By Thomas Clements
In Motion Staff Writer
It’s one of the newest clubs on campus, but the Dual Enrollment Students Club of Daytona State College is hoping to make an impact on the college experience for its youngest students and is looking forward to welcoming new members Fall semester.
Club adviser Juleen Daley, Assistant Professor of Nursing at DSC said, “The club provides students with support, collaboration and companionship and enables them to find familiar faces for their future years at the college.”
Spring semester the club consisted of some 30 students and regular meeting of the club will continue to be held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Lenholt Student Center in the cafeteria, Bldg. 130, room 154.
Club activities include raising funds with popcorn sales and donations and so far this year it netted some $500 for scholarships. Scholarship applications will be available from Sept. 1 to April 1, 2017 from 11a.m. until 2p.m. at the Student Landing Center in Building 340. Call Professor Daley at 506-3734 for information.
Commenting on this year’s success and growth, club president Annika Thomas said that they felt more like a part of campus life and not outsiders. “I am proud of the legacy that our club can lend to other students who are planning to attend DSC in the Dual Enrollment program.”
There are nearly 1,000 students currently enrolled in DSC’s dual enrollment program, with 75 students graduating each semester. Club secretary Layla Coley said that she would like to see more exposure for the club and more meetings.
“A lot of students can’t always make it to the meetings when they’re held only once a month,” Coley said, adding that most students commute from their high school to the college and provide their own transportation. “These students put forth a lot of effort, they are very committed.”
DSC, in conjunction with the State of Florida, offers a Dual Enrollment program to Volusia and Flagler county students. The program is designed to give students a head start on their college education while still in high school.
Dual Enrollment is an accelerated program that provides students attending a Florida high school an option to simultaneously earn college credit. The program is available to those attending either a public or private high school, and is also available to those who are enrolled in a home school program.
Students can earn college credit towards the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree or Vocational Credit toward a certificate program, while meeting the requirements for a high school diploma. These students are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition and laboratory fees while they are dual enrolled.
Dual enrollment students are also eligible to use all services available to other students at DSC. These services include the Academic Support Center and the Writing Center. Also available are student activities, student clubs, Career Services, Student Disability Services and enrollment services such as Advising and Assessment.
Dual Enroll students must have a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 for college courses and 2.0 for vocational courses. Students must also have test scores on the P.E.R.T., FCAT, ACT or SAT that places them into college level English and or Math. The program was made possible by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, Florida Statute 1007.721 fs.