Since the late 1990s, high school students in the Trinity Valley Community College service area have been able to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school. As the state legislature has altered the rules though the years, now students of all grade levels in high school are eligible to take dual credit courses, as long as they meet the college’s enrollment requirements.

The number of high school students receiving associate degrees and certificates has steadily increased over time, with the result that TVCC Dual Credit programs awarded 160 degrees and certificates to 153 high school students during spring graduation ceremonies held in May.  Several students earned both a certificate and an associate degree.

This record number of graduates exceeds the spring 2018 dual credit graduates of 108 students earning 113 associate degrees and certificates.

High schools with students earning degrees and certificates include Athens, Eustace, Frankston, Kemp, Malakoff, Neches, Palestine, Rusk, Scurry-Rosser, Terrell, Texas Home School and Wills Point.

Dual credit is defined as a system under which an eligible high school student enrolls in college course(s) and receives credit for the course(s) from both the college and the high school. Dual Credit courses include both academic core courses as well as technical/workforce courses. 

Dual credit courses can be offered at the high school campus during regular high school hours, via embedded instruction, internet, ITV or on any of the TVCC campuses. High school students may enroll in academic transfer and/or technical/workforce education dual credit courses once they have met the TVCC admission requirements.  Tuition is waived on two academic-transfer courses per semester, with students responsible for fees and books.

Beginning in the fall 2018 semester, technical/workforce courses were offered on the TVCC service area high school campus for dual credit, taught by approved high school instructors, were FREE (no tuition, no fees) with students only responsible for books and supplies. Technical/workforce programs include: basic automotive technology, business technology, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, drafting, early childhood education, emergency medical services, fire science technology, heating, ventilation & air conditioning, mechanical engineering technology, medical nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, ranch management, and welding.

For more information on eligibility and requirements, visit the dual credit website at www.tvcc.edu/dual-credit or contact the Director of Dual Credit, Kelley Townsend, at 903-675-6338.