by Dr. Maxine Singleton

Paul D. Camp Community College offers a dual enrollment program, which allows eligible high school students to earn college credits.

It’s a way to save money while your child is in high school.

Dual enrollment is a program that allows high school students attending any public or private high school, or home school to simultaneously enroll in a college course. The credits that students earn are acceptable toward a college associate or baccalaureate degree, or even technical certificate.

The benefits are extensive. Beyond enriching the course opportunities for outstanding high school students, this program also shortens the time to attain a college degree.

Also, grades earned through dual enrollment will become part of the students’ permanent high school and college transcripts.

Finally, it provides students with college credit that may be transferable to a college or university.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible. Students participating in dual enrollment must earn a grade of “C” or higher in their college-level courses to continue participation.

Additionally, students must have:

• A minimum 3.0 high school grade-point average

• Passed the appropriate sections of the College’s Basic Skills Assessment Test

• The permission of a parent/guardian, high school principal and counselor

• An understanding that the amount of work necessary to succeed in dual enrollment courses will be greater than in high school courses

Courses may be taken before school, after school and during the summer. Courses may be offered at the high school, on the college campus, other locations, or online.

Students provided their own transportation to the college campus.

There’s a lot more to the dual enrollment program. To speak with an admissions counselor, or for more information, contact Paul D. Camp Community College at 569-6700 or visit www.pdc.edu.

DR. MAXINE SINGLETON  is vice president of instruction and student development at Paul D. Camp Community College. Her email is msingleton@pdc.edu