NACEP Awards Accreditation to Hawkeye Community College Concurrent Enrollment Programs for Demonstrating High Quality and Rigorous Standards

posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 in  College News

WATERLOO—Hawkeye Community College has been granted re-accreditation by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) for its concurrent enrollment programs.

As the nation’s only accrediting body for these unique and impactful educational partnerships, NACEP’s standards serve as the model criteria for ensuring parity in faculty, course content, student outcomes, and support. Receiving NACEP accreditation means an institution has met the nation’s most rigorous standard in concurrent enrollment program development, management, and evaluation across multiple, multifaceted program areas.

“NACEP accreditation demonstrates a commitment to academic integrity and the delivery of an authentic college experience in the high school classroom,” said Amy Williams, NACEP executive director. “It is a goal that every concurrent enrollment program should aspire to and work toward.”

To earn accreditation from NACEP, concurrent enrollment programs conduct a self-study, document how their programs adhere to NACEP’s 17 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 five years for initial accreditation and then seven years for re-accreditation, during which time programs are expected to uphold NACEP’s standards and report annually on program practices.

"I'm very pleased to recognize the CollegeNow! Program at Hawkeye Community College as one of a select group of 112 concurrent enrollment partnerships nationwide accredited through NACEP's extensive peer-review process,” said Dr. Diana Johnson, NACEP Accreditation Commission chair. “Hawkeye Community College 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."