College Now and Quick Step JCCC’s College Now is a credit program for county high school sophomores, juniors and seniors or ninthgrade students identified as gifted with a current Individual Education Plan. College Now students enroll in selected college classes, such as composition or U.S. history, offered at and in cooperation with the high school. The courses reflect the college’s content, objectives and assignments and are taught on the high school campus by qualified high school teachers. During fall 2012, College Now enrollment totaled more than 3,100 students in 26 different locations. In spring 2013, 1,700 high school students were enrolled in College Now classes. Ninety-eight percent of College Now students continue their education at colleges and universities, and 97 percent of College Now students said their courses transferred for credit to colleges other than JCCC. Nearly 98 percent of students would recommend the program to a friend. Through the Quick Step program, high school students can be enrolled in more than 150 college courses. Instruction is provided by JCCC faculty and is usually held on the college campus. For fall 2012, more than 500 Quick Step students from area high schools were
Ron Smith, College Close to Home student
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enrolled in JCCC courses. In spring 2013, more than 300 students were enrolled in Quick Step courses.
cooperative programs offered to more than 350 students from both Johnson County and Missouri.
JCCC also offers a unique program in the high schools called Quick Step Plus, or QS+. Students can earn credit in high school math and college algebra simultaneously through JCCC’s self-paced math offerings. A high school instructor teaches the course and gives the high school grade, while a JCCC professor oversees the self-paced aspect of study, administers all assessments for college credit, and gives the JCCC grade. In 2012-2013, more than 1,000 students were enrolled in 90 sections of the course in 24 area high schools. Ninety-two percent of enrolled students earn transferable credit for college algebra with a grade of C or higher.
Nontraditional careers
Cooperative programs
Through its On Your Site program, JCCC offers credit classes on-site at local businesses. The courses can be used to train or retrain employees in specific skills, or a company can offer employees general education courses that count toward a college degree. During the 2012-2013 academic year, a technical writing class was offered at the Lawrence Energy Center.
JCCC and the Metropolitan Community College district in Kansas City, Mo., have developed cooperative agreements that allow Johnson County residents to enroll in selected career programs at MCC while paying the same cost per credit hour rates that Johnson County residents pay to attend JCCC. Conversely, Missouri residents may enroll in selected career programs offered at JCCC at resident Missouri tuition rates. Between JCCC and MCC there are 31
Students in nontraditional careers are studying in a field in which more than 75 percent of the workforce is of the opposite gender. Examples are men in nursing and women in information technology. JCCC systematically works to inform students, parents, counselors, teachers, the community and business of the options, advantages and availability of nontraditional careers for male and female students. Each year more than 200 students participate in activities focusing on nontraditional careers.
On Your Site
Lindsay Reed, College Now student