Lakeland Community College is partnering with area high schools to cultivate, diversify and grow talent in information technology and computer science (IT&CS) with the IT&CS College Ready Now program. Students will have the opportunity to begin taking college-level IT&CS courses as early as their freshman year of high school, and by continuing the program through senior year, will have completed one full year worth of college credits. Several courses can double as high school and college credit, all at no extra cost.

Development of the program began at Perry High School, and with increasing demand for jobs in the field of IT&CS, Lakeland’s College Ready Now is being shared with other area high schools. Students and parents alike will see benefits from this program as it mitigates time and money spent on up to a full year of college courses.

As students complete courses, they will also be qualified to apply for local internship opportunities and will be prepared to complete several professional industry certifications. Upon completion of the entire IT&CS College Ready Now program, students will be in a position to earn an associate degree from Lakeland with only one additional year of classes. This will give students a direct path into bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in IT&CS at a variety of other Ohio four-year schools.

To learn more about Lakeland’s IT&CS College Ready Now program, transfer opportunities and career outlook, contact Lakeland IT&CS professor Sue Baker at sbaker@lakelandcc.edu.

By: Adam Continenza, Mktg and Communications Spclst