Since the late 1990s, high school students in the Trinity Valley Community College service area have been able to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school. As the state legislature has altered the rules though the years, now students of all grade levels in high school are eligible to take dual credit courses, as long as they meet the college’s enrollment requirements. The number of high school students receiving associate’s degrees and certificates has steadily increased over time, with the result that TVCC Dual Credit programs awarded 161 degrees and certificates to high school students during fall and spring graduation ceremonies held on December 14 and May 11.
Those included 41 associate degrees and 2 workforce certificates to Athens High School/Pinnacle ECHS students, 14 core completion certificates to Brownsboro students, associate degrees for one student each from Cross Roads, Eustace, Kaufman, Malakoff and a Home School, three workforce certificates to Mabank students, 12 associate degrees and 33 core completion certificates to Palestine students, two associate degrees to Scurry-Rosser students and 34 associate degrees and 15 workforce certificates to Terrell students.
Dual credit is defined as a system under which an eligible high school student enrolls in college course(s) and receives credit for the course(s) from both the college and the high school. Dual Credit courses include both academic core courses as well as technical/workforce courses. Three levels of achievement are recognized: Core Complete, which is successful completion of 42 semester credit hours that will transfer as a core block to any state college or university; Associate of Arts Degree is a degree designed for the student planning to transfer to a senior college or university; and Certificate of Completion, which is awarded for successful completion of a specialized curriculum in a workforce education program of less than two years in length.
Dual credit courses can be offered at the high school campus during regular high school hours, via embedded instruction, internet, ITV or on any of the TVCC campuses. High school students may enroll in academic transfer and/or technical/workforce education dual credit courses once they have met the TVCC admission requirements. Tuition is waived on two academic-transfer courses per semester, with students responsible for fees and books.
Beginning for the fall 2018 semester, technical/workforce courses offered on the TVCC service area high school campus for dual credit, taught by approved high school instructors, will be offered for FREE (no tuition, no fees); students will be responsible for books and supplies. Technical/workforce programs include: basic automotive technology, business technology, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, drafting, early childhood education, emergency medical services, fire science technology, heating, ventilation & air conditioning, mechanical engineering technology, medical nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, ranch management, and welding.
For more information on eligibility and requirements, visit the dual credit website at www.tvcc.edu/dual-credit or contact the Director of Dual Credit, Kelley Townsend, at 903-675-6338.