Over the last several years there have been numerous calls for reforming high school to college transitions. In 2000-2001, the American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) and the National Commission on the High School Senior Year respectively called for a re-thinking of how students moved from secondary to postsecondary education. A widely-discussed initiative was dual or concurrent enrollment, or as referred to by the AYPF during its 200 roundtable discussion, "secondary postsecondary learning option, (SPLO)." Dual enrollment allows high school students to enroll in college courses. Participation in dual enrollment programs gives high school students first-hand exposure to college, while allowing them to gain both high school and college credit. Two university researchers collected data as participant observers, leading to a description of an innovative University High School early college experience designed for students in grades 10 through 12. The purpose of this study was to record participants' experiences in an early college innovation, and by systematically capturing an account of policies, structures, politics, and participant experiences, to inform the design and implementation of similar reforms. In addition, the study's aim was to ensure that students enrolled in this early college "experiment" at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU's) University High School would have a research-base on which to make modifications in subsequent years of implementation. It should be noted that this University High early college experience is not the same as dual enrollment. The difference is that in dual enrollment, the high school student belongs to a high school and takes college classes either on the high school campus or on a college/university campus. In this case study setting, the University High School is a virtual high school with a legal designation and authority to award high school credits and diplomas. In return for giving up traditional high school courses and extracurricular activities, the students in this experiment, with a signed parental release letter, were "free" within limits to explore any and all aspects of university life.