Policy Number: I-73
Last Reviewed: July 25, 2024
Responsible Dept.: Vice President of Academic & Workforce Solutions; Vice President of Student Affairs
A signed copy of this policy is available in the President’s Office.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to define the types of dual enrollment available to public, private and homeschooled students participating in credit-based courses, as well as the required criteria for participation in dual enrollment.
Policy
73.1 Dual Enrollment Partnerships
Dual enrollment partnerships are governed by annually renewable contractual agreements between the school or district and Virginia Western Community College to allow academically qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses that are applicable to degree, diploma, certificate or career studies certificate programs offered at the college. Students from school divisions with whom Virginia Western has a current dual enrollment contractual agreement may enroll in college classes at Virginia Western for dual credit.
73.1.1 High School Based Dual Enrollment Partnerships
The college and school divisions may develop contractual agreements to offer dual enrollment pathways, academies, and courses at the high school. Such offerings may be taught by approved high school teachers who meet Virginia Community College faculty credential requirements and are qualified by Virginia Western to teach course(s) in the program of study. Courses taken for dual enrollment credit through high school based dual enrollment partnerships will be transcripted on both the student’s college and high school transcripts.
73.1.2 Early College, Dual Enrollment Programs and Academies
The college and school divisions may develop contractual agreements to offer dual enrollment program pathways and academies on the college campus. Such courses are taught by full-time or adjunct community college faculty. Courses taken for dual enrollment credit through on-campus academies will be transcripted on both the student’s college and high school transcript.
73.2 Independent Dual Enrollment
Independent dual enrollment allows individual high school students to enroll in courses at Virginia Western. A qualified high school junior or senior may be admitted to any college-level credit-bearing course, with permission of the high school principal or designee and the parent. Participation in independent dual enrollment does not require contractual agreement between the college and the school division. However, the high school student must meet dual enrollment admissions standards found in 73.3 Courses taken as independent dual enrollment shall be transcripted on the student’s college transcript and may be transcripted on the student’s high school transcript. Guidance regarding the transcription of college coursework taken through independent dual enrollment can be obtained from the student’s school system, high school or homeschool administrator.
73.3 Criteria for Participation in Dual Enrollment
Private, public and homeschool juniors and seniors who meet each of the following criteria may register in college-level credit-bearing courses:
1. The student submits an application for admission. This application is not complete until a parent signature is provided.
2. The student is a rising public or private high school junior or senior, or homeschool student studying at the high school junior or senior level.
- The high school student has permission of the principal or designee, and the parent.
- The homeschool student has permission of the parent.
3. The student demonstrates readiness for each college-level credit-bearing course in which they want to enroll. High school and homeschool students are not eligible to enroll in developmental or direct placement co-requisite English and math courses. In demonstrating readiness, a student must meet one of the criteria established for each type of course in which they want to be registered:
| Course Type | High School Transcript* | OR | SAT | OR | PSAT | OR | ACT | OR | VPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer** Courses (except Math) | Current cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher | or | ERW score of 480 or higher | or | ERW score of 390 or higher | or | 18 or higher on both English and Writing subject area tests | or | Placement into ENG 111 |
| Career and Technical*** Courses (except Math) | Current cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher | or | ERW score of 480 or higher | or | ERW score of 390 or higher | or | 18 or higher on both English and Writing subject area tests | or | Placement into EDE 10 (formerly ENF 1) or higher |
| MTH 101-133 | Current cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 2.0 (C) grade or higher in a high school math course | or | ERW score of 480 or higher and Math score of 530 or higher | or | ERW score of 390 or higher and Math score of 500 or higher | or | 22 or higher on Math subject area test | or | Placement into MTH 111 or higher (formerly satisfaction of MTE 1-3) |
| MTH 154,155 | Current cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 2.0 (C) grade or higher in a high school math course | or | ERW score of 480 or higher and Math score of 530 or higher | or | ERW score of 390 or higher and Math score of 500 or higher | or | 22 or higher on Math subject area test | or | Placement into MTH 154 or higher (formerly satisfaction of MTE 1-5) |
| MTH 161, 167**** | Current cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 2.0 (C) grade or higher in Algebra II or in a higher level math course | or | ERW score of 480 or higher and Math score of 530 or higher | or | N/A | or | 22 or higher on Math subject area test | or | Placement into MTH 161 or higher (formerly satisfaction of MTE 1-9) |
*Cumulative GPA may be weighted or unweighted and may be self-reported.
** A transfer course is any course that a college offers and will transcript in fulfillment of the requirements for a Degree or Certificate that is designed for transfer (e.g., AA, AS, AA&S, AFA, Uniform Certificate of General Studies).
***A career and technical course is any course that the college offers and will transcript in fulfillment of the requirements for degrees and certificates that are not designed for transfer (e.g., AAS, Certificate, Career Studies Certificates).
****Individual colleges may establish criteria for direct placement into Calculus or other higher level math courses.
4. In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria above, a dual enrollment student must meet all course pre/corequisites as listed in the VCCS Master Course File and established by the college at which the student is enrolled in the course.
73.4 Evaluation of High School Freshman and Sophomores for Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment is restricted to rising high school juniors and seniors and homeschool students studying at the high school junior or senior levels. Admitting high school or homeschool students below the junior or senior level is considered exceptional. Such students must meet the above eligibility criteria and any other criteria as may be established by the college for participation of students below the junior or senior level in dual enrollment
The college-ready status of each prospective student below the junior or senior high school level shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Formal approval by the college president, or designee, and the Vice President of Student Affairs or the Coordinator of Dual Enrollment requested through submission of the Request for Special Circumstance Enrollment Approval Form is required for applicants below the junior or senior level to participate in dual enrollment. Other conditions, as deemed appropriate by the president, the vice president, or the coordinator may also apply. Placement testing may be required of freshman applicants who do not have a cumulative high school GPA or other applicable standardized test score (SAT, PSAT, or ACT) that can be used to determine eligibility for dual enrollment.
Virginia Western Community College course content will not be altered in any way to be age appropriate for younger students.
