04:03:11 Dual Credit

Purpose

To provide guidance on awarding of academic credit for dual credit.

Policy

I. Perkins Dual Credit

Credit by assessment is often a departmental challenge assessment (cognate or performance) that allows high school students to demonstrate prior learning relevant to a particular body of knowledge. The demonstration of proficiency of knowledge of the learning outcomes for a particular college-level course is validated by the college faculty, and upon enrollment of the student into the particular college, the student is awarded “transfer” credit by the college faculty. All academic credit by examination requests must be made to the division dean and approved by the vice president for Academic Affairs. To be eligible for consideration for credit by examination, examination requirements must be completed as designated by the division.

The high school career technical instructors and Walters State Community College instructors review course materials to determine duplicative course outcomes and then develop articulation agreements and policies which can result in opportunities for high school students to receive college credit. These agreements allow 11th and 12th grade high school students to take a college level assessment for free credit or, in some instances, students can earn free credit for nationally recognized certificates.

1. Dual Credit Requirements
   1. High school instructors will analyze the post-secondary competencies/skills needed by students to successfully pass/master one or more post-secondary level courses.
   2. Based on this analysis, instructors may recommend qualified students attempt the Dual Credit exam at WSCC by submitting an electronic application for an examination.
   3. Students must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
   4. Students must be currently enrolled in high school as an 11th or 12th grader.
2. Procedure For Obtaining Credit
   1. The high school student with permission of the high school instructor and counselor will complete an application for dual credit on the WSCC Distance Education web-site
   2. The student must electronically submit the complete application. A printed copy of the electronic application must be given to the designated high school instructor. The high school instructor and school counselor must sign the application verifying the appropriate GPA and competencies/skills needed for testing. A copy of the complete application with all required signatures must be sent electronically to matthew.hunter@ws.edu, Dean of Division of Distance Education.
   3. The student must also submit an application to Walters State Community College. The WSCC application is located at the WSCC Admissions website.
3. Online Testing Procedures
   1. The student’s dual credit electronic application and high school GPA will be verified.
   2. Once the electronic application is approved, the high school counselor will be notified.
   3. For students wishing to test, a User ID and Password will be assigned. This will be the means of access to the online dual credit exam.
4. Dual Credit Exam
   1. A student can attempt the dual credit exam for a specific course one time only.
   2. Test results will be sent to the student, the appropriate college instructor, and the secondary and post-secondary school.
   3. A grade of A, B, C, D, or F will be transcripted upon the request of the student.
5. Passing Grades
   1. Students that pass the dual credit exam will receive college credit at Walters State, upon request.
   2. Grades will be assigned based on the post-secondary dual credit exam score or where special conditions exist for obtaining dual credit, the grades will be assigned based on required national exam scores or by instructor objective assessment. Special conditions and minimum passing scores can be found on the sheet of courses or programs eligible for dual credit. These are located on the Distance Education web page.

The Dual Credit Program is funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

Post-secondary Courses Tested/Articulated Credit

6. Statewide Dual Credit
   Statewide dual credit provides high school courses which are aligned to post-secondary standards. All statewide dual credit courses are approved by the Consortium for Cooperative Innovative Education before they can be offered as a part of the state’s current pilot program.
   
   Statewide dual credit courses are taught and the online challenge exam is taken on the high school campus. All students enrolled in a statewide dual credit course take the online challenge exam, which is used to assess mastery of the post-secondary level learning objectives. Tennessee high school and post-secondary faculty work together to develop the learning objectives and challenge exam for each course, which are tie to current post-secondary learning outcomes.
    
7. Procedure For Obtaining CreditUpon matriculation, it is the student’s responsibility to contact Student Enrollment Services to provide his or her statewide dual credit course and exam information in order for post-secondary credit to be awarded. Student Enrollment Services will then verify a passing score in the Early Post-Secondary Data System and award appropriate credit as determined by the institution. A student will receive a Passing Grade (P) for awarded credit.
    
8. Statewide Dual Credit Courses Tested/Articulated Credit

05/16; 03/23