In the spring of 1991 Mineral Area College, Arcadia Valley Career Technology Center, Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, Perryville Area Career & Technology Center, and UniTec Career Center jointly submitted a grant proposal to develop a model Tech Prep Program throughout the region. The proposal was funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Vocational and Adult Education, and the Southeast Missouri Regional Tech Prep Consortium was formed.

Tech Prep is designed to prepare students for the highly skilled, high wage technology careers of today and tomorrow. Tech Prep combines secondary and postsecondary education programs through a formal articulation agreement which provides students with a non-duplicative, seamless sequence of progressive achievement leading to an associate degree in any of a number of technical and service careers.

The articulated associate of applied science degree programs are the heart of the Tech Prep program and represent a significant asset for several hundred regional high school students each year. Secondary students are able to earn college credit and actually begin an associate degree program while still in high school.  Tech Prep dual credit makes it possible to complete an associate degree in much less time than is normally required.

In the Southeast Missouri Regional Tech Prep Consortium model, high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit applicable to a number of associate of applied science degree programs offered at Mineral Area College. These articulated associate degree level programs supported by a sound high school career pathways guidance system, and strengthened by secondary school level context-based courses in mathematics, science, and communications, represent a significant advancement in preparing students for the career challenges of the 21st century.

The local program is somewhat unique in that secondary Tech Prep students, through their area career center, or comprehensive high school are technically dual enrolled in their secondary program and Mineral Area College.  MAC waives tuition for the college course credit earned through the secondary career and technical education program as a high school Tech Prep student. MAC course credit is earned and grades are transcribed as students proceed through the competency based courses.

The end result of local articulation efforts means that students may begin collegiate level programs while in high school and proceed through the baccalaureate degree level if they so choose.  It should also be noted that while some students may "exit" the program upon high school graduation, the Tech Prep system is structured for completing, at least, an associate degree if students are to be truly prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Students planning to pursue a baccalaureate degree upon completion of a Mineral Area College associate of applied science degree should contact appropriate college/university officials upon high school graduation to outline a course of study which meets the student's individual needs and best provides for future course transfer.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Tech Prep Consortium is comprised of the following educational institutions; Arcadia Valley Career Technology Center, Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center , Perryville Area Career & Technology Center, UniTec Career Center, and Mineral Area College .

The following Mineral Area College associate degree level programs offer Tech Prep dual enrollment opportunities for qualifying secondary students through the area career centers and/or comprehensive high schools:

Automotive Collision Technology

Automotive Technology

Business Management

Business Management - Microcomputers

Child Development

Civil Construction Technology

Computer Aided Design/Drafting Technology

Computer Networking

Construction/Building Technology

Culinary Arts

Electrical/Electronics Technology

Graphic Arts/Printing Technology

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology

Horticulture Services Operations Technology

Industrial Maintenance

Machine Tool Technology

Office Systems Technology - Administrative Assistant

Radio/TV Broadcasting Production Technology

Welding Technology

A complete listing of requirements for completion of each associate of applied science degree can be found under their title in the Career and Technical Education Division section of the Mineral Area College catalog. For additional information concerning Tech Prep Education you may contact the Tech Prep office at (573) 518-2155 or (573) 518-2215.