Navigating Dual Enrollment and AP Courses.

1. Dual Enrollment Preparing to Register for the Fall 2014 Semester

2. AP Courses VS. Dual Enrollment  AP Courses are college level academic courses and qualifying exam scores may result in college credit nationwide.  Dual Enrollment courses are elective courses that may or may not transfer to colleges or universities.

3. What is Dual Enrollment?  Dual Enrollment allows high school students to take college classes.  Students attend high school, but go to the college for 1 or more college classes in place of electives.

4. Why Participate in Dual Enrollment?  Classes can count toward high school graduation AND as college credit.  Tuition and fees are paid by the school district. Students buy textbooks and supplies.  Students begin to experience how college is different from high school.

5. How is College Different from High School?  College classes require maturity and self- motivation.  Many students underestimate the challenges of college classes.  More than one-fourth of new college students drop out after one semester.

6. Attendance in College Classes is Essential  Missing class can cause students to fall behind quickly, then fail.  Attendance is often part of the course grade . Your grade may be reduced due to absences.  Students who do not attend the first two weeks will marked NA and dropped from the class which will result as an E on their high school transcript.

7. Dual Enrollment and College Students are Treated the Same  Dual Enrollment students are treated exactly as regular students – No Special Treatment!  Except in one way – Dual Enrollment students cannot drop a class.  Dropping or failing a college class may prevent you from graduating high school.

8. College Courses Require More Time Outside the Classroom  College classes meet for 3 or 4 hours each week.  Plan for two hours of time outside class for each one hour in class.  Expect to spend 12 hours per week on reading and assignments for two college classes.

9. Maintain Communication with Your Professors  Successful college students maintain communication with professors. – Attend office hours – Use email or telephone – Always seek out help when you need it!

10. Who Should Participate in Dual Enrollment?  Students who are on track (no failures) for graduation.  Students who have taken one of the following assessments: PSAT, PLAN, EXPLORE, ACT, or MME.  Students who have qualifying scores (Table 1) for dual enrollment.  Students who have fulfilled grade level graduation requirements.

11. Statement of Understanding  Students must provide transportation and pay for textbooks/supplies.  Students must follow both HFCC and DHS calendars which are often not the same.  Students must not schedule college classes that interfere with high school classes (see #8). Classes must be scheduled after 2:30 pm or Saturday.

12. Statement of Understanding  Students cannot make any changes to college classes including drops without written consent (see #9 and #10)  If students receive an instructor initiated drop or Non Attend it will result in an E on their transcript.

13. What courses can I take?  Courses not offered by Dearborn High.  Courses on the approved list. Must meet required prerequisite for some courses.  Students must meet the minimum qualifying score for content area courses.

14. Should you take ON-LINE courses?  On-line courses require more self-motivation than on-campus courses.  Do not take on-line courses in your first semester of dual enrollment.  Do not take more than one on-line course in a semester.  Students who do not log into the course and participate during the first two weeks will be marked NA and given an E on their high school transcript.

15. Dual Enrollment Procedure  Sign and return Dual Enrollment Statement of Understanding (Once returned, student will receive Dual Enrollment Form).  Choose college courses from the approved list.  Go to HFCC website, www.hfcc.edu and search for available sections.  Fill out and sign Dual Enrollment Form.  Submit to your counselor by April 8 th .