SAU, UAHT receives re-accreditation

Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at HopeTexarkana have received re-accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. NACEP granted accreditation to concurrent enrollment programs at 19 colleges and universities nationwide, bringing the number of accredited programs to 105 in 22 states.

NACEP is the leading membership organization supporting programs that successfully transition students from high school to college through college credit-bearing courses. As the only national set of quality standards applicable to concurrent enrollment partnerships, NACEP’s standards serve as the model criteria for ensuring that the course content and expectations for student work in concurrent enrollment match those on the campus of the sponsoring college or university.

“Our re-accreditation by NACEP validates the excellence of our concurrent enrollment programs,” Dr. David Lanoue, SAU provost/vice-president of academic affairs, said in a press release. “We are proud of the partnerships we have built with high schools in our region to provide opportunities for their students to receive college credit. Our NACEP accreditation reassures students and their parents that all concurrent enrollment courses offered by SAU meet the same high standards of rigor and quality found on our Magnolia campus.”

NACEP’s national network of 400 colleges and universities, 50 high schools and school districts and 25 state agencies and system offices actively share the latest knowledge about best practices, research, and advocacy.

“We are proud to have NACEP recognize the excellent opportunities UAHT’s ‘Your Bridge to College’ concurrent credit program offers southwest Arkansas high school students. While NACEP specifically focuses on the concurrent credit options available to students directly at the high school, our program offers a variety of high-quality choices to area high school students who want to begin their college careers early. These choices include classes offered on the college campuses, online, and at the high schools,” said Ashli Dykes, UAHT Concurrent Credit Coordinator.

To earn accreditation from NACEP, concurrent enrollment programs conduct a self-study, document how their programs adhere to NACEP’s seventeen standards, and undergo a rigorous peer-review process conducted by a team of representatives from NACEP-accredited programs as well as the NACEP Accreditation Commission. NACEP’s accreditation is valid for seven years, during which time programs are expected to uphold NACEP’s standards and report annually on program practices.