NCC has a strong history of working with school districts to provide opportunities for high school students to earn college credit while still in high school. We truly value our high school students, and believe that these courses can be a benefit to students. Here are some of the main reasons:
- Get a head start on college
- Save time - shortens the time to attain a college degree
- Save money – joint enrollment classes are generally free to the student
- Gain college experience while in the secure environment of high school
- Use the NCC Library, computer labs and other support services
- Enjoy a small faculty to student ratio
- Enrich the course opportunities for high school students in both college transfer and career and technical programs
- Provide students with college credit that may be transferable to a 4-year institution
- Grades earned through dual enrollment will become part of the students' permanent high school and college transcripts
Go ahead and read some more! Research is being done on the overall value of joint enrollment. The early research is encouraging.
- According to an article in Inside Higher Education, “A new study from the Community College Research Center finds that dual enrollment programs – which have rapidly proliferated in recent years in part because of state support – are associated with positive outcomes on such measures as high school graduation and college enrollment rates, college grade point averages and progress toward college completion.” Inside Higher Education: The Benefits of Dual Enrollment
- CCRC Brief No. 37 is drawn from the full-length report, "The Postsecondary Achievement of Participants in Dual Enrollment: An Analysis of Student Outcomes in Two States". Click on the PDF icon at the bottom of the webpage to download the Brief.
- College 101: What are the benefits of dual enrollment? August 16, 8:53 AM Cleveland Literature Examiner Bailey Shoemaker Richards
Index of Questions
The school district pays the cost of tuition, fees and most textbooks for approved courses. If tools or other materials are required for a technical program, you and your student are responsible for those purchases. In addition, if your student fails a jointly enrolled course you may be asked to reimburse the high school for those expenses.
Northwest Iowa Community College is a great place to start your education. If you're planning on earning a bachelor's degree, you can take your general education requirements before transferring to a four-year college or university. NCC has articulation agreements with most state and area colleges and universities. However, not all credits transfer equally. Talk to your high school counselor, or an NCC advisor for more information.
NCC offers more than 40 career programs as well as college transfer options. College advisors and recruiters provide assistance to students in career and academic decisions.
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Classes taught online, on campus at NCC, and over the ICN all follow the NCC college calendar. Courses taught only at the high school follow that school’s calendar. Instructors can answer these questions for students. In general, college instructors require students to attend class rather than attending high school activities. It is important to understand the demands of this before enrolling in a college course.
Students should be encouraged to take challenging classes in high school before taking joint enrollment classes. When ready, they should complete an application for admission and make arrangements to have a high school transcript sent to NCC. Students may also need to complete the Compass test if they have not taken the ACT previously.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of student records. This would make it illegal for NCC to provide private information concerning students to anyone including the parents. When your student completes a NCC High School registration form they have the opportunity to sign a waiver so that we may release information to you and to the High School.
Once your student begins classes through NCC they are a NCC student and eligible for all services provided to all other students. There are many benefits, including free tutoring in the Learning Center, accommodations for students with special needs, student email and access to My Place (our web portal), library services, a student ID card and discounts at area businesses, access to student computers Monday through Friday, and advising.
Students enrolled in Jointly Enrolled classes are considered College students by all College staff. That means that NCC is limited in the information it may share with a parent or guardian. Students are encouraged to communicate with their instructors regularly about their concerns and needs. However, you may contact your high school guidance counselor or the Registrar at NCC for help in answering your questions.
All instructor concerns should be referred to the Dean of Extended Learning Services at NCC.
Request a Transcript.
Students need to contact the Admissions Office at NCC to begin the process of becoming a full-time student at NCC.
- As parents we hope that you encourage your student to take college classes responsibly. These courses are their first steps towards a post-secondary degree and one more step towards adulthood. Make sure they understand the commitment they are making.
- These are college level courses and will require the appropriate amount of commitment to study and preparation.
- These courses will become part of their permanent academic record.
- Students must follow college procedures and guidelines for adding and dropping classes. Students need to study, and to be prepared to stick to the NCC calendar.
- Help them to grow as individuals by encouraging them to talk directly to their instructors when they have questions or concerns.
- Contact their high school counselor to determine their eligibility to enroll in college credit classes.
- Complete the Application/Registration Form for NCC with their high school counselor.
- Obtain all required signatures before submitting Registration Form (Student, Parent/Guardian and School Official).
- Think about the time commitment – look at their schedule of high school courses and activities.
- Before enrolling, it is the student’s responsibility to first check with his/her counselor and then the institution to which transfer is being considered for a determination of which classes will be accepted for transfer credit.
- NCC is responsible for providing quality instruction.
- NCC must provide the same services to our high school students that we do for our post-secondary students.
- NCC needs to answer your questions, and let you know what to expect.
- NCC must coordinate programs with the high schools.
- NCC must provide transcripts to students when appropriate.
- Provide a listing of available courses.
- Assist students with planning for and enrolling in JE courses at NCC.
- Work to facilitate good communication between the high school student and the college.
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