D U A L E N R O L L M E N T

HANDBOOK

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Mission | Purpose | Goal

Mission The mission of Alabama State University’s Dual Enrollment Program is to enhance academic readiness, promote life-long learning and develop scholarship for Alabama high school students by providing them with opportunities to take college courses during their junior and senior years of high school.

Purpose Alabama State University’s Dual Enrollment Program allows eligible Alabama high school students to enroll in entry level college courses to earn college credits while completing high school graduation requirements. Goal The goals of Alabama State University’s Dual Enrollment Program are to (1) provide Alabama high school students with an opportunity to earn college credit while completing high school graduation requirements, (2) build academic confidence through interaction with college professors and (3) provide a college-like experience for students to promote interest in attending college.

Dual Enrollment Committee

Dr. Courtney Griffin* Dr. Jaqueline Trimble* Mrs. Karen Prestage Mrs. Marie McNear Dr. Audrey Napier Dr. Derryn Moten Mrs. Arnetta Arnell Ms. Khadine Sherman Mrs. Reletta McGhee Dr. Carl Pettis Mrs. Franisia Spearman *Co-Chairperson

For more information related to the Alabama State University’s Dual Enrollment Program:

Contact Mrs. Franisia Spearman, at (334) 229 – 4633 or fspearman@alasu.edu

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Dual Enrollment at Alabama State University

What is it? Dual Enrollment is a program that allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses at Alabama State University (ASU) while still in high school. Students meeting ASUs admissions criteria may enroll in three to six credit hours per semester and up to twenty-four credit hours over a two year or four semester period. Alabama State University’s dual enrollment courses may count towards satisfying high school courses and are transferrable to other post-secondary institution.

Who may participate? • High school juniors and seniors enrolled in school systems that have an active

dual enrollment agreement with Alabama State University are eligible to participate in any of ASU’s dual enrollment courses.

• Students must meet the minimum dual enrollment admissions criteria and must complete an application packet that requires an affidavit of support from a core instructor, a letter of recommendation from the principal or guidance counselor, and parental permission. All students must attend a Dual Enrollment Orientation prior to the first day of class.

• Juniors who apply to participate in the dual enrollment program at Alabama State University must meet the following criteria:

1. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. 2. The student must either have earned a 21 on the ACT, a 1060 on the

SAT, or agree to take one of the standardized tests by the end of the semester in which they are enrolling.

3. The student must earn the required test score to remain in the program for the subsequent semester.

• Seniors who apply to participate in the Dual Enrollment Program at Alabama State University- must have a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 and have earned a 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT.

When may students apply?

High school students whose school has an active dual enrollment agreement with Alabama State University may apply to the program beginning the spring of their sophomore year for first time enrollment as a junior. A full application packet must be received by the application deadline and include all supporting documentation.

Summer Fall Enrollment Deadline – April 30th Spring Enrollment Deadline October 1st

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Application Materials: A completed application (front and back) A signed endorsement clause to be completed by a core teacher An official high school transcript An official test score report (ACT and/or SAT)/ may be listed on transcript A Counselor and/or Principal Recommendation

Which courses may students enroll in?

Students may enroll in three to six credit hours per semester (one or two courses), up to twenty-four credit hours over a two year or four semester period. To enroll in six credit hours (two courses) per semester, a student must have a 3.25 gpa. All other students may enroll in only three credit hours (one course) per semester.

Course schedules will be made available to guidance counselors during the registration/application period. These courses are subject to change each semester. Most of the courses available will be general distribution or college core courses (i.e. English Composition, Public Speaking, Psychology, Introductory College Math, Biology, History, etc.); however, students will have opportunities to take more specialized courses such as Physics, Chemistry, or Business as departments are able to offer them.

How much is each course? Each dual enrollment course is $300. This fee must be paid within 30 days of the first day of classes. Payment should be made via Hornets Web using your CWID# (campus wide identification number). The dual enrollment fees are not eligible for tuition waivers for Alabama State University employees.

What is required to remain in good standing in the program?

In order for a student to remain enrolled in the Alabama State University Dual Enrollment Program, he/she must:

• maintain a 2.0 gpa for all attempted Alabama State University courses; • remain in good financial and judicial standing with Alabama State University; • have taken the required ACT/SAT exam if not previously taken; and

• submit a signed and completed Intent To Return Form by the deadline

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Benefits of Dual Enrollment at Alabama State University What are the benefits of participating in dual enrollment?

• Participating in dual enrollment courses can provide Alabama high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school. Students will gain a head start in earning college credits prior to high school graduation.

• Research studies report that many students who attain college credits while still enrolled in high school, are more likely to pursue higher education upon high school graduation, than those who do not participate in a dual enrollment program

• Students may accumulate credits prior to entering college and possibly shorten the time to college graduation.

• Students will have access to transferable general education courses required at most colleges.

• Students have a low-cost opportunity to explore different fields before declaring a major.

• Students gain first-hand experience with college life and a better understanding of what is required for success in college.

What do researchers say about Dual Enrollment? “Shortening the amount of time students spend working toward a postsecondary credential can reduce their total college costs, which is highly desirable to students, their parents, and policymakers. Equally important is finding convenient and effective ways to ease students’ transition to college coursework.”

- Using Dual Enrollment to improve the educational outcomes of high school students,

ACT Policy Brief, (12/2015)

“The increasing emphasis on engaging a broader student population in accelerated

learning is based on the premise that students’ educational aspirations will be enhanced through measures to increase the rigor of the high school curriculum,

reduce the costs of college, and extend a wider range of academic courses to rural or economically disadvantaged school districts. Promoting dual enrollment is

considered an effective approach to attaining multiple student achievement goals.” -

Dual Enrollment: A Strategy for Educational Advancement of all Students, Blackboard Analytics, (06/2010)

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“Indeed, studies show that dual enrollees are more likely to graduate from high

school and earn higher grades in college than non-dual enrollees, even after controlling for preexisting student characteristics.”

The Impact of Dual Enrollment on College Degree Attainment: Do Low-SES

Students Benefit?, Brian An, University of Iowa, (03/2013)

What are the delivery options of dual enrollment? Students enrolled in Alabama State University’s Dual Enrollment classes may enroll as a 1. on site student, where students take classes on campus, 2. an online student wherein the professor delivers instruction via Blackboard, or 3. as a high school site, where an ASU instructor reports to the high school to teach the course (requires 10+ students to enroll in the same course). The delivery method is determined by the signed agreement between the high school and Alabama State University and is based on course demand.

Current School Systems Participating

Montgomery County Public Schools Macon County Public Schools

Fairfield City Schools Midfield City Schools

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Roles of Dual Enrollment

Student Applicant

The student is responsible for researching the Dual Enrollment Program at Alabama State University and seeking an application packet from his/her counselor. The student must meet all dual enrollment qualifications and submit the completed application, with all supporting documents, by the stated deadline. Additionally, the student is charged with attaining all required signatures and securing the charges for the course as outlined in the agreement.

Parent/Guardian

The parent/guardian is responsible for approving the student to participate in the Dual Enrollment Program at Alabama State University. Once the student communicates to the parent/guardian the cost associated with the dual enrollment course, the parent/guardian and student must ensure that the $300 per course is submitted within 30 days of the first day of courses. The parent must also ensure that the student signs and returns the FERPA+ form to permit grades to be shared. Employees of Alabama State University who have students enrolled in the ASU Dual Enrollment Program are not allowed to use their tuition discount benefit to cover dual enrollment fees.

Guidance Counselor/School Dual Enrollment Liaison

The guidance/counselor is responsible for collecting all completed applications and submitting them to the Dual Enrollment Liaison at Alabama State University. The guidance/counselor may also be asked to submit a letter of recommendation on behalf of the student that must be included in the application packet. The guidance counselor also serves as the liaison between the University and the high school.

Principal

The principal at each participating school is responsible for maintaining the dual enrollment agreement between the school and Alabama State University. The principal shall also be responsible for providing signatures in the absence of the guidance counselor.

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ASU Admissions Office

The ASU Admissions Officer is responsible for processing the completed applications and providing communication with the student within 10 days of the deadline date. The admissions office will provide both the high school counselor and the University Registrar with the complete listing of accepted dual enrollment students for the given semester.

ASU Dual Enrollment Advisor

The role of the Dual Enrollment Advisor is to advise and register students for the correct classes selected by the student. This will be done during orientation or the school enrollment meeting. The Dual Enrollment Advisor will ensure that each student is properly set up in Blackboard each semester.

Student (Dual Enrolled)

The dual enrolled student will abide by the rules, regulations, and policies as outlined in the Alabama State University’s Student Handbook, The Pilot. The student will be governed by the General Undergraduate Catalog for Alabama State University. Students will be responsible for their own text book(s) and assignments per class.

ASU Instructor

The ASU instructor will be responsible for delivering the course in a manner that is fair and consistent with the university catalog.

Registrar

The ASU Registrar will be responsible for posting and generating grade reports for each student at the end of each course. Grades will be provided to the students school registrar and a complimentary unofficial transcript will be sent home to the student.

+ The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA, governs the release of student education records maintained by an institution as well as access to these records. When a student begins attending a post-secondary institution such as Alabama State University, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student, regardless of the age of the student. It is the dual enrolled students’ responsibility to contact Alabama State University about their Alabama State University education. However, if the parents claimed the student as a dependent for tax purposes in the last tax year, they may have access to educational records. Students will need to give their parents’ permission to view their academic records, pay the bill online, and request transcripts.

NOTES

DUAL ENROLLMENT