Mary Jondrow, Arizona Department of Education

Helping high school students focus on their futures in college has proven to be a boon for Arizona’s community colleges. A study in Arizona demonstrated that students who receive community college credit while in high school are more likely to go on to college. Once there, they out perform the general population of new students.¹

It’s no wonder many community colleges see Tech Prep as an excellent opportunity to recruit their future students. With Tech Prep’s focus on articulated programs between high school and community college, the transition for students is much easier.

Pima Community College in Tucson has focused part of their student recruitment efforts on Tech Prep students. In September, Patti Gardiner, Digital Arts Facilitator for Pima Community College (PCC), hosted an open house for high school and current PCC students. She presented on the careers open to students who complete a Digital Arts Degree, and the added benefits of participating in Tech Prep programs in high school. Her presentation generated a lot of interest and she has received a number of inquiries from high school teachers and students.

At Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Job Placement and Occupational Advisor, Gayrene Claridge makes it a point to call Tech Prep students during the summer to discuss their plans for college. “I want to be sure they are aware that they have earned college credits and that those credits are already on their transcripts. Some of these kids have 15 – 18 credits by the time they graduate from high school. They can use their Tech Prep credits with us at Eastern Arizona College or transfer them to another institution. Either way, these kids really have a head start on college.”

¹ Puyear, D.E., Thor, L.M., and Mills, K.L., Concurrent Enrollment in Arizona: Encouraging Success in High School, New Directions for Community Colleges, Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, no. 113, Spring 2001.