Program Overview
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Organization
The College Now program is one of the largest concurrent enrollment programs in New York State.
College Now High School Teacher Certification
In MCC’s College Now program, high school teachers are a crucial element in offering a high quality, rigorous, college-level experience to students. Students are only eligible for MCC credit when they are seated in the class of a College Now-certified teacher. For these reasons, a review of the credentials of the proposed high school teacher is required.
For a high school to be considered for College Now credit, these NACEP processes must be completed:
- High school curriculum is modified to meet our accreditation requirements.
- Courses administered through a concurrent enrollment program are MCC catalogued courses with the same departmental designations, course descriptions, numbers, titles, and credits;
- Concurrent enrollment courses reflect the learning objectives, and the pedagogical, theoretical and philosophical orientation of the respective MCC department;
- College courses offered in the high school are of the same quality and rigor as the courses offered on-campus at MCC.
- High school teachers are certified by MCC to teach a College Now course or courses
- High school teachers must meet the same qualifications as instructors teaching the course on the MCC campus
Once certified, each high school teacher is assigned a Faculty Liaison who will provide guidance and serve as a resource for the time the course is offered.
MCC Faculty Liaison
An MCC faculty member, or Liaison, is assigned to every high school College Now course and works closely with the certified high school teacher. The relationship between high school and college faculty is critical to the success of the College Now course. We strive to provide teachers with the resources and professional development needed to facilitate the college experience in their classrooms. Our long-standing, collaborative partnerships with high school teachers are essential to the College Now process and we hold our high school counterparts in high regard.
Accreditations
MCC Accreditation
MCC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. MSCHE conducts accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidacy status) activities for institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other geographic areas in which the Commission elects to conduct accrediting activities, including the evaluation of distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions. MSCHE accredits institutions across the United States as well as globally.
Curricula are registered and approved by the New York State Department of Education and the State University at New York (SUNY) system.
MCC is a member of the League for Innovation in the Community College. The League provides direction and leadership for experimentation and innovation in two-year colleges. Its members are recognized as the best community colleges in the United States and Canada.
College Now Accreditation
The College Now program has accreditation through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). NACEP works to ensure that college courses taught by high school teachers are as rigorous as courses offered on the sponsoring college campus. As the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, NACEP helps these programs adhere to the highest standards, so students experience a seamless transition to college and teachers benefit from meaningful, ongoing professional development.
For more information, please visit the NACEP website (www.nacep.org).
Monroe Community College’s College Now program is accredited through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). The NACEP works to ensure that college courses taught by high school teachers are as rigorous as courses offered on the sponsoring college campus.
Who We Serve
Service Area and Out of County High Schools
Monroe Community College serves high schools and BOCES locations within the limits of Monroe County. According to SUNY guidelines, MCC has first right of refusal in working with schools within Monroe County. This means schools will first seek a College Now partnership and if MCC is willing and able, a partnership will be established. If the high school teacher meets departmental standards for College Now teachers, and MCC is unable or unwilling to partner with the school for a particular course, this will be stated in writing. A letter from the MCC Provost may be written allowing the school to seek partnership with another community college. SUNY guidelines allow community colleges to update agreements annually. Letters are not written when teacher credentials do not match MCC criteria.
When a high school outside of Monroe County wishes to partner with MCC the process is the same. The school will first seek partnership with the community college that serves the county in which the school is located. If the community college is unable or unwilling to partner with the high school, the Chief Academic Officer will write a letter allowing the school to partner with MCC.
This process provides consistency in service delivery and maintains a transparent and collaborative relationship within SUNY community colleges.
Home-schooled Students
The College Now program does include established, registered home school consortiums with appropriate classroom environments and laboratories. Instructors need to the meet the same criteria as College Now instructors teaching in high schools, and adhere to the MCC curriculum (including use of the MCC required textbooks and materials). For students not attending a homeschool consortium, the Pathways to MCC program offers students the opportunity to earn college credits towards the New York State high school equivalency diploma. For more information, please visit Pathways to College.