By: Audrey Miller I Published: February 25, 2025
Kean University is host to a diverse range of multigenerational students. Through their Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives division, Kean creates accessible pathways to a college degree for students ranging from grades Pre-K to 12. Since 2008, Kean University has opened its doors to seniors of specific academies from the Union County Vocational-Technical High Schools in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
The Union County Vocational-Technical School is a prestigious high school with selective admissions. Prospective students must meet certain academic standards and undergo a rigorous application process, including submitting transcripts and taking an entrance exam. Applications to the high school program are only accepted from 8th grade students.
The school is host to students from all over Union County and is divided into seven academies. Students who attend the Academy of Performing Arts, the Teacher Education Academy, the School of Sustainable Sciences, and the School of Design spend their senior year as full-time college freshmen. Through this Kean-UCVTS Partnership, students not only graduate high school with college experience but also receive 30-34 free college credits.
UCVTS-partnership students complete lab work in Dr. Ju Young Ha’s Geo Hydro Class at Kean Union I Photo Credit: Audrey Miller
Jennifer Kuszmerski, one of the two program coordinators of the UCVTS-Kean Partnership Program who works in the Office of High School Partnerships located at Kean University’s Nancy Thompson Learning Commons, explained that Kean is the ideal partner for this program.
“We value partnerships with high schools and are dedicated to forging viable pathways to a college degree for all Pre-K to12 students across New Jersey and beyond,” said Kuszmerski. “Kean understands that it is important for students to experience and explore college education as early as Pre-K. ”
Partnership students earn 30-34 college credits while at Kean, and depending on the college they go to, they can transfer the credits, inevitably saving the cost of a full year at college. These credits are offered at a discounted rate and are paid by the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools.
Kuszmerski emphasized that the UCVTS-Kean partnership is unique because not many high school students across New Jersey have the opportunity to take college courses for an entire senior year and gain 30-34 college credits before graduating high school. Partnership students have access to academic and wellness support that would not otherwise be available at the high school level. For example, the ability to work with faculty on research and internships, be part of Kean’s theatre/production teams, and participate in other campus projects.
Current partnership student Nicole Phelan spoke highly of the program. Phelan, a student of the School of Sustainable Sciences, is thoroughly enjoying her time at Kean, attributing her positive experiences to her new-found independence, interesting classes, accessibility to resources, and early experience of college.
Skeptical of the program when she first heard about it during her freshman year of high school, Phelan’s opinions quickly changed, describing Kean as manageable and exciting. She believes this program will benefit her when she goes to college next year.
“I think I have this early experience of what college is like,” Phelan said. “Now I know what my expectations are for next year and I understand what classes are like and what professors expect from me, overall what it feels like to be on a college campus.”
Other partnership students like Elizabeth Koizumi, from the Teacher Education Academy, and Sarah Wong, from the School of Design, concluded that their favorite part of going to Kean is the ability to take a diverse range of classes.
UCVTS-partnership reading scripts and completing work in Nancy Thomas Library Starbucks I Photo Credit: Audrey Miller
Koizumi highlights her enjoyment of taking advanced classes not offered at her high school.
“The partnership program has allowed me to take higher level courses where I can figure out my interests and plan for my education going forward,” she said. Her favorite class is Matrix and Linear Algebra, taught by Dr. Israel Curbelo. Koizumi spoke highly of this class and Dr. Curbelo, saying, “Dr. Curbelo didn’t just give us the rules but explained why the rules are true and where they came from. This allowed us to understand the material instead of just memorizing, which will help with more advanced math classes.”
Wong explained that at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, students’ schedules were designed for them and centered around the academy they are in. Wong credits her smooth transition to Kean to “the campus-like feel of UCVTS and high academic expectations.”
Both Wong and Koizumi agreed that not only is Kean an amazing experience through the ability to craft a personal schedule based on interests and timing, but they also have a newfound free time. Wong credited the program as a “head start into college.”
“This program allows me to feel more comfortable going into college and will make the overall adjustment easier,” said Wong.
Through Kean University’s faculty and accessibility to higher education, the partnership program students are looking at a bright future. Though the students are seasoned for college life through their rigorous high school courses, physically experiencing college allows the students to take a glimpse of their future and learn how to thrive in a college setting.
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