Enroll in UMDNJ Courses at POLYTECH

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) will be partnering witih Polytech to offer a 2-year Health Science College Program to Hunterdon County High School students on the campus of Polytech next year. This tuition- free program provides 17 college credits and an ACE Personal Trainer Certification to qualified students saving approximately $14,000 in UMDNJ college enrollment fees. This grant-funded partnership forms the first Career Academy of Health Sciences in Hunterdon County.

College-bound high school juniors and seniors interested in health & medical science careers including fitness, nutrition, emergency care, exercise science, and patient care will take a series of six college courses over a two-year period at the Polytech Bartles Corner Campus beginning September 2010. These courses are requirements for all college students majoring in health care sciences. After passing the college exams students will earn up to 17 credits which can be transferred to other colleges and universities.

According to Robert DeVoto, Grant Coordinator for Polytech “a career academy is a learning environment comprised of community educators and students who work together, in this case over a two year period, toward a specific career-college path like Health Science.” The academy will also coordinate efforts with local health care facilities to allow students to experience the industry through volunteerism, job-shadowing and mentorships. There are over 6,000 academies in vocational districts nation-wide including many in NJ.

It is estimated that the advent of this academy will spark curriculum planning for other academies in the future. A health science academy in Hunterdon County at Polytech was a logical choice based on strong market factors. Health care ranks as the largest and fastest growing industry in the US and employs over 10 million individuals. There is also a projected shortage of qualified workers resulting from an aging population and advances in technology. And the close proximity to the Hunterdon Medical Center and neighboring health-care companies including Johnson and Johnson and Merck influenced its formation.

The school will be providing tours to Hunterdon Central High School students and presentations will be made to all area high schools. Informational sessions for parents are planned and career academy information packets will be distributed shortly.