With today’s spiraling costs, you have probably worried about how you might pay for your child’s college education. Perhaps your solution rests with a new program instituted by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, entitled College and Career Promise (CCP). CCP is an initiative that prepares high school students with career training credit or awards them college-level credit at no cost to the student. Through participation in the program, qualified students will gain access to an affordable postsecondary education.

In Cumberland County, CCP is administered through the High School Connections Program. High School Connections is a partnership between Fayetteville Technical Community College and Cumberland County Schools. This past year, more than 600 students participated in the High School Connections program, with more than 125 earning college certificates before they graduated from high school. Through the High School Connections Program, students can earn college credit that is transferrable to all of North Carolina’s 16 constituent universities as well many private colleges, or technical course credit in many exciting careers

Frequently asked questions about College Transfer Pathways:

Who is eligible?

• Qualified high school juniors and seniors as of January 2012.

• Students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 weighted scale.

• Students must demonstrate college readiness on an approved assessment.

What are the benefits?

• College credit will transfer to all 16 member universities of the North Carolina University System as well as many private institutions.

• The cost for a two- or four-year degree is greatly reduced.

• Students work on college credit while still in high school, free of charge; however, students are responsible for textbook and supplies.

Fequently asked questions about Technical Career Pathways

Who is eligible?

• Qualified high school juniors and seniors as of January 2012.

• Students interested in pursuing one of the 16 high school career and technical education career clusters.

• Students with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 weighted scale or upon principal recommendation.

• Students who have demonstrated college readiness by meeting course prerequisites.

What are the benefits?

• A credential, certificate or diploma in a technical career.

• A credential that builds skills for an entry-level job.

What pathways are available through these certificates?

Associate In Arts (College Transfer), Business and Economics Pathway, Humanities and Social Science Pathway, Associate in Science (College Transfer, Life and Health Sciences Pathway, Engineering and Mathematics Pathway, Advertising and Graphic Design/Graphic Design Basics Certificate, Architectural Technology/ Green Sustainable Architecture Certificate, Business Foundations Certificate, Computer Information Technology/Hardware and Software Certificate, Criminal Justice Technology: Latent Evidence Certificate, Culinary Arts/ Demi-Chef Certificate, Electrical Electronics Technology Basic Electricity, Motors and Controls Certificate, Emergency Medical Science Certificate, Basic Horticulture Certificate, Infant Toddler Care Certificate, Manicuring/ Nail Technology Certificate, Medical Office Administration/Medical Coding and Billing Certificate, Networking Technology Cisco Networking Certificate, Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate and Simulation and Game Development/ SGD Basics Certificate.

If you would like to find out more about the College and Career Promise Program or High School Connections, contact your local high school guidance counselor or Suzanne Davis, High School Connections Coordinator at Fayetteville Technical Community College, at 678-8542.