The College in the High School (CIHS) program at Hudson Valley Community College recently became accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), a national professional organization and accrediting body that works to advance concurrent enrollment programs in institutions of higher education and high schools.
Hudson Valley’s CIHS program offers local high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college courses for credit in their high schools at a reduced tuition rate.
NACEP accreditation standards ensure that CIHS courses are of the same high quality and rigor as on-campus courses offered by the institution, that students are held to the same standards of achievement as students taking on-campus courses and that instructors meet the academic requirements for faculty and instructors teaching at the host institution.
In order to achieve accreditation, the CIHS office was required to conduct a two-year self-study and application process that documented how Hudson Valley’s program implements NACEP’s 15 national standards for program quality in the areas of curriculum, faculty, students, assessment and program evaluation.
This process was completed by Chris Helwig, associate dean of Educational Outreach and Academic Services; Suzanne Brownrigg, director of High School Programs and Educational Outreach Programs, and Susan Agan, technical assistant.
“We are pleased to receive this recognition of excellence, which reflects the quality educational partnerships the college has forged with school districts throughout the Capital District since 1995, as well as our close collaboration with academic departments here on campus,” said Brownrigg.
Hudson Valley is one of only 66 two- and four-year institutions, both public and private, in the nation to be accredited by NACEP. This status benefits students who seek credit recognition on the college level for courses completed and distinguishes the individual concurrent enrollment program by enhancing its ability to recruit new students and partners.
NACEP President Lynn Burbank said, “Through NACEP’s rigorous accreditation peer-review process, Hudson Valley Community College demonstrated that it integrates high quality, standards-based practices across its concurrent enrollment program. We welcome Hudson Valley’s College in the High School Program as one of the 66 concurrent enrollment programs nationwide that have earned NACEP accreditation.”
Published: Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 by d.renfrew