HVCC adding STEM school
College will house program on campus
Capital Region high school students looking for pathways to well-paid careers will have more options this fall through a new partnership between BOCES Questar III and Hudson Valley Community College.
A high school with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects will be housed on the college’s main campus in Troy and will serve students from seven counties and 46 school districts.
Students entering the new high school will take advantage of several careerfocused educational tracks through the Pathways in Technology, a six-year P-TECH program and a four-year Smart Scholars Early College High School (ECHS) program.
The school will place students on the fast track toward a college degree while saving their families money on tuition costs. This is the first P-TECH and Smart Scholar Early College High School to be hosted on a community college campus in the Capital Region.
The school will provide training in computer information systems, engineering technology, environmental science and protection technology, and health science. It will be housed in the college’s newly renovated Lang Technical Building.
Students in the programs can earn up to 63 college credits toward an associate degree at no additional cost to their local school districts — tuition, fees, books, and instructional materials will be covered. Courses are taught by college faculty; professional development opportunities, increased access to college coursework are additional benefits. Students will study in class with their fellow high school students, as well as in blended classes with college students.
The programs are funded through grants from the state Department of Education. P-TECH is funded for $3 million over seven years and Smart Scholars Early College High School is funded for $870,537 over five years. The students will be able to apply to the high school for next fall.
The programs are designed to give historically underrepresented students at the post-secondary level the opportunity to get a jump start on their college education. Upon completion, students are connected to jobs in growing fields. Approximately 70 students will be eligible to enter the programs each year, 45 in P-TECH and 25 in ECHS.
“Creating a strong educational pathway from the region’s secondary schools, through our college and extending onward into careers, is what these programs are all about,” Hudson Valley President Roger Ramsammy said. “We are so excited to be the site of this new partnership with Questar III and we encourage families to take a good look at the very real benefits of P-TECH and Early College Programs.”
A key component of these programs is engagement from local companies such as the Tech Valley Center of Gravity and the Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, whose involvement adds realworld experience and industry knowledge to the students’ education.
“Through the partnership, we are trying to expand opportunities for students throughout our region in emerging fields. It’s good for our students and their families, for our schools and businesses, and for the larger community,” said Anthony Taibi, chief academic officer, Questar III BOCES.
Hudson Valley already partners with local school districts on several P-TECH programs, operating the Clean Technologies Early College High School at its TEC-SMART extension center in Malta. HVCC also collaborates on the Riverfront Partnership with Troy High School and provides college credit for advanced coursework in high schools across the region.