CollegeNow Receives National Reaccreditation

Tompkins Cortland Community College’s CollegeNow has been reaccredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). The only national accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, NACEP assures programs like CollegeNow adhere to the highest standards. The NACEP accreditation lasts for seven years. CollegeNow was initially accredited in 2009 and remains one of only 134 programs nationwide to receive the designation.

NACEP is the nation’s only accrediting body for concurrent enrollment programs, with standards that 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. “Your commitment to meeting these standards shows the value your institution has for providing high school students with rigorous coursework that will help ease their transition from high school to postsecondary,” said Mike Altomari, Associate Chair of the NACEP’s Accreditation Commission.

To earn NACEP accreditation, concurrent enrollment programs like CollegeNow 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. 

“This signals to our partner high schools, students, and families that the rigor and quality of CollegeNow courses meet the expectations of Tompkins Cortland Community College,” said CollegeNow Director Victoria Zeppelin. “Tompkins Cortland Community College has a long history of working closely with school districts to enhance the opportunity and accessibility of education for students across the region.” 

CollegeNow is one of the largest concurrent enrollment program in the SUNY system, creating opportunities for high school students to earn college credit right in their own high school. This year, 7,703 students across 87 high schools and BOCES are registered to earn a total of 40,833 college credits through CollegeNow. Last year, 2720 high school seniors graduated with 38,135 credits from Tompkins Cortland Community College. Several students earned more than a semester’s worth of college credit: 860 seniors earned at least 15 credits and 344 earned at least 30 credits. Last year, 96 students completed the requirements and earned an Associate’s degree while in high school, thanks to the CollegeNow program.

“Students who participate in the CollegeNow program not only reap academic and financial advantage, but also strengthen their college applications and develop tools for college success,” said Zeppelin. “By taking courses through CollegeNow, high school students gain an understanding of college-level expectations and further develop the college-ready skillset necessary for academic success in higher education.”