CCAC, Northgate ink agreement to provide college-level classes

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Community College of Allegheny County and the Northgate School District jointly announced Monday an initiative to offer college-level instruction to high school students at a significantly reduced rate.

Students in that district, which serves Avalon and Bellevue, can earn a 30credit General Education Certificate through the “College in High School” program, the district and college said. Classes will be taught at the high school.

Students choosing to pursue the remainder of a 60credit associate degree can do so outside the program at any CCAC location for regular community college rates.

Credits are transferable to many colleges and universities, CCAC said, and allowing students to begin their post-secondary work at a community college can reduce their overall tuition cost for a bachelor’s degree.

Students in the program working toward a General Education Certificate will pay $110 per course, no matter the number of credits, officials said. There is a onetime, $25 matriculation fee.

Students finishing out the associate degree will pay $110 per credit, CCAC’s regular tuition rate.

The college has had a similar program with the Pittsburgh Public Schools for about three years, said CCAC spokeswoman Elizabeth Johnston. High school students in the West Allegheny School District will be able to participate in a comparable programbeginning this fall.

Talks are ongoing with other school districts, Ms. Johnston added.

Monday’s announcement is a collaboration between faculty at Northgate and at the CCAC North campus and CCAC West Hills Center, said Gretchen Mullin-Sawicki, president of the college’s North Campus and West Hills Center.

“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity for our community, as it is important to us that all of our students have multiple academic and career pathways to choose,” Northgate superintendent Caroline Johns said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Those seeking more information about the Northgate program can contact Shaun Tomaszewski, Northgate’s director of curriculum and assessment, at stomaszewski@northgate.k12.pa.usa