What is Concurrent Enrollment?
VSU’s Concurrent Enrollment Program allows qualified high students to take VSU courses at their high schools, to earn college credit and high school credit simultaneously. Concurrent enrollment is often referred to as dual credit or dual enrollment. However, concurrent enrollment differs from other precollege credit programs because high school teachers are certified to teach VSU college courses at their respective high schools during the normal school day.
What are the criteria for high school teachers to become certified to teach VSU college courses?
Teachers must have an earned master’s degree and 18 graduate hours in the course disciplines in which they will teach.
What support does VSU provide for high school teachers?
VSU provides campus faculty liaisons to work alongside high school teachers. Liaisons provide syllabi, examinations and other resources for each course taught at the high school sites. Additionally, high school teachers engage in departmental meetings on campus during the school year. They also attend a professional development workshop on campus each August in preparation for the upcoming academic year.
What does the concurrent enrollment program cost?
Currently, there is no cost to students, families or school districts. However, school districts are responsible for the purchase of textbooks and other resources for each student enrolled in a concurrent enrollment course.
Will course credits transfer to other colleges, if a student does not attend VSU?
Like other college courses, VSU courses may transfer to other universities depending on the institution and program. If students enroll at VSU, they begin as first-year students with the GPA earned for VSU courses taken in high school.
What courses does VSU currently offer through concurrent enrollment?
The following courses are currently offered at VSU’s partnering high schools for the 2012-13 academic year:
- MATH 120- College Algebra
- MATH 121- Trigonometry
- MATH 150- Precalculus
- MATH 260- Calculus I
- MATH 261-Calculus II
- STAT 210-Elementary Statistics I
- STAT 211-Elementary Statistics II
- ENG 110-Composition I
- ENG 111-Composition II
- SPAN 110-Elementary Spanish I
- SPAN 111-Elementary Spanish II
- BIO 120-Principles of Biology I with Lab
- BIO 121-Principles of Biology II with Lab
- EDUC 201-Introduction to Teaching I
- EDUC 202-Introduction to Teaching II
- GEPO 150-United States Government
- INTC 161-Engineering Graphics I
- INTC 201-Technology, Society and Development
At what grade level can high school students take VSU’s concurrent enrollment courses?
Students must be juniors or seniors, with the following exception: sophomore students are permitted to enroll in Math 120 only. Any student wishing to enroll in a math course, including sophomores enrolling in Math 120, must have completed high school Algebra II with a “B” or better, 50 or better on the PSAT, or 500 or better on the SAT. They must also have a recommendation from their high school mathematics teachers. Placement test scores are not required.
Who are VSU’s current, partnering high school districts?
VSU currently has agreements for the 2012-13 academic year with the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Henry, Prince George, Surry and Sussex, and the cities of Franklin, Martinsville, Richmond and Petersburg.
How can additional information be obtained about VSU’s Concurrent Enrollment Program?
For additional information about VSU’s Concurrent Enrollment Program, call 804-524-8989, Ext. 1112, or email Mr. Tonnie Villines, tvillines@vsu.edu, or Dr. Muriel A. Hawkins, mahawkins@vsu.edu.
