HERKIMER, N.Y. — Herkimer College has announced plans to launch a new partnership with Cazenovia College this fall targeting a bachelor’s-degree program in inclusive early-childhood education. Herkimer students who earn an associate degree in education, or have 60 or more credits with prerequisites, can transfer into a Cazenovia College bachelor’s degree program in inclusive early-childhood […]
HERKIMER, N.Y. — Herkimer College has announced plans to launch a new partnership with Cazenovia College this fall targeting a bachelor’s-degree program in inclusive early-childhood education.
Herkimer students who earn an associate degree in education, or have 60 or more credits with prerequisites, can transfer into a Cazenovia College bachelor’s degree program in inclusive early-childhood education.
The Herkimer campus will offer that part-time program, the college said in a news release.
The program will offer at least three courses each semester, each provided in one of several formats including evening and weekend courses, online and hybrid.
Online courses may be available for students who need to make up a general-education prerequisite, according to Herkimer College.
Enrolled students will complete a final summer course over two weekends on the Cazenovia College campus.
Students will have complete access to Cazenovia’s online library and other resources. Cazenovia College will charge students $245 per credit hour for those enrolled in the program at Herkimer College, according to the news release.
The partnership with Cazenovia College represents “a new model in education” that also addresses the need for “highly qualified” teachers in our elementary and secondary schools, Robin Voetterl-Riecker, associate dean for humanities and social sciences at Herkimer College, said in the release.
“It brings a high-quality bachelor’s degree to the Herkimer campus, and by doing so we provide a new opportunity for our students. With low tuition rates, a part-time pace and evening/alternate format classes, Herkimer students can get the upper division education they need to improve their lives and earning potential, without the hurdles of traditional education. Students don’t have to move, commute or take out large loans to complete their degrees—all benefits that are very important to our students,” said Voetterl-Riecker.
This partnership also allows students currently working in the early-childhood education field to complete the bachelor’s degree in inclusive early-childhood education and advance their careers, Christine Richardson, director of the Center for Career and Extended Learning at Cazenovia College, contended in the Herkimer news release.
“In doing so, these students are eligible for dual New York state certification in early-childhood education and special education. These graduates will have increased employment opportunities and commensurate teacher-education pay. Additionally, students not yet working in the early-childhood education field will find ample professional-teaching opportunities. New state regulations have mandated that teachers in federally funded early-childhood education have [New York state] teaching certification,” said Richardson.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com