MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University celebrated the University’s accreditation this week by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) for its duel credit courses.

Northwest’s dual credit program allows high school students to earn college credit from the University while still in high school. Courses are taught by high school faculty at the enrolled students’ home high schools, and Northwest is piloting online courses taught by campus faculty. To enroll, students must be recommended by their high school and meet Northwest admission standards.

NACEP granted national accreditation to concurrent enrollment programs offered by 12 colleges and universities, including Northwest, last spring. The accredited institutions provide college credit-bearing courses taught by college-approved high school teachers to high school students.

Loralee Stevens, who serves on NACEP’s Board of Directors and as assistant dean of community outreach at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan., coached Northwest through the rigorous accreditation process and congratulated Northwest on its success.

“NACEP accreditation is a really important and good way to set yourself apart from other concurrent enrollment programs in the nation,” Stevens said.

NACEP accreditation is based on 17 national standards of quality that ensure high school students enrolled in dual credit courses receive college level coursework. Institutions receiving NACEP accreditation are expected to hold dual credit high school students to the same standards expected of college students.

For more information about Northwest’s dual credit program, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/kc/dualcredit/.