1. Student and Parent Interest Meeting Whitney High School
Hill College Dual Credit is a great opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school.
DUAL CREDIT
Student and Parent Interest Meeting Whitney High School

2. Topics What is Dual Credit? Why Dual Credit? FERPA & Academic Freedom
Types of Dual Credit
Course Choices
Admissions & Registration Requirements
TSI Requirements & Testing
Calendar and Deadlines
Q & A

3. What is Dual Credit?
Dual Credit is a form of concurrent enrollment that allows a high school student to take certain courses at Hill College that earn both college and high school credit.
Courses are either face to face or online.
Typically, students take one course each semester for their freshman and sophomore years. Two or more courses each semester may be taken the junior and senior year. Additional HS approval is needed to take more than two dual credit courses per term.
Grades are posted on high school transcript and college transcript.
Must earn a “C” or better to receive high school credit.

4. Why Dual Credit? Get a Jumpstart on Your College Education
Save Time and $$$
WHS provides tuition on courses taken for dual credit.
Speeds up the time to college degree completion.
College experience
Take on the responsibilities of being a college student.
Ease the transition from high school to college.
Academically advanced students can challenge themselves.
Transferability
Credit transfers to most Public Colleges & Universities.
Many Private & Out of State Colleges also accept the credit.
Always check with the institution you want to attend about transferability.
Access to Hill College Resources

5. Resources for Hill Dual Credit Students
College Libraries
Student Success Center
(Tutoring)

6. Who is Eligible for Dual Credit?
Permission required from high school counselor or high school designee.
Students who have passed their STAAR exams.
Must meet course prerequisite and placement requirements (TSI).
Is Dual Credit the Right Choice for Me?
Parents and students should consider goals, maturity, responsibility, and academic ability prior to enrolling in a dual credit program.
You might decide not to participate in dual credit if you:
Are struggling with your other classes
Feel overwhelmed with your current load of coursework and extracurricular activities
Are not ready to take on college-level coursework and the responsibilities of being a college student
Remember!!! Dual credit classes become part of your permanent college transcript and impact eligibility for financial aid and scholarships!

7. FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
Federal law that ensures privacy of student educational records (begins when student starts college regardless of age).
Hill College cannot share grades, course schedules, test scores, etc. with parents or anyone other than the student, unless permission from the student is given.
Students’ opportunity to gain new responsibilities and act on his/her own behalf.

8. Calendar & Assignments
Dual Credit students are college students and must follow the Hill College calendar.
You are required to complete your college class assignments even if it is a high school holiday.
Assignments must be completed by the assigned deadline. Professors DO NOT have to allow work after the deadline has passed.
WHS has no involvement in grading or assignments from Hill College.

9. Student Conduct
Students are held accountable to the policies, rules, and regulations published in the Hill College Student Handbook.
Instances of academic dishonesty (e.g. cheating, plagiarism, and collusion) are taken seriously at the college level. Dual credit students are subject to the same consequences as general college students.

10. Types of Dual Credit Courses
Academic Dual Credit 
Typically transfers to four-year colleges and universities.
Students taking these courses often plan to pursue a four-year degree after high school graduation.
Workforce (Career & Technical) Dual Credit 
May or may not transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Students taking these courses often plan to enroll in a certificate or two-year degree program.
Courses taken as high school electives can help students become employable after high school graduation.

11. Course Days/Times
A dual credit class time will be part of each dual credit student’s schedule. If a student feels he/she needs more time in order to get his/her work completed, a schedule change may be requested through the counselor, in order to add an additional dual credit class period.
Dual credit course work at WHS is web-based, so the class may be accessed from any internet connection.
Most students find that one class period per day is sufficient.

12. Admissions & Registration requirements

13. Step #1
Mandatory Meeting with Counselor

14. Step #2 and 3 Complete the Dual Credit Application for Hill College.
Complete the Dual Credit Parent Consent Form for Whitney High School.
Adhere to all Deadlines. Deadlines are non-negotiable.

15. Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
STEP #4
Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
The TSI is designed to measure competency in reading, writing, and mathematics.
It is used for placement purposes.
WHS students must pass the reading and writing in order to take any dual credit class.
Students who have already been WHS dual credit students do not need to retake the TSI.

16. TSI Exemptions & Waivers
All TSI scores must come from Hill College testing center unless special permission is given by the principal or counselor.
Refer to the TSI Exemptions & Waivers chart.

17. TSI: What will I need to do?
If you are not exempt or waived, you will need to complete the TSI at Hill College. You will need to call the Hill College Testing Center and schedule a testing appointment.
Once you schedule your appointment, let the attendance clerk on your campus know so your attendance will be excused for the time you are gone to test.
Bring your scores back to the counselor on your campus.

18. STEP #5
Hill College will be on campus April 26th to assist with students who will need to complete ApplyTexas.
Previous Hill College dual credit students will not need to complete ApplyTexas.

19. STEP #6
Registration
Hill College will be on the WHS campus to help register for classes on May 5th.

20. STEP #7
Tuition
Whitney ISD will pay for the Hill College Tuition for your classes.
If you do not pass your class, or drop your class, you will be responsible to reimburse WISD for the cost of your tuition and fees.

21. STEP #8 Buy or Rent your Course Textbooks
Dual Credit students, like all college students, are responsible for purchasing the required textbooks and other essential course materials.
Whitney ISD does not purchase your books unless you are on the free or reduced lunch program.
Textbooks may be purchased at the Hill College Campus Bookstore.

22. Important Deadlines & Dates
Fall 2017
Dual Credit Info Night
March 23rd
Dual Credit Application
March 27th
Parent Consent Form for WHS
TSI
April 21st
ApplyTexas (at school)
April 26th
Registration for Classes (at school)
May 5th
First Day of Class
August 21st
Drop with no charge
Before September 6
Finals Drops
November 10th