Teacher Prep for College Access Program

The Teacher Prep for College Access (TPCA) Program includes high school teachers in all disciplines who teach or plan to teach an NJIT-approved course for dual credit. It is an outgrowth of the successful NJIT Forensic Science Initiative (FSI) Teacher Prep Program, many of whose teachers are coaches in TPCA. The program helps teachers prepare to teach a university course at their high school. It also helps experienced teachers by giving access to professors and additional resources that support a high level of instruction.

In order to teach an NJIT course for dual high school / university credit, a teacher must be approved by the appropriate academic department. This generally includes a Masters Degree in the subject with grades denoting content mastery, state teacher certification, and a passion for learning.

In the TPCA Program, teachers work with professors and trained coaches to tailor instruction to high school needs while maintaining the integrity of each course syllabus. Professional development in a cohort model takes place on the NJIT campus and virtually. It includes content lessons, curriculum mapping, assessment and resource development.

Barbara E. Weller, Ed.D., Senior Director of Program Development, weller@njit.edu

Maria Jacome-Garcia, Program Manager, Dual and Concurrent Enrollment