GISD to celebrate new location for Genesee Early College

FLINT, Michigan — On Wednesday, August 30, Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside the University of Michigan–Flint to celebrate the new location for Genesee Early College (GEC). 

The GISD administration and the office of K-12 Partnerships at UM-Flint have been dedicated to finding a new space for Genesee Early College that is centrally located on the UM-Flint campus. 

The ceremony will be hosted at French Hall on the campus of UM–Flint where the college-forward high school will now be located. The new move for Genesee Early College comes at the right time as the school district aims to better integrate the school into both the university ecosystem and culture.

“Our students will now have a more integrated college experience providing them with even more resources and support on the college campus while preparing them for greater high school and college success," stated Robert McAllister, Genesee Early College principal.

Genesee Early College previously had a home in the William S. White building and the Northbank Center, but French Hall is the most centrally located building. Although now located at French Hall, Genesee Early College will continue to be operated by the Genesee Intermediate School District while connected by skywalks and tunnels to the rest of the UM–Flint campus.

Dr. Steven Tunnicliff, Genesee Intermediate School District superintendent, shares that “power of site was the key driver in transitioning the school’s location.”

Genesee Early College's class of '22 graduates snap a group photo after their ceremony at The Capitol Theatre in Flint on June 9, 2022.
“The power of the site principle states that locating a high school on a university campus is integral to student motivation and success and to an enduring collaborative partnership between the high school and the university,” said Tunnicliff in a press statement.

Tunnicliff also shared, “It is a visible symbol to the community of dual accountability for student outcomes and academic success. Students are treated as college students and see themselves as college completers.” 

During the ceremony, guests can look forward to enjoying music, light refreshments, and self-guided tours. There will also be an Open House for current students and parents on Thursday, August 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During this event, students and parents will be able to tour the new GEC office and the classrooms in French Hall to better find their way around campus from the new location. 

“Genesee Early College is still enrolling students for the 2023-2024 school year. We accept students going into the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades,” said McAllister. Families can find the student application online here. There are also opportunities for community members to volunteer with student clubs and activities. 

To learn more about Genesee Early College, visit: gec.geneseeisd.org