Kyra Lieberman – In Motion Staff Writer
Dual enrollment at Daytona State College allows middle and high school students to earn college credit and degrees for free. In the 2017-18 school year, there were nearly 3,000 students dual enrolled at DSC, making up almost 9 percent of the student population.
College courses taken by dual enrolled students earn them both high school and college credit. For example, the three-credit-hour course ENC1101 counts for an entire year of high school English for a dual enrolled student — with a passing grade, of course.
“It’s a very good opportunity for young adults to get ahead,” said Amali Brown, 14, a dual enrolled student at DSC. “You can graduate college two years early if you get your AA, or even graduate high school with your bachelor’s if you start early enough.”
Students who maintain an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher can take college-level courses, typically leading to an associate of arts degree. Those with a 2.0 or higher unweighted GPA can enroll in vocational courses and enter the workforce with a higher education degree to back up their high school diploma. Students can even enroll in night classes, attending high school during the day and vocational courses at night.
“Daytona State has a great relationship with businesses in the area that look to hire students from our vocational programs,” said Michelle Goldys, Director of Academic Advising and Dual Enrollment at DSC.
Brown, a ninth-grade homeschool student, plans to enroll in DSC’s Culinary Arts degree program while dual enrolled and become a chef when she graduates in four years.
“I don’t plan on a master’s degree unless it’s in cheese!” she added with a laugh.
Dual enrolled students also have access to all the clubs and services available to traditional college students, including student clubs and activities, the Academic Support Center, Writing Center, advising and career services, to name a few. Founded in January 2015, the dual enrollment club on campus is where younger college students socialize with others who are adjusting to college life while still in secondary school.
“The club helps students transition from high school to college,” said Juleen Daley, who founded the club with her daughter when she was dual enrolling back in 2015.
“They are still high school students, but don’t feel that they fit in at their high school or at the college. Many don’t want to go to prom with other high schoolers or to homecoming with the college students. The club creates a network of dual enrolled students who are all going through this together.”
Students in the club even have a group text to keep in touch between their weekly meetings. At present, the club has six members, including president Kasey Pinney.
“The club is about finding commonality with other DSC students,” said Pinney.
College life is different from high school life, which deepens the divide between dual-enrolled students from peers their age. The logo for the Dual Enrolled Students Club is two puzzle pieces put together with the slogan “joining worlds,” with the “worlds” being high school and college. It is the goal of Daley to gain popularity and awareness of the club so dual enrolled students feel understood and part of a community.
“When I did well on my first college exam, I knew students in my classes at DSC would congratulate me and think it was cool to be smart, while at high school no one would care or be nice about it,” Pinney said. “But then there’s people much older than me in my classes — people old enough to be my grandparents — so it can be hard to find my place.”
Despite the challenges of finding her place in the high school and college spheres, Pinney will graduate with her AA degree this winter and receive her high school diploma next spring.
“I definitely recommend it to anyone. With dual enrollment you can get your AA for free,” Pinney said, adding, “Even if you just take a few courses, it saves you money and you can get a year of high school English done in one semester at DSC and earn college credit for it too.”
Transportation holds back some students who would consider dual enrolling, since many who are eligible are not old enough to drive and Volusia County schools are not responsible for providing transportation for students attending both public or private school and DSC. With a variety of online and hybrid courses available, however, there are options to young students with transportation issues.
“I think it’s easier to manage when you’re dual enrolled and able to take hybrid classes, or just sign up for classes two days a week,” said Zoë Jack, a dual-enrolled student who began taking courses in fall 2018. She likes having the option of online classes, but prefers in-person classes because they are more engaging.
Unlike traditional college students, dual-enrolled students are limited to 15 credit hours per semester and only two online courses, but up to five hybrid courses, which often have less class meetings and more online assignments. Dual-enrolled students must be proactive and are responsible for getting their work done properly and on time, just like any other student. College preparatory courses, tutoring and advising resources across campus and online are there to assist students with their transition to DSC.
Being self-motivated is a must for anyone considering dual enrollment and many who have made the commitment are getting a head start on their goals. For information on dual enrollment at DSC, visit https://www.daytonastate.edu/admissions/dualenroll.html or call 386-506-3661.