Ivy Tech Touts Dual Credit Savings
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIvy Tech Community College expects to save students and parents millions of dollars in tuition with dual credit enrollments. The program allows students to take college classes for free during high school. Ivy Tech says during the past three years, participation has doubled. July 22, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College enrolled 45,819 Indiana high school students in dual credit this past year, saving Indiana students and their parents more than $29.8 million in tuition costs. This year’s dual credit enrollment represents a 22 percent increase in students, compared to the 37,505 high school students enrolled last year.
In the past three academic years, dual credit enrollment at Ivy Tech has nearly doubled.
“Ivy Tech is committed to keeping college affordable, especially as the cost of tuition continues to rise,” Thomas J. Snyder, President of Ivy Tech Community College, said. “One way we help cut tuition costs for students is through our dual credit program, which allows students to take college classes for free during high school. Each year, we see an increase in interest, which demonstrates students’ commitment to affordable higher education.”
Ivy Tech’s dual credit program allows high school students to simultaneously earn both college credit at Ivy Tech and high school credit. Dual credit courses are free to students, saving parents even more on their child’s college education.
The college currently offers dual credit programs in 383 Indiana high schools and career centers. Dual credit plays an important role in strengthening the connection between high school and college, making the transition between sectors easier for students while providing high school students with a realistic understanding of college-level academic expectations.
Ivy Tech uses dual credit to encourage greater participation in higher education and to help students overcome real or perceived obstacles to higher education.
The most common form of Ivy Tech dual credit involves courses taught in a high school, by a high school instructor, and offered during the regular school day. High school faculty who offer the dual credit course must meet credential requirements and participate in professional development provided by Ivy Tech. To reach a dual credit agreement for a course taught in a high school by a high school instructor, Ivy Tech works with the high school to establish that the high school class and the college class are identical, or if necessary, to suggest changes in order for the course to qualify as a dual credit course. This process involves review of course content, lesson plans, textbooks, exams, assignments, facilities and equipment. Dual credit agreements are reviewed every year to promote collaboration and to ensure continuity of professional staff, course content, textbooks and other key teaching and learning factors.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Source: Ivy Tech Community College