River Parishes Community College (RPCC) and Iberville Parish Public Schools are expanding educational opportunities for local high school students through the launch of the RPCC ECO Tech Academy at the College's Westside Campus in Plaquemine.
Beginning this fall, the Westside Campus will transition to serve as a dedicated dual enrollment location for Iberville Parish Schools, providing students with direct access to college-level technical education while they are still in high school. The inaugural cohort includes 35 students, who will begin coursework aligned with careers in Louisiana's growing industrial sector.
“We are incredibly proud to launch this transformative Early College Option in partnership with River Parishes Community College, offering our students a direct pathway to both a high school diploma and a Certificate of Technical Studies,” said Louis M. Voiron, Jr., Ed.D., Iberville Parish Schools Superintendent. “By providing specialized programming in high-demand fields like P-Tech and Instrumentation, we are empowering our students to graduate career-ready, equipped with the technical skills and credentials needed to thrive in our regional workforce and achieve long-term success.”
Students enrolled at the Westside ECO Tech Academy will begin pathways in Process Technology and Instrumentation & Electrical Technology, two of RPCC's premier workforce programs that prepare graduates for careers in manufacturing, petrochemical production, refining, energy, and other industrial sectors. Through dual enrollment, students will gain valuable college experience, earn transferable college credit, and build technical skills that position them for continued education and future employment.
"The launch of the ECO Tech Academy at our Westside Campus represents another important step in ensuring students across our region have access to meaningful educational and workforce opportunities," said Nicole Joseph, RPCC Associate Vice Chancellor of Dual Enrollment and Educational Services. "By bringing these programs directly to Iberville Parish students, we're helping them explore rewarding careers, earn college credit sooner, and build confidence in their future—all while strengthening the workforce pipeline our regional employers depend on."
The expansion builds on the continued success of RPCC's ECO Tech Academy model. Since its launch, the program has provided students in Ascension Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish with opportunities to earn college credit while exploring high-demand career pathways through hands-on technical education. The addition of Iberville Parish marks another milestone in RPCC's commitment to expanding access to workforce education throughout the River Parishes region.
At RPCC’s Gonzales Campus, the ECO program currently serves approximately 270 students, with between 50 and 60 students each year graduating high school having also earned an associate degree in Biological Sciences or Humanities. The program has expanded its offerings beginning in Fall 2026 to include a Process Technology Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) pathway, providing students an opportunity to begin preparing for careers in the region’s industrial sector while still in high school. That pathway currently serves 25 students.
RPCC has also expanded the ECO model at its Reserve Campus through the ECO Tech Academy, where 22 students in 10th and 11th grades are currently working toward an Associate of Applied Science in Process Technology.
While the campus transitions to its expanded role supporting dual enrollment, RPCC remains committed to serving the broader Iberville Parish community. Adult Education classes will continue on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with additional programming planned as the College expands educational opportunities for adult learners throughout the parish. Future offerings will support individuals seeking to earn a high school equivalency diploma, improve workplace skills, prepare for college, and pursue career advancement.
The expansion of the ECO Tech Academy reflects RPCC's ongoing mission to increase access to affordable, high-quality education while aligning academic programs with the workforce needs of the Capital Region. By creating additional pathways for students to begin college early and prepare for high-demand careers, RPCC continues to invest in the future of both its students and the communities it serves.
For more information about RPCC, visit www.rpcc.edu.