Academic Catalog 2024-2025 > Policies > Admissions > Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit Program allows eligible high school students to earn high school and college credits for courses taken through an Alabama Community College System (ACCS) institution while still enrolled in high school. Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit is available to students attending public, private, parochial or church/religious schools pursuant to §16-28-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, or who are receiving instruction from a home school/private tutor pursuant to §16-28-5 of the Code of Alabama 1975. Students enroll in college classes concurrently with high school classes. Students successfully completing college courses while in the Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit Program will receive both high school and college credit.

Colleges in the Alabama Community College System are authorized to establish Dual Enrollment for/Dual Credit agreements with dual credit courses with local educational agencies (LEAs) in the boards of education in the colleges’ service area. The College may also establish agreements with private, homeschool/private tutor, parochial, or church/religious secondary entities. Establishment of Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit agreements with LEAs and other secondary educational entities outside of the College’s service area must be through written, mutual consent of the respective ACCS institutions’ presidents. All out-of-service-area agreements must be filed with the Chancellor’s Office and the LEAs or other secondary educational entities. Dual enrollment courses offered by postsecondary institutions shall be of collegiate quality and rigor. Students applying for dual enrollment must take the college placement tests (ACCUPLACER) unless exempt because of ACT or SAT scores. Students may enroll in academic or career technical credit courses for dual credit.

To be eligible for admission, Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit Students must meet the following criteria:

• Students must satisfy the requirements prescribed in Procedure 801.01: Admission: General, with the exception of proof of high school graduation or GED completion.
• Students must be in grade 10, 11, or 12. An exception may be granted by the Chancellor for students documented as gifted and talented in accordance with Alabama Administrative Code §290-8-9.12.
• Students seeking enrollment in Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit coursework must have a minimum cumulative (unweighted) high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Students must have written approval of the appropriate principal or career and technical education program representative (if applicable) and counselor. Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit eligibility for students enrolled in private, homeschool school private tutor, parochial, or church/religious secondary educational entities must be documented in writing by an appropriate school official. Approval from secondary school officials indicates that the student has demonstrated both academic readiness and social maturity.
• The ACCS institution has the right to restrict a student's enrollment on the basis of academic readiness, social maturity, health and safety concerns, course availability, and/or local institutional policy.

Placement and Pre-Requisites

Dually enrolled students registering for college-level English or math courses must be placed into courses using the current ACCA approved placement guidelines. Students who do not register for college-level English or math courses are not required to take any English or math placement test, regardless of their grade levels.

Students must meet all applicable prerequisites prior to enrolling in courses.

Developmental courses (those numbered below 100) are not offered through dual enrollment. This includes developmental co-requisite courses which are required to be taken along with college-level English and math courses.

Continuous Eligibility for Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit

Students who meet the criteria for initial admission to a Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit program as specified above will maintain continuous eligibility so long as they earn a grade of C or better in all attempted college courses.

Students who fail to meet this minimum grade requirement or who withdraw from a course will be suspended from the program for a minimum of one term. The one-term suspension may not be served during the summer. The student may not re-enroll until the suspension has been served. For re-entry, the student must reapply to the program and must meet the minimum grade point average requirements as identified above.

Course Offerings

Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit courses offered by the College shall be of postsecondary/college level. Students may be exposed to and be involved in discussions of mature subject-matter. Course curricula will not be modified. Courses may be offered at approved locations on or off the College’s campus(es). Courses may be cancelled at the discretion of the institution for reasons such as, but not limited to, low enrollment or lack of credentialed faculty. Courses offered by the College shall be drawn from the respective college's existing academic inventory of credit courses. Only courses required in the student's program of study will be eligible for Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit. Developmental courses (those numbered below 100) are not offered through dual enrollment. This includes developmental co-requisite courses which are required to be taken along with college-level English and math courses.

Course Auditing

Dually enrolled students may not audit courses.

Combined Courses

Dually enrolled and non-dually enrolled high school students may be concurrently taught in the same course. It is the responsibility of the college to ensure that the instruction is taught at the collegiate level and is in compliance with the syllabus of the college course and that such compliance is documented and monitored on a regular basis. Prior coordination between the college and the LEAs must be properly conducted to eliminate any issues with this type of course delivery.

Adherence to College Policies and Requirements

Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit programs must operate on the ACCS institution schedule, which may vary greatly from the high school schedule. Students must follow the institution schedule for Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit courses. The institution is not responsible for the supervision of Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit students during non-class times or periods of absence.

Students must adhere to all institutional policies and requirements including, but not limited to, those outlined in course syllabi, the academic calendar, the college catalog, and the Student Code of Conduct. The institution reserves the right to refuse readmission to any student who violates institutional policies.

Provisions for Disability Services and Accommodations

ACCS institutions must comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for ACCS programs and services.

It is the student's responsibility to disclose and provide current documentation in support of his or her request for accommodation from the disability services office of the college. Decisions regarding accommodations provided in postsecondary courses will be made by the College upon submission of appropriate documentation. The College will not provide modifications to change the course content or performance expectations that would substantially alter the essential functions or physical demands of the course, unless required to do so by applicable law. Students with disabilities who meet the prerequisites of ACCS courses will be provided reasonable accommodations that allow equal access. Some accommodations available at the high school may not be provided by the postsecondary institution.

Payment of Tuition, Fees and Additional Associated Costs

Students in Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit courses are responsible for the cost of tuition, fees, textbooks, and materials and supplies as required in the syllabus of each course at the institution, unless covered by alternative funding sources. Dual Enrollment scholarship funds may be provided for required items that are listed in the college course syllabus. Students who fail to pay tuition and fees by the end of the drop/add period are not considered enrolled and may automatically be dropped from course rolls. The appropriate LEAs and/or other secondary educational entities will be notified.

Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit Limitations

Student enrollment in a combined number of high school and college courses per term will not exceed that which is educationally sound as determined by the College and the LEA and/or other secondary educational entity.