VU earns NACEP accreditation for high quality and rigorous standards - External Relations
VU earns NACEP accreditation for high quality and rigorous standards
May 8, 2019 / VU earns NACEP accreditation for high quality and
rigorous standards
VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University is one of 26 concurrent
enrollment programs to be granted accreditation by the National
Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). This brings
the total number of accredited programs across the country to 112,
spanning 22 states.
"I'm very pleased to recognize Vincennes University’s
Project EXCEL Program as one of a select group of 112 concurrent
enrollment partnerships nationwide accredited through NACEP's
extensive peer-review process. Vincennes University has demonstrated
to its peers that the college courses it offers in high schools are of
the same high quality as college courses offered on campus," said
Dr. Diana Johnson, 2018-19 chair of NACEP's Accreditation Commission.
As the nation’s only accrediting body for these unique and
impactful educational partnerships, NACEP’s standards serve as the
model criteria for ensuring parity in faculty, course content, student
outcomes, and support. Receiving NACEP accreditation means an
institution has met the nation’s most rigorous standard in concurrent
enrollment program development, management, and evaluation across
multiple, multifaceted program areas.
“NACEP accreditation demonstrates a commitment to academic
integrity and the delivery of an authentic college experience in the
high school classroom; it is a goal that every concurrent enrollment
program should aspire to and work towards,” said Amy Williams, NACEP
Executive Director.
“As the availability of college credit opportunities for high
school students expands, it is vital that we maintain quality to
provide a meaningful collegiate experience for students. The programs
that received accreditation meet established best practices in
concurrent enrollment in the areas of curriculum, faculty, students,
assessment, and program evaluation,” remarked Dr. Diana Johnson, NACEP
Accreditation Commission chair and associate vice president for
learning at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
“NACEP accreditation is the hallmark of excellence, assuring
that programs offer college courses in high schools that are as
rigorous as courses on their campuses, thereby supporting student
achievement and postsecondary success.”
To earn accreditation from NACEP, concurrent enrollment
programs conduct a self-study, document how their programs adhere to
NACEP’s 17 standards, and undergo a rigorous peer-review process
conducted by a team of representatives from NACEP-accredited programs
as well as the NACEP Accreditation Commission. NACEP’s accreditation
is valid for five years for initial accreditation and then seven years
for reaccreditation, during which time programs are expected to uphold
NACEP’s standards and report annually on program practices.
Vincennes University President Chuck Johnson notes that,
“Indiana has a focus on concurrent enrollment programs, particularly
dual credit in high schools. VU, working with partners in industry,
K-12, and higher education throughout Indiana, has taken the lead in
establishing innovative programs that are helping Indiana leap ahead
of other states in addressing the critical skills gap. A recent
example of that innovation has been the launch of a new Automation and
Robotics Academy in Jasper, which was formed by a partnership with the
four Dubois County Schools, Patoka Valley Career Cooperative,
Vincennes University Jasper, and several leading employers. Students
will get high school and college credit along with real-world
experience in key industry sectors in and around Dubois County. Such
collaborations are occurring all over Indiana and VU is proud to be
helping to lead their development."
“Ensuring program, and ultimately student success requires
strong partnerships between secondary and postsecondary education
centered on a mutual commitment to quality in all aspects of the
program. NACEP accreditation reflects that commitment to quality
across all elements of the program. These institutions have committed
the necessary resources, particularly campus faculty time and effort,
to support high-quality concurrent enrollment.” said NACEP Executive
Director, Amy Williams. Concurrent enrollment increases student’s
college aspirations, engagement, and success thus concurrent
enrollment programs hold tremendous potential for increasing college
completion and addressing national attainment gaps. The positive
benefits of dual and concurrent enrollment on college access and
degree attainment were validated by the Department of Education’s What
Works Clearinghouse (WWC) in a review of the experimental and
quasi-experimental literature.
The full listing of the 112 NACEP accredited programs
nationwide can be found here.
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Vincennes University Newsroom
VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom
Manager
812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell,
VUNews@vinu.edu, vpuffer@vinu.edu
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Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
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office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom