'˜Penn College NOW' Program Showcased at National Conference

Two staff members from Pennsylvania College of Technology's Outreach for K-12 Office recently offered a presentation at the 2007 national conference of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Programs.

During the conference held Oct. 27-29 in Salt Lake City Jeannette F. Carter, director of Outreach for K-12, and Beverly A. Hunsberger, college transition specialist, presented "Ensuring Alignment and Rigor in Concurrent Enrollment Technical Courses."

The two highlighted the use of the college's faculty in assessing courses that are offered at area high schools through a dual-enrollment program called "Penn College NOW." Penn College NOW arranges for high school students to earn college credit for Penn College courses taken at their high schools and taught by their high school teachers.

Carter and Hunsberger explained that the college ensures the quality of the courses taught on high school campuses by using the college's faculty to grade the high school students' major tests and projects. Faculty also serve as course coordinators, evaluate the high schools' equipment to ensure compatibility, and train the high school teachers on course content and standards.

Carter has been Tech Prep and Outreach for K-12 director at Penn College since 1993. She is also director of the Central Pennsylvania Tech Prep Consortium, and, since 2002, has directed Workforce Leadership Pipeline grants funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. She earned a doctorate in political science from The Ohio State University.

Hunsberger coordinates the college's Penn College NOW dual-enrollment program, which offers courses at area high schools in information technology, electronics and computer engineering technology, and plastics and polymer technology.

The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships links college/high school programs offering college courses in high schools. NACEP supports and promotes its constituent partners through quality initiatives, program development, national standards, research and communication.

Using those national standards, the alliance also accredits concurrent- and dual-enrollment programs. The college plans to seek accreditation for Penn College NOW from NACEP. This accreditation is available after the program has been in operation for five years.

For more information about programs offered through Penn College's Outreach for K-12 Office, visit online , e-mail or call (570) 320-8003.