CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ is excited to announce a new partnership with Queen City Academy Charter High School in Plainfield for an Early College Program. Students participating in the Queen City Academy partnership will have the opportunity to receive their Associate Degree from UCNJ at the same time as they earn a high school diploma from Queen City Academy.
As part of the new partnership, Queen City Academy students will have the option to pursue their Associate Degree in either Engineering or Computer Information Systems Technology. There are currently thirty students enrolled in the program. The partnership started at the beginning of the 2021 school year, and the first students enrolled in the Early College Program may graduate in 2025.
“Through our partnership with UCNJ, our high school students have the opportunity to begin laying the tracks for post-secondary education in advance and we are thrilled that QCACHS’ inaugural class has set the tone of excellence for this partnership moving forward,” says Danielle West-Augustin, Chief Executive Officer of Queen City Academy Charter School. “This program undoubtedly levels the playing field for Black and Brown students. With early exposure to a post-secondary and STEM-focused curriculum, we hope to put our scholars on a trajectory to address inequities in education and garner success.”
Students in the program will take all classes for their first two years at Queen City Academy. For their junior and senior years, they will also attend classes at UCNJ. The partnership provides young people interested in STEM the opportunity to pursue these degrees at a younger age.
“We are excited to partner with Queen City Charter to offer students in our community this valuable opportunity,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “They will experience college courses on our campuses, and more important, they may be eligible to graduate high school with an Associate Degree.”