Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX – South Texas College Dual Credit Programs is the first in the State of Texas to receive a prestigious accreditation by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) reaching a historical milestone in May 2020.
“We are pleased to welcome the great state of Texas to the ‘accredited programs’ map, and trust that your program will be both a champion and hallmark of accredited programs,” said Michael Beam, Chair for the NACEP Commission.
STC has successfully attained accreditation by following a rigorous two-year process that will make its Dual Credit Programs a model for dual credit across the nation.
NACEP is the sole national accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, and represents best practices of educational partnerships as well as a guarantee that an institution has met the rigorous national standards.
“Throughout the past 20 years, our College has worked diligently to establish a well-developed Program that strives to form and maintain strong partnerships, create a college-going culture, and student success,” said Dr. Rebecca De Leon, Dean for Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships. “The success of our Program has only been possible through the on-going support that has been received by the College’s Administration, Faculty and Staff and our 23 partnering School Districts.”
STC was able to receive accreditation by adhering to NACEP’s concurrent enrollment standards and ensuring that:
• College courses offered in the high school are of the same quality and rigor as the courses offered on-campus at the sponsoring college or university
• Students enrolled in concurrent enrollment courses are held to the same standards of achievement as students in on-campus courses
• Instructors teaching college courses through the concurrent enrollment program meet the academic requirements for faculty and instructors teaching in the sponsoring postsecondary institution and are trained in course delivery and provided ongoing discipline-specific professional development
• Concurrent enrollment programs display greater accountability through program evaluation
“Parents and students can rest assured STC’s program is truly exceptional,” states Dr. Shirley A. Reed, STC President.
The Dual Credit Programs at South Texas College collaborates with 23 school districts and 70 high school partners across Hidalgo and Starr Counties. The Dual Credit Programs offers four options for high school students to earn college credit hours and/or a college credential. Since the inception of Dual Credit Programs, South Texas College has served over 115,000 dual credit students and has awarded over 11,000 certificates and/or associate degrees. Since inception, South Texas College has saved dual credit students and families over $278 million dollars in tuition and fees.
“I’m very pleased to recognize the concurrent enrollment program at South Texas College as one of a select group of one hundred and sixteen concurrent enrollment partnerships nationwide accredited through NACEP’s extensive peer-review process,” said 2019-20 Chair of NACEP’s Accreditation Commission Dr. Diana Johnson of NorthWest Arkansas Community College. “South Texas 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.”
STC will be officially recognized at NACEP’s National Conference in St. Louis, MO on Oct. 25-28.
 reaching a historical milestone in May 2020.){kind=link}