Any high school student who is a junior or senior and resides in the college's service area is eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program offered by his/her local high school. Students must:
In some instances, students who are not yet juniors or seniors may register for dual enrollment classes with special permission from their high school principal or guidance counselor. In addition, students will be required to complete the College's placement tests, known as the COMPASS tests, before they will be accepted into dual-enrolled classes.
Virginia Western does not charge individual students for their dual-enrolled classes at their high school; students pay their fees for each dual enrolled class directly to the high school they are attending. These fees are determined by each local school system and not by Virginia Western. In most cases, the fees vary from one school system to another.
Most of the time, a student may expect to pay approximately 25 to 30 percent of the actual cost of the same class taught on the VWCC campus. Needless to say, this is a major financial benefit for the student and to his/her parents.
Virginia Western does not refund fees to students taking dual enrolled classes if they decide to drop a class. Each school system has its own refund policy for students who drop dual enrolled classes. Check with the school’s guidance personnel concerning refunds.
Students who are still attending high school are not eligible for any financial aid programs offered through the college.
Some school systems may offer some form of financial assistance to students who wish to take dual enrollment courses. Check with your high school guidance counselor to determine if financial assistance is available through your school system for dual enrolled classes.
All high school teachers who are dual enrollment instructors have been fully credentialed by Virginia Western Community College in compliance with the regulations and criteria established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Each instructor has a master's degree and at least eighteen graduate semester hours in his/her teaching discipline.
In addition, once a high school teacher is credentialed as a dual enrollment instructor, he or she also becomes an adjunct faculty member for Virginia Western Community College. This credentialing process insures that all dual enrollment instructors meet the necessary criteria for not only teaching dual enrolled college-level courses at their home school but, also, should the occasion arise, be eligible to teach on-campus classes for the college. Classes taught by these instructors typically transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Career and technical education teachers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree and/or three to five years of experience in their teaching field.
Virginia Western Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Our dual enrollment instructors have met the criteria for their credentialing as college-level instructors in their particular field of teaching.
Unlike advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs, dual enrollment classes carry college credit and are not dependent on a particular score on a standardized testing instrument before a college will grant credit for the various courses taken in these programs. Students who elect college-level courses should experience little difficulty in transferring these credits to four-year colleges and universities after they graduate from high school.
Students who are still attending a local high school and who wish to take a college class on the VWCC campus need to have permission from their parents and their school principal or counselor. The principal or school counselor needs to complete the Virginia Western Community College High School/Home-School Enrollment Procedures Form.
High school juniors and seniors who wish to take college classes on campus are considered dual-enrolled students. However, any classes they take on campus will carry the full cost of the class at the current rate of tuition, and the student is responsible for the cost of the class(es) and not the local school system.
Usually, classes taken on the VWCC campus can be transferred back to the high school in order to complete certain graduation requirements. In any event, students must present the Virginia Western Community College High School/Home-School Enrollment Procedures Form to the Admissions Office personnel before they will be allowed to register for on-campus classes. Registration for classes must be completed in the Admissions Office.
Dual enrollment is restricted to high school juniors and seniors and home-schooled students studying the high school junior or senior levels. All students admitted under this section must demonstrate a readiness for college, meet the applicable college placement requirements, and address all other college admission criteria. Home-schooled students must provide a copy of a home-school agreement approved by the school district or a letter from the local school board or a copy of the letter filed by the parent/legal guardian declaring home-school for religious exemption. Documentation of parental permission is required for all dual enrollment students.
Exceptions for admission may be considered for freshman and sophomore level students who are able to demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework. Because the enrollment of freshman and sophomore students is considered exceptional, each freshman and sophomore student will be treated on a case-by-case basis and will require formal approval of the college president or his designee. Enrollment of freshman and sophomore level students will also require the approval of the appropriate division dean. Other conditions, as deemed appropriate by the president or his designee, and/or school dean, may apply.
Home-schooled students who are under 18 years of age, and who wish to take a college class or classes on the VWCC campus, will need to call the Admissions Office at 540-857-7131 and indicate that they are home schooled and request information concerning admission and registration for classes.
Home-schooled students must successfully complete the COMPASS placement testing as part of their admission to the college. Any college class(es) they take on campus will carry the full cost of the class(es) at the current rate of tuition, and the student is responsible for the cost of the class(es).
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