Anoka Technical College’s concurrent enrollment program receives national accreditation

 The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Accreditation Commission granted accreditation to Anoka Technical College’s concurrent enrollment program for demonstrating high quality and meeting rigorous standards.

Anoka Tech’s concurrent enrollment program provides high school students the opportunity to take college courses at their high school with classes taught by a college-approved instructor.

Concurrent Enrollment classes through Anoka Tech provide students the opportunity to get a jump start on a college education and start gaining knowledge in high-skill, high-demand jobs.

NACEP is the only national accrediting body for concurrent enrollment, sometimes called dual enrollment. Programs must adhere to 16 national standards proving best practices in the areas of curriculum, faculty, students, assessment, partnership, and program evaluation. 

The 2019-20 Chair of NACEP's Accreditation Commission Dr. Diana Johnson of North West Arkansas Community College remarked: "I'm very pleased to recognize the Concurrent Enrollment Program at Anoka Technical College as one of a select group of one hundred and sixteen concurrent enrollment partnerships nationwide accredited through NACEP's extensive peer-review process.  Anoka Technical College 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.”

The quality of the program is tied directly to the quality of Anoka Tech’s high school partnerships and faculty liaisons within the program.

“There is also a clear partnership between the high school and the college, which includes strong collaboration between our faculty liaisons and the high school instructors,” said Christa Hayes, director of partnerships at Anoka Tech. “The accreditation process is not easy, and some colleges do not obtain accreditation on the first try. I’m proud of Anoka Tech’s achievement of NACEP accreditation for the very first time and I could not have done it without the help of our faculty liaisons.

Anoka Tech’s concurrent enrollment program is an opportunity for students in grades 10, 11, or 12 to consider if they:

• learn best in “hands-on” activities,
• want to explore advanced career and technical education,
• are ready to prepare for highly skilled technical workplaces,
• and want to earn college credit and save money at the same time.

To learn more about the concurrent enrollment program, visit AnokaTech.edu/BecomeStudent/Admissions/Concurrent-Enrollment.