Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tech Prep?
Tech Prep is an educational reform initiative that helps prepare
students for the technical occupations of the future. Tech Prep
is an option for students that allow them to combine their secondary
education with higher education that leads to an associate degree
or a certificate degree program.
What is articulation?
Articulation is the process whereby students can bring some of their
high school coursework into a postsecondary institution as advanced
placement credit. Course equivalencies are defined for the coursework
and agreed upon by both the high school and the postsecondary faculty.
What is the process for articulating with the Southwestern Montana
Tech Prep Consortium?
1. Review the college syllabi from MT Tech COT and UM-Western for
the course that you believe would match. Look at the competencies
required for the course. MT Tech COT and UM-Western are the two
participating colleges in the consortium although most 2-year colleges
participate.
2. If you believe that your class covers the same materials please
fill out the articulation form and sign the bottom.
3. Submit the original signed articulation form and a copy of the
materials requested to the Tech Prep Coordinator at MT Tech COT
or to your high school Tech Prep Site Coordinator.
4. The college faculty will review your materials and if they agree
that your class meets the requirements they will also sign the agreement.
You will be sent a copy of the signed agreement, a certificate and
a poster to hang on your door.
5. If your class is considered a Tech Prep class then all students
who take your class and pass with a B or better (no B-) will be
eligible to receive college credits at the 2-year participating
college.
6. At the conclusion of the semester or school year fill out the
student enrollment form and send it to the Tech Prep Coordinator
or to your school site coordinator. The names will be added to our
database and seniors will be contacted when they graduate to remind
them that they are eligible for Tech Prep credits for their work
in high school.
What is reciprocity?
Reciprocity is the process whereby a school district that articulates
a course with a postsecondary institution in the Southwestern Montana
Tech Prep Consortium can receive credit for a comparable articulated
course at another postsecondary institution. However, reciprocity
for the State of Montana is still in its infancy stage. Therefore,
articulation with one postsecondary institution still does not guarantee
acceptance of the course at another postsecondary institution.
How does a high student receive Advanced Placement Tech Prep credit?
In order to be eligible for AP Tech Prep credit, a high school student
must receive a B grade or higher in all high school equivalent courses
which they are using for the postsecondary course, and the student
must enter an associate of applied science degree within two years
of high school graduation.
What is the process of applying for AP Tech Prep credit?
1. Students must fill out the Montana Petition for Tech Prep Credit-Student
Form, and submit this form along with their high school transcript
to the postsecondary institution they wish to attend.
2. Students must successfully complete one full semester at the
postsecondary institution before AP Tech Prep credit will appear
on the student's postsecondary transcript.
What is the advantage of receiving AP Tech Prep credit?
Students save time and money towards completion of their associate
of applied science or certificate degree program. In addition, students
get to start their coursework at their level of expertise, rather
than repeating coursework they have already taken at their high
school.
What counties does the Southwestern Montana Tech Prep Consortium
serve?
The counties served by our Consortium include: Beaverhead, Broadwater,
Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, Park, Powell,
Ravalli and Silver Bow.
If my school district is not in one of the above counties, does
that mean my school district cannot articulate with either The University
of Montana - Western or the The University of Montana - Montana
Tech COT? No, school districts outside of the Southwestern Montana
Tech Prep region can still articulate with either Montana Tech COT
or UM-Western. However, initial contact should be made with the
Tech Prep Consortium that covers your county. When this happens,
reciprocity is the first issue that is explored.
Who are the other Consortia contact persons?
Northwest: Bill Roope, Flathead Valley Community College, broope@fvcc.edu
Southcentral: Cathey White, MSU-Billings COT, cwhite@msubillings.edu
Eastern: Cheryl Kolberg, Dawson Community College, kolberg@dawson.edu
Your Tech Prep Contact Person at the Office of the Commissioner
of Higher Education (OCHE) is George Burns, gburns@oche.montana.edu
Where can I get more information?
To discover which classes have been articulated for Tech Prep credit
at a participating Southwestern Montana Tech Prep Consortium high
school or to learn more about the Tech Prep program, contact a local
high school counselor or call the Montana Tech College of Technology (See
Contact Info below)
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