MARIETTA, OHIO — Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) officially launched its second installment of the InCERT Academy on Friday, September 6. After piloting in January, the program has already grown to a year-long offering, and now includes an additional program choice for students this year.
Fifty-five high school students from across the Mid-Ohio Valley were in attendance, including students from Meadowbrook, Caldwell, Shenandoah, Fort Frye, Warren, Federal Hocking, Trimble, Belpre, Marietta, and Frontier. The 55 students immediately jumped into hands-on learning opportunities on the first day, exploring Cyber Security, Robotics, Welding, and the new program being offered this session, Criminal Justice.
The InCERT Academy is a unique program that gives high school students a chance to earn industry credentials and hands-on experience that contributes toward their high school graduation and may also lead to local job opportunities. Jared Voldness, the Director of Engineering and Business, is pleased to say that students will also earn valuable college credit through the academy as well. “In addition to industry credentials and high school credit, students can also earn articulated college credit, which can help them to get ahead!”
While many Ohio high school students can earn college credit through the College Credit Plus (CCP) program, WSCO’s InCERT Academy offers an exciting alternative for students who might not meet CCP requirements. “Our CCP partnerships with local high schools are strong, but we wanted to provide even more access to higher education,” shared Dr. Jona Rinard, Dean of Technology and Transfer. “By developing programs like the InCERT Academy, we’re removing obstacles and opening doors for students who may not have considered college before.” The InCERT Academy is unique because it allows students to gain job-ready credentials without needing a full degree, preparing them to step straight into the workforce with valuable skills and certifications or matriculate back to WSCO after high school to earn a degree.
The participating high school students will attend their InCERT academy courses every Friday on WSCO’s campus and will be able to receive hands-on training by using the state-of-the-art labs and equipment WSCO has to offer.
