Wills Point High School Stephen F. Austin State University Dual Credit Wills Point High School partnering with Stephen F. Austin State University

What is Dual Credit? Dual credit is a process by which a high school student enrolls in a college course and receives credit for that course in both the College and the High School. Dual credit courses are ADVANCED academic courses.

Advantages of Dual Credit Enter college with several courses (hours) already completed. Decreases the cost of tuition and fees for students. Increases academic rigor/challenge. Prepares students for college work and makes the transition from high school to college easier. Universities generally look favorably upon students who take a more challenging curriculum in high school.

Eligibility for taking Dual Credit courses Demonstrate maturity, strong attendance, and positive behavior Take and pass the TSI test Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher through high school Submit 3 teacher recommendations Complete all required documentation by deadlines (published by Dual Credit coordinator each semester)

How does a student enroll in the Dual Credit program? Attend parent/student informational meeting at the end of Freshman year Successfully take and pass the TSI Submit SFA application for admission Submit SFA Student Agreement Form Submit Student/Parent Agreement

Tuition/Fees/Books Wills Point ISD provides financial assistance for students wishing to enroll in approved Dual Credit courses. Books for these approved courses will be purchased by the District, and will be checked out to students for a $25.00 deposit. The deposit will be returned to the student when the book is checked back in at the end of the semester.

Note: All Dual Credit courses MUST be approved through WPHS campus administration and the WPISD Dual Credit Coordinator prior to enrollment.

What is “Core Complete”? If you plan to receive a bachelor’s degree from a public university, Texas law requires that you complete a core curriculum of between 42 and 48 credit hours (14-16 courses). Each college/university identifies which of its courses fit into the core curriculum. The purpose of the Dual Credit partnership between WPHS and SFA is to assist students in becoming “core complete,” so they may move directly into their major coursework upon entering the college/university of their choice after high school.

WPHS/SFA Dual Credit Core-Complete Pathway 10th grade: Art course in Fall; Speech course in Spring 11th grade: US History 1, Science 1, English 1 class in Fall US History 2, Psychology, English 2 class in Spring 12th grade: American Government, College Algebra, Literature in Fall Texas Government, Science 2, Economics in Spring TOTAL = 42 College Credit Hours

Academic Requirements for Dual Credit Program If you make a “D” in a DC course, you will be placed on probation AND have to re-take that semester of high school credit since a D is failing in HS. If you make a second “D” in a DC course, you will be removed from the Dual Credit Program If you make an “F” in a DC course, you will be removed from the Dual Credit Program. Students DROPPING a course will be removed from the DC Program. WPISD reserves the right to make exceptions for extenuating circumstances.

Reinstatement in the Dual Credit Program To be reinstated into the DC Program, a student must – through their own initiative – register, pay all expenses, and successfully pass the course for which they previously earned a “D” or “F” or that they dropped. Courses taken of the student’s own initiative (after removal from the DC Program) must be taken during non-school hours (i.e., evening or online).

College Credit Transferability In most cases, the dual credit courses taken through SFA are transferable to other public Texas colleges/universities. The number of courses transferable may differ by college and by degree plan. Texas law mandates that students who take and complete the core courses at one Texas public college/university can transfer them to another. Students will need to check with the college/university they wish to attend to ensure the classes taken at SFA will transfer correctly.

Study Hall & Online Courses WPHS will provide one study hall per Dual Credit course up to a maximum of three Study Hall periods. Taking online courses will be allowed only if the student’s schedule will not accommodate a face-to-face or ZOOM section of the class.

Contact Information Gina Carpenter Dual Credit Coordinator Wills Point High School 903-873-5100, ext. 7118 gina.carpenter@wpisd.com