credits immediately transferred over. It was all dandy and easy. I loved it.”

The Community College of Vermont and Vermont State University are now a part of the Vermont Transfer Guarantee, which provides guaranteed admission for CCV graduates to participating four-year institutions in Vermont. Students who graduate from CCV with an associate degree can seamlessly transfer all of their credits to VTSU. 

“While Vermont has New England’s lowest rate of students continuing to college after high school at 40%,” said President Judy, “Students who participate in Early College continue at 80%. CCV's goal is to make postsecondary education accessible for all Vermonters, and pathways like the Free Degree Promise do just that."

Albrecht’s advisor appreciates that flexible pathways like Early College expand students’ horizons, allowing them to dig into what they are curious about in a supported way.

“I think my general advice to young people would be to take advantage of all the opportunities that are offered to you,” says Wetherell. “Learning what you don't like is just as important as learning what you do like, and the more experiences and opportunities you have, the more information you have to carry with you as you grow and develop.” 

Looking ahead, Albrecht hopes to teach in Vermont and maintain time for their own art, possibly creating a comic book. Their vision of a good life: “Wake up rested, work comfortably, come home to a yard with flowering trees, and have time for dinner and a hobby before bed.”

With a clear career path and optimism about their financial future, Albrecht is ready to inspire the next generation of artists. “I hope to be the kind of teacher who’s a bundle of joy in the classroom, just like my favorite teachers were for me.”