The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School is making the move to Herkimer County Community College.
VP-TECH has always given its students the opportunity to earn a free associate degree through Herkimer College, but now they will have their classes on campus. For students, that also means access to student identification cards, academic advisors, tutors, the library, the gymnasium, extracurricular activities and more, Herkimer BOCES Director of Career and Technical Education Zane Mahar said.
“It’s beneficial to students because it’s really going to give them the true college experience,” Mahar said. “We’re working with the college officials to really build this as an immersive college program, so even when students aren’t in their high school or college courses, they’re still benefiting from being at the college.”
The Herkimer BOCES VP-TECH program, which was previously based at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex in East Herkimer, will completely operate at Herkimer College for the first time when students return to school this year. Students enter VP-TECH in ninth grade and have up to six years to complete their high school diploma and associate degree at no cost – with some students completing their associate degree while still in high school.
Herkimer College President Dr. Terri Grates Day commented on VP-TECH moving to the college.
"P-TECH is exactly the kind of partnership that demonstrates what a community college can do when it is truly connected to the needs of its community,” Day said. “By bringing P-TECH to the HCCC campus, we are creating a meaningful pathway for students to earn college credit, develop career-ready skills and see a future for themselves right here in the Mohawk Valley. This is about more than a program. It is about creating opportunity, strengthening our workforce and showing students that they do not have to leave home to build a successful future."
Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent D.J. Shepardson also praised the new arrangement for VP-TECH.
“Herkimer BOCES is honored to collaborate with Herkimer County Community College to bring an exciting new P-TECH opportunity to students in this region,” Shepardson said. “We deeply value Herkimer College as a key educational partner and look forward to building on this strong foundation to create transformative learning experiences for our students.”
‘More opportunities’
VP-TECH combines rigorous academics with hands-on learning, career exploration, internships, job shadowing and workplace experiences in high-demand fields. Students develop essential employability skills, receive individualized academic and career planning and remain connected to extracurricular activities in their home school districts.
There are four Herkimer College associate degree programs that VP-TECH students are eligible to take: Business Administration, Computer and Network Security, Electrical Technology and Quality Assurance Science. BOCES and college officials are also looking into the possibility of offering the college’s Esports Management program in the future.
VP-TECH students will take some high school College Now classes taught by Herkimer BOCES teachers in the role of adjunct college professors, and they will take some college classes mixed in with other college students. All those classes will be on the college campus.
“This is really going to send the message that they really are college students,” Mahar said. “I think it’s going to open more opportunities for students.”
Students in VP-TECH will spend their full school days at Herkimer College – with the exception of some students who are also enrolled in Herkimer BOCES Career and Technical Education programs. Those students will spend part of either their mornings or afternoons at the Herkimer BOCES WEB Complex for their CTE classes.
‘Finish their degrees’
One significant benefit of VP-TECH is that students can earn their associate degree at no cost.
“This is a totally free program for students and families,” Mahar said.
BOCES officials are hoping that by moving VP-TECH to the college campus, it will make students feel more connected to the college experience. Currently, some students complete high school but don’t continue with VP-TECH by taking the last few Herkimer College courses needed to earn their associate degrees.
“We’re hoping this is going to lead to more kids who finish their degrees,” Mahar said. “There’s a lot of positives that will come from this.”
This school year, there will be some fifth-year VP-TECH students who will be taking Herkimer College courses to wrap up their associate degrees. Those students will have a less-structured arrangement as far as VP-TECH because they completed their high school requirements and are essentially just college students now, but they can still visit VP-TECH classrooms and go to VP-TECH teachers for help, Mahar said.
“We’ll be there as a resource for them,” he said.
The more flexible schedules will allow some of the fifth-year VP-TECH students to also work part of the day while completing their degrees, Mahar said.
‘Definite potential’
Moving VP-TECH completely to Herkimer College will require some adjustments along the way, Mahar said, and to ensure a smooth transition, he will be located at the college for at least this school year.
VP-TECH students will benefit from both Herkimer BOCES and Herkimer College resources. Student lunches will still be provided by the Herkimer BOCES Food Service, so bagged lunches will be sent to the college for the students every day. Meanwhile, students will have access to college academic advisement services in addition to high school advisement. Potentially, students will learn to advocate more for themselves as well, Mahar said.
VP-TECH ninth graders also take the Herkimer College First Year Student Seminar course that college freshmen take, but VP-TECH students previously were in a separate section of the class that was mostly taught virtually with occasional visits to the college. Starting this year, VP-TECH students will be in the main course at the college, Mahar said.
“Now, with them being right there, it’s like, well, let’s walk over to the library and get you an actual card and student ID,” Mahar said, as an example of how much more beneficial the class will be.
As the transition takes place, BOCES and college officials are looking forward to all the ways the new arrangement could help students and serve as a basis for additional student pathways.
If the VP-TECH partnership proves effective, it could lead to Herkimer BOCES and Herkimer College establishing additional early college high school opportunities on their own in programs that aren’t covered by the state’s P-TECH initiative – in career paths such as health science, criminal justice and more, Mahar said.
“There’s some definite potential,” Mahar said. “It’s going to be a benefit to our students and a benefit to Herkimer College as well in the long run. I’m hoping it’s really successful.”
Four Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Valley Pathways in Technology Early College High School students participated in the 2026 Herkimer College graduation ceremony because they are earning associate degrees through VP-TECH. Pictured here, from left, the students pose in their caps and gowns outside of Herkimer BOCES: Caleigh Youker, Ross Richard III, Kaden Kleist and RaVonn Burks.