 |
MCCC
Partners with Mercer County Technical Schools
To Provide College Classes for Health Science Academy
Ninth Graders Near End of First Year
6/10/11
|
West Windsor,
N.J.- For high school students who already have their sights
set on careers in health care, the Health Science Academy
at the Mercer County Technical Schools' Assunpink Center is
proving the ideal place to earn a high school diploma - as
well as prepare for the rigors of college. Through a partnership
with Mercer County Community College, students are benefitting
from a challenging curriculum and will be taking college classes
at Mercer by the time they are high school juniors.
According to MCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr.
Guy Generals, this collaborative program reflects a growing
movement in education to help high schools better align their
curriculum with what students will encounter at the college
level. "The entire curriculum for this program was developed
with input and discussions between MCCC and the technical
school," Generals said. "These students will be
well-prepared for a challenging course of study in college."
As
the first class of 28 students nears the end of its 9th grade
year, MCTS Principal Lucille Jones reports that these self-motivated
students are "achieving, growing and getting the kind
of intensive health care focus that would not be possible
in a traditional school setting."
|
|
|
Ninth
graders in the Health Science Academy participate in a DNA
fingerprinting lab, with the task of identifying DNA restriction
fragment patterns. Students pictured, from left, are Mary
Alice Orent, Jennifer Estrada, Timothy Watkins, Brianna Sheppard
and Piyush Puri.
|
| |
Specialized
classes offered at the academy include Dynamics of Health Care and
First Aid Certification in 9th grade, Fundamentals of Clinical Care
and CPR Certification in 10th grade, Emergency and Clinical Care,
including ethics and public policy, in 11th grade, and Introduction
to Forensics, basic EMT certification and internship opportunities
in 12th grade.
Additionally, in their junior and senior years, Health Science Academy
students will begin testing the waters at college by taking up to
seven classes and earning 21 credits at Mercer. Their MCCC classes
will range from psychology and sociology, to anatomy and physiology,
nutrition, and medical terminology.
Says MCCC Dean of Health Professions, Dr. Linda Martin, "We
look forward to serving these students, who have identified their
commitment to the health care field so early. They are likely to
be our future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, radiographers
and more." She notes that with expanded health care services
expected to become available in the United States in the near future
and a steadily increasing aging population, the need for highly
skilled health professionals is projected to grow considerably.
All
students enrolled in MCTS' Health Science Academy become members
of the Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA). In March,
15 students competed in the New Jersey HOSA State Competition, with
six earning the opportunity to compete at the National HOSA Competition
later this month. Two students were elected to serve as HOSA State
Officers.
According
to Lori Perlow, MCTS' communications officer, the enrollment process
for the 2011 ninth grade class is almost complete, but a few openings
remain. She notes that admission criteria are rigorous, with middle
school grades, scores on national tests, and performance on an entrance
assessment all considered. Learn more about the program here.
Return to Current News
Directions
to West Windsor Campus
Campus
Map
|
