Cisco Tops List Of Henry Ford College Classes Available To High Schoolers

A growing program at Dearborn's Henry Ford Community College is sparking interest among local high school students enrolled in technical studies. The program, called Career and Technical Education Secondary Partnerships, allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit in various career and technical fields before graduating from high school.

High school students can earn between three and 16 articulated credits in one of 17 degree and certificate programs, such as automotive technology, criminal justice, graphic design, hospitality and culinary arts to name a few. The most popular certificate program is the Cisco Computer Networking Academy, according to program coordinator Leslie Kellogg. Students can earn up to 16 credits toward a Cisco networking certificate.

"We continue to work extremely hard to increase the number of articulation agreements we have with area high schools, which in turn increases the articulated credit opportunities available to students," said Kellogg, who works in HFCC's Career and Technical Education Division. Currently, HFCC has 236 articulation agreements with 44 high schools in 36 school districts.

Secondary Partnerships gives high school career and technical students a head start in their college education.

"High school students who earn articulated credit save time and money. It's a great opportunity that eligible high school students should seriously consider," said Kellogg. "We are working with SEMCA's Education Advisory Group and other regional partners to increase awareness about the program and the number of students who earn articulated credit."

The federally funded Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Grant helps pay for Secondary Partnerships at HFCC.  HFCC's Office of Secondary Partnerships can help high school students interested in earning articulated credit in a career and technical field navigate the process. For more information, please contact the Office of Secondary Partnerships at (313) 317-6509.

HFCC servces about 19,000 students, offering more than 100 associate's degree university transfer and career programs.

More at www.hfcc.edu.