Front Range Community College Builds Global Connections Through Online Learning Program
Front Range Community College is expanding international educational experiences through a virtual partnership model that connects Northern Colorado students with peers overseas without the cost or barriers of traditional study abroad programs.
The college's Collaborative Online International Learning program pairs FRCC courses with counterparts at international institutions to complete shared projects and build cross-cultural relationships through video conferencing and online collaboration. The approach allows community college students—many balancing work, family obligations and limited budgets—to gain global perspectives that enhance their education and career preparation.
One partnership connects FRCC's phlebotomy program with the Laboratory Sciences Program at San Pedro College in the Philippines. Students from both institutions collaborate on educational materials related to medical laboratory science through virtual meetings and messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
"The relationships, skills and perspective you gain are truly worth it," said Camille Albo, an FRCC student who participated in the phlebotomy collaboration. "Because we were talking live, they were able to show us their equipment, the machines they use and the techniques they practice right in the moment. It made the whole experience feel a lot more personable."
Virtual Partnerships Serve Career-Focused Students
The model, pioneered at the State University of New York in the early 2000s, typically spans four to twelve weeks with instructors from partnering countries co-designing projects that meet learning goals for both courses. Students communicate in real time through video calls and digital platforms, completing collaborative assignments without international travel expenses.
FRCC phlebotomy faculty Spring Semidei and Tera Miller said the semester begins with a virtual kickoff where students meet their international teammates through icebreakers before working on projects throughout the term. The partnership concludes with teams presenting their completed work in a final virtual celebration.
"We have students from our first collaboration that are still talking with their teammates in San Pedro," Semidei said. "It's like having a pen pal in the modern age."
The international collaboration provides practical benefits for students entering Northern Colorado's healthcare workforce. Regional hospitals and clinics face persistent shortages of phlebotomists and medical laboratory technicians, with employment projections showing double-digit percentage growth through 2030, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
FRCC's phlebotomy certificate program serves as a primary training pipeline for these positions in Larimer and Weld counties, with strong placement rates at Banner Health, UCHealth and other local healthcare systems.
"The biggest benefit is just the friendships that they build," Miller said. "Also, the collaboration—and learning that we may do it one way, but another country does it another way. It generates a lot of conversation and makes us think outside of the box."
State Support Expands Program Reach
FRCC secured a three-year contract from the Colorado State Board of Education to continue developing virtual exchange partnerships across multiple disciplines. The college now maintains collaborations in biology with Ecuador and Ukraine, geoscience with Mexico, multimedia graphics design with institutions in Mexico and Hong Kong, journalism with Hong Kong, and economics and art programs with various international partners.
The expansion reflects broader state priorities encouraging community colleges to integrate global learning experiences while maintaining affordability and accessibility for working students and those from underrepresented communities.
President Colleen Simpson said the virtual model removes traditional barriers to international education. "COIL provides our students opportunities to collaborate globally, broaden their perspectives and develop cross-cultural skills essential for their futures," Simpson said.
The approach particularly benefits FRCC's student population, which includes over 40 percent qualifying for Pell Grants and approximately 37 percent identifying as first-generation college students, according to institutional data.
Students gain resume-building international experience that employers increasingly value. "It looks great on our students' resumes when they have international learning experiences," Miller said.
Institutional Benefits Beyond Student Learning
The phlebotomy partnership has produced outcomes extending beyond individual student experiences. San Pedro College recently achieved level three accreditation based partly on its COIL collaboration with FRCC and is now adopting FRCC's entire phlebotomy curriculum for implementation in the Philippines.
The success has also informed FRCC's program planning. The college is exploring development of a Medical Technician associate degree program that students could complete after finishing the phlebotomy certificate, creating stackable credentials aligned with regional workforce needs.
FRCC was selected in November as the only Colorado institution to join Complete College America's national accelerator program focused on improving graduation rates through evidence-based strategies.
Albo emphasized how the international partnership shaped her understanding of healthcare delivery. "Their approach to phlebotomy and patient care helped me understand how much culture influences the way health care is taught and practiced," she said.
She encouraged future students to approach the experience with openness. "Go in with an open mind and take advantage of every moment," Albo said.
The Higher Learning Commission, FRCC's regional accrediting body, has continuously accredited the college since its establishment in 1968. All degree and certificate programs are approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education.
For information about FRCC's international learning opportunities and academic programs, visit frontrange.edu.