Staff Report
OPELOUSAS — A-first-of-its-kind-partnership in Louisiana between South Louisiana Community College and St. Landry Parish Schools will offer dually-enrolled students the opportunity to earn college technical diplomas in a variety of programs while on a high school campus.
The launch was celebrated before the St. Landry Parish School Board meeting Wednesday.
The Collegiate Technical Academy, modeled after the Early College High School concept, offers the advanced training necessary for students to graduate and enter high-wage, high-demand careers in industries such as automotive, welding and culinary arts.
Dr. Natalie Harder, South Louisiana Community College chancellor, said rural communities face high numbers of adults without high school diplomas or equivalency degrees.
“This is something that helps decrease those numbers When you keep students engaged in high school, when they can see relevance, when they can see a piece of paper that isn’t just a degree or diploma, but actually impacts the W2 piece of paper, that is something that can help them sustain the momentum to be successful through high school and graduate with college credentials and industry-based credentials as well,” she said.
St. Landry Parish Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said, “This partnership is truly a win-win for the students, workforce, and our region.”
He added, “The CTA will fill gaps between meaningful, comprehensive career preparation and the successful acquisition of gainful emploment for students graduating from high school.”
A series of industry-based credentials will be awarded to CTA students, which fulfill Louisiana Department of Education Jump Start Graduation Pathway requirements.
Harder said,
“We are thrilled to partner with St. Landry Parish Schools as our first Collegiate Technical Academy. It’s exciting that this administration is really doubling-down to move the needle on educational attainment in St. Landry Parish.”
Students will be classified as SLCC students and will be afforded the same benefits as SLCC students, according to Caronda Bean, SLCC’s director of Dual Enrollment. “Students will also participate in both a high school graduation and college graduation upon completion of the program,” she said.
There will be no direct cost to the students to enter the CTA.
Should a student choose to continue their education after their technical diploma, they can earn an associate of applied science degree within one semester — completing five general education courses.
Lisa Fuselier, Eunice Career & Technical Center facilitator, said the partnership opens up higher levels for students to be able to take more courses.
Jenkins said the parish should be prepared to need another building as the programs continue to reach capacity at Eunice and the Washington Career & Technical Education Center.
Both St. Landry Parish schools and SLCC are partners in OneAcadiana’s 55x25 initiative to increase the proportion of working adults in Acadiana with postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other high-value credentials to 55 percent by 2025.
For more information about SLCC’s Collegiate Technical Academy, contact SLCC’s Dual Enrollment Office at 337-892-2364.
