Northeast Community College adds “secondary partners”
Launch the media gallery 1 playerOctober 27, 2023 8:03 AM
NORFOLK, Neb. – Students in two area school districts will not have to travel far to earn a portion of a college credential.
Bancroft-Rosalie Public School and Norfolk Senior High School have met the criteria that will allow them to provide more than half of the programming necessary for their students to earn a certificate, diploma, or a degree at their respective schools. Northeast Community College has added the “secondary partners” as additional Higher Learning Commission (HLC) locations.
The HLC defines additional locations as a physical facility that is geographically separate from the main campus of an institution, such as Northeast, and within the same ownership structure of the institution, where instruction takes place. As a result of meeting these standards, students who attend classes at Bancroft-Rosalie and Norfolk Senior High School can do one or more of the following:
• Complete 50% or more of the courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential
• Complete 50% or more of a degree completion program (even if the degree completion program provides less than 50% of the courses leading to the degree)
Charlene Widener, vice president of educational services at Northeast, said to become an additional location through HLC, secondary partners must be strategic in their Early College (dual credit) offerings and create pathways for students to follow, leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree.
“Both Bancroft-Rosalie Public School and Norfolk Senior High School support dual credit opportunities and have worked diligently to have district instructors teach dual credit courses and provide avenues for students to enroll in courses delivered from the Northeast campus in various delivery options,” she said.
“The Bancroft-Rosalie School Board and staff are committed to serving as an Early College High School and not allowing school size limit to be a barrier limiting opportunities for our students,” said Jon Cerny, superintendent of Bancroft-Rosalie Public School. “The partnership with Northeast Community College has resulted in Bancroft-Rosalie students earning associate degrees at the end of their senior year of high school and a smooth transition to the next step in their education for all students.”
The Early College program at Northeast provides free tuition for all students currently enrolled in high school to take dual credit or college credit courses. Whether a student decides to take the first steps toward a bachelor’s degree or start on a fast track to a career, both general education and career and technical education courses are available.
Widener said the benefits of starting college early are many. Grades and credits earned may be used towards a degree at Northeast or transferred to another college.
“Students will also be familiar with the college environment before their first day of college. Typically, students who take college credit courses during high school are twice as likely to attend college after graduation.
To learn more about Early College opportunities through Northeast Community College, visit northeast.edu/admissions/early-college.