ABERDEEN, S.D. (May 1, 2017) – The Northern State University Rising Scholars Program has been awarded accreditation by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).
“NACEP accreditation serves as a guarantee to students, administrators and postsecondary institutions that the Rising Scholars Program meets rigorous national standards in the areas of curriculum, faculty, student assessment, student support, and program evaluation,” said NSU Rising Scholars Program Director Terry Piatz.
NSU is the only university in South Dakota accredited by NACEP, the sole national accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships.
“I'm very pleased to recognize the Rising Scholars Program at Northern State University as one of a select group of 105 concurrent enrollment partnerships nationwide accredited through NACEP's extensive peer-review process,” said NACEP Accreditation Commission Chair Victoria Zeppelin of the Tompkins Cortland Community College. “Northern State University 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 NSU Rising Scholars program, which allows high school students to earn credit toward high school graduation and a college degree at the same time, began at NSU in 2005. The program partners with nine high schools in South Dakota, with one more school joining in fall 2017. As of fall 2016, 460 students were enrolled in Rising Scholars.
Concurrent enrollment courses are taught in the high school by college-approved high school teachers, who must have a master’s degree in their discipline or a master’s degree plus 18 discipline-specific graduate credits. NSU faculty collaborate with the high school teachers to develop the college courses. The program offers courses in art, biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics and speech. To learn more, visit the Rising Scholars Web page.
"The public university system has been engaged in concurrent credit activities for almost two decades," said Dr. Paul Turman, South Dakota Board of Regents vice president for academic affairs. "At the institutional level, Northern State University has been a leader in delivering these opportunities to South Dakota high school students through its partnership with numerous school districts in the state. The Board of Regents' dual credit policies and guidelines closely align with the NACEP standards and this partnership is an appropriate next step for ensuring that students served through this program are engaged in rigorous courses and curriculum that aligns with the experiences of a traditional college student.”
For more information about the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, visit NACEP.org.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.