Description of Dual Enrollment:

West Central Technical College offers high school juniors and seniors (must be at least 16 years of age) the opportunity to participate in the Dual Enrollment program.  Dual enrollment programs allow a participant to be both a high school student working toward graduation, and a college student working toward college course accumulation.  All dual enrollment classes are taught by college-level instructors with substantial credentials and occupational experience in their area of expertise.   As a dual enrollment student you can accomplish the following:

• Earn a college technical certificate in an occupation of your choice. 

OR

• Work on college classes that will give you a head start primarily on technical college core curriculum.

Imagine starting technical college (following high school graduation) with some of your core classes completed.  This will cut down the time necessary to complete your technical college education.  (A limited number of core classes from WCTC will even transfer to four-year colleges and universities.  To be certain which classes will transfer you will need to call the four year college or university of your preference.)

Or, you can earn a college technical certificate from a menu of popular occupations.  This means that upon graduation from college you will be qualified for a job that is in demand in today’s workplace.  Options vary in each county and may include Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Law Enforcement, Welding, Patient Care Technician, and many others.   For a complete listing of occupational programs available in your area contact your high school counselor or the West Central Tech campus in your county by clicking here.

You can do all of this at the West Central Technical College location in your county while maintaining your relationships with friends at your high school. When you participate in dual enrollment programs, you will attend part of the day at your high school and part at your West Central Tech campus.  All dually enrolled students remain eligible for extracurricular activities at their high schools and they are also eligible for student activities on the West Central campus.

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Why Enroll?

• Students who have a desire to pursue a career that requires technical training can ‘jump-start’ a technical college education while still in high school.
• Dual enrollment develops academic and occupational competencies while accelerating completion of a technical certificate or diploma.
• Students earn credit at both the high school and technical college levels while in high school.
• Students acquire valuable experience while preparing for gainful employment in business and industry.
• Students earning a technical college certificate have the necessary skills to get a good job following high school graduation.

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Who is Eligible?

All dual Enrollment programs of study are operated in a partnership between WCTC and service area secondary school systems.  Students must first meet the requirements of their local school system to establish eligibility for participation in any dual Enrollment program with West Central Technical College.
To participate, the high school student should:

• Be at least a high school junior and 16 years of age.
• Be on track for graduation.
• Meet with his/her high school counselor to determine eligibility for a Dual Enrollment program of study.
• Meet the minimum score requirements for his/her program of choice on any of the following:
• ASSET
• Compass
• SAT (Verbal/Critical Reading: 430, and Mathematics: 400)
• ACT (English: 18, Math: 16)
• Complete admissions Dual Credit Agreement/signature page, and WCTC application, and return it to West Central Technical College after your counselor has signed appropriately (NOTE: Dual Enrollment students DO NOT pay the $25 application fee).
• Complete HOPE funding application at www.GAcollege411.org.

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How do I pay for these classes?

Most students in Georgia’s high schools will qualify for the HOPE grant which will pay 100% of your tuition, and up to $100 per quarter for books and supplies.  All participating students should understand that all hours taken under Dual Enrollment and paid by HOPE will NOT count toward the TOTAL HOPE scholarship or grant cap hours that a student can use throughout his undergraduate studies.  Students are encouraged to apply for the HOPE Grant and must meet all eligibility requirements, which are:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and a Georgia resident for the past 12 months;
• Be registered with the Selective Service (if required);
• Be enrolled in West Central Tech seeking a certificate or diploma of study;
• Not be in default or owe a refund on any Title IV aid program from any source;
• Meet standards established by the College for maintaining satisfactory academic progress; and
• Establish eligibility under the Title IV Drug Conviction policy of the Higher Education Amendment Act of 1998.

Dually enrolled students are not eligible for addition financial aid while still in high school.

Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their college courses, and complete at least 67% of their courses during each quarter in order to keep the HOPE grant.
For more information about the HOPE grant please go to the Georgia Student Finance Commission website at www.gsfc.org., or visit the financial aid office at any of WCTC’s four campuses.

More helpful websites are:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/
http://www.nasfaa.org/redisign/parentsstudents.html
http://knowhow2go.org/
http://going2college.org/StateResources/
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/

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Attendance and Academics
Dually enrolled students must adhere to both the high school and College attendance policies.  Any class work missed due to student absences may be made up at the discretion of the instructor.  Failure to comply with the WCTC attendance policy can affect grades and continuation in the program.
 
Students will receive two grades from WCTC; a letter grade for academic achievement and a work ethics grade.  The student will also receive a numerical grade from his/her high school and that will count toward high school graduation.  A grade of “C” or better must be maintained in order to receive credit for dual enrollment classes. Failed dual enrollment courses may impact high school graduation and GPA, and could prohibit students from continuing in the dual enrollment program.  A full description of West Central Tech’s attendance and academic policies can be found here.

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For More Information Contact:
Your high school counselor or CTAE/Vocational Director

An admissions counselor at the campus in your county (click here for contact information)

OR

Janet Baskin, High School Coordinator
West Central Technical College
176 Murphy Campus Blvd.
Waco, Georgia  30182
Phone:  770.537.5727
Fax: 770.537.7995
Email: jbaskin@westcentraltech.edu

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