College Connections, JCC’s concurrent enrollment program with regional high schools, has been awarded national accreditation by National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).

“In earning this special status, JCC joins an elite group of colleges which have met the highest standards of rigor on a variety of important characteristics associated with their dual enrollment programs,” stated Marilyn Zagora, JCC’s vice president and dean of academic affairs.

The accreditation caps a two-year program review and application process. In announcing the award, NACEP president Ted Ungricht of Utah Valley State College noted that NACEP accreditation provides acknowledgment of a program’s commitment to quality and national standards.

The accreditation also “…distinguishes [College Connections] as one of the nation’s leading concurrent enrollment programs,” added Ungricht. “Your program…is a model for similar programs across the United States.”

College Connections, now in its 11th year, partners with over 40 high schools and BOCES centers within JCC’s service area. The program offers 58 different college courses in 26 disciplines and serves over 2,000 students each year.

“We work hard to ensure that our on- and off-campus course sections are consistent in both content and rigor,” explained assistant dean Roslin Newton, who oversees the program’s administration and works closely with Maria Kindberg, the program’s coordinator.

“Consistency is critical, and we strive to ensure that students participating in our classes in the high school environment meet the same standards and outcomes as those who take a course on campus,” added Ms. Newton.

As high schools continue to explore means of offering advanced coursework to qualified students, more are choosing concurrent enrollment, Ms. Newton noted. Students participating in the program complete the Accuplacer placement test required of all JCC students, and their courses are taught by high school teachers who meet the same educational and professional requirements as all on-campus instructors.

As College Connections continues to grow, the NACEP accreditation will provide even greater benefit to students, teachers, and administrators, Ms. Newton emphasized. The program, now poised as a national leader, will strive to reach more students, providing college credits free or at a greatly reduced cost to students ready to meet the challenge.

“Concurrent enrollment programs like College Connections offer tremendous opportunity to motivated students,” said JCC president Dr. Gregory DeCinque. “This achievement illustrates JCC’s dedication to creating and maintaining enduring partnerships with area high schools which share our commitment to providing the highest caliber education to the students we serve.”

For additional information on College Connections, call Ms. Kindberg at 716.338.1143.