OCTC Earns NACEP Accreditation for Dual Enrollment

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (06/05/2023) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) is proud to announce that it has been granted reaffirmation for dual and concurrent enrollment programs by the Accreditation Commission of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). NACEP granted initial accreditation to seven dual and concurrent enrollment programs and re-affirmed accreditation to seven dual and concurrent enrollment programs at colleges and universities nationwide. This brings the total number of NACEP-accredited programs across the country to 133, spanning 26 states. OCTC and West Kentucky Community & Technical College are the only Kentucky institutions to hold this status.

Dr. Meredith Skaggs, OCTC's Department Head for Heritage, Humanities and Fine Arts led the process for OCTC and commented, "Accreditation isn't an individual effort. Our high school partners are truly some of the best in the nation which is demonstrated in the quality of their teaching and how they support the accountability measures of the accreditation process."

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.

To earn NACEP accreditation, concurrent enrollment programs conduct a self-study, document how their programs adhere to NACEP's sixteen standards, and undergo a rigorous peer-review process conducted by a team of representatives from NACEP accredited programs as well as the members of the NACEP Accreditation Commission. NACEP's accreditation is valid for five years for initial accreditation and seven years for programs that are reaccredited between accreditation reviews; programs commit to upholding NACEP's standards and report annually on program practices across the sixteen standards.

"This rigorous process ensures the quality of the educational experience being delivered. This is a commitment by OCTC and by all our educational partners to make sure our program is of the highest quality" added OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams.

Dr. Michael Beam, Chair of NACEP's Accreditation Commission, expresses, "On behalf of the Accreditation Commission, I want to congratulate all of the newly accredited and re-accredited programs, as they have successfully demonstrated their commitment to NACEP's standards for high-quality programming."

Institutions Earning Initial Accreditation: Bethel University - Minnesota, Centralia College - Washington, Elgin Community College - Illinois, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Florida, Georgia Northwestern Technical College - Georgia, Mid-Plains Community College - Nebraska, Saint Paul College - Minnesota.

Institutions Earning Re-Accreditation: Ball State University - Indiana, Central Methodist University - Missouri, Corning Community College - New York, Iowa Lakes Community College - Iowa, Missouri Baptist University - Missouri, Nebraska Wesleyan University - Nebraska, Owensboro Community and Technical College, Kentucky.

For a complete list of NACEP accredited programs and Record of Accreditations, please visit https://www.nacep.org/nacep-accredited-programs/ and to learn about the accreditation process, visit https://www.nacep.org/accreditation/process-timeline-cost/.

To learn more about the dual credit opportunities at OCTC please contact Bernie Hale at bernie.hale@kctcs.edu.

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The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) is the leading membership organization supporting programs that successfully transition students from high school to college through college credit-bearing courses. We promote quality programming through national standards, accreditation, and professional development. Our members offer college courses to high school students through a variety of delivery methods and use a range of terms such as concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, dual credit, and early college. NACEP's national member network of close to 500 institutions includes colleges and universities, high schools/school districts, and state agencies actively sharing the latest knowledge about best practices, research, and advocacy.

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