An early enrollment includes any student who has not yet earned a high school diploma including dual credit, dual enrollment, and middle college. All ECCC academic standards and enrollment and withdrawal procedures apply to college level courses offered by ECCC whether on-campus, off-campus, online, or at secondary schools.
A dual credit student is a student who is enrolled with ECCC and who is receiving high school and college credit for postsecondary coursework regardless of the course location (high school campus, postsecondary campus, or online).
Dual Credit/Enrollment Academic Eligibility
To be eligible for dual credit/enrollment academic, a high school student must meet the following criteria:
a. May be classified as a junior or senior;
b. Have a minimum overall high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and
c. Obtain an unconditional written recommendation from his/her high school counselor, principal, or principal’s designee.
OR
a. Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
b. Earned a minimum composite ACT score of 30 or the equivalent SAT score; and
c. Obtain an unconditional written recommendation from his/her high school counselor or principal.
Dual Credit/Enrollment Career and Technical Education
To be eligible for dual credit/enrollment career and technical education, a high school student must meet the following criteria:
a. Have a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale;
b. May be classified as a sophomore; and
c. Obtain an unconditional recommendation from school administrator/ counselor or CTE instructor.
A dual enrolled student is a student who is enrolled with ECCC while enrolled in high school. The student receives postsecondary credit for coursework.
A middle college student is student enrolled in a Mississippi Department of Education District and/or School of Innovation as defined by Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-1 in which the district and/or school partners with ECCC to offer high school students a wide range of dual credit and dual enrollment classes. 11th and 12th grade students in the Middle College cohort spend a portion of the academic day at the high school and a portion at ECCC where the classes are taught. Middle college students are supported by a high school/transitional counselor and are monitored closely to ensure that they are meeting college academic expectations with the end goal to earn an associate degree or advanced national certification, as well as a diploma from their high school.
All college credit earned during early enrollment (dual credit, dual enrollment, middle college) is a permanent part of the ECCC transcript.
Early enrollment eligibility is defined as meeting the minimum requirements for admission.
Once admitted, students are placed into mathematics, English, and reading courses based on assessment of academic skill level. Common assessments used for placement include ACT subtest scores by subject area and ACCUPLACER tests.
The following ACT subtest scores and corresponding ACCUPLACER scores are used for course placement:
ECCC Course Placement Guide Summary
English
|
Course |
Symbol/Number |
ACT English Score |
ACCUPLACER NextGEN |
|
English Composition |
ENG 1113 |
17 or above |
Reading: 502+ |
|
Intermediate English |
ENG 0123 |
16 or below |
Reading: 501 or lower |
Math
|
Course |
Symbol/Number |
ACT Math Score |
ACCUPLACER NextGEN |
|
College Algebra |
MAT 1313 |
19 or above |
Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics: 254+ |
|
Intermediate Algebra |
MAT 1233 |
16-18 |
Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics: 253 or lower |
Speech
|
Course |
Symbol/Number |
ACT Composite |
ACCUPLACER NextGEN |
|
Public Speaking |
SPT 1113 |
17 or above |
Reading: 502+ |
Early enrollment course offerings, scheduling, availability, modality, tuition, and fees are determined each term by ECCC. In addition, dual credit academic courses are limited in accordance with the statewide policies and procedures of the Mississippi Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement Task Force.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Application for Admission
- For academic dual credit, official ACT scores (or, request an appointment for ACCUPLACER placement testing with all testing fees the responsibility of the applicant, parent/legal guardian, and/or the school/district.
- Official, partial high school transcript
- Letter of Recommendation from your high school principal or counselor
For more information on Dual Credit at ECCC, contact Ben Pace, Dual Credit Liaison & Enrollment Specialist, at earlyenrollment@eccc.edu or 601-635-6231.
ENROLLMENT GUIDE
DUAL CREDIT FAQS
What is the difference between a dual credit course and a traditional college course attended by traditional college students? Other than the fact that dual credit students get high school credit while traditional college students do not, there is no difference. A dual credit course covers exactly the same content, with no additions and no omissions, as a traditional college course. This is what enables the college to award the same credit to a dual credit student as is awarded to a traditional college student.
What are the benefits of enrolling my student in a Dual Credit course?
- Smooths the transition from high school to college
- Allows students to get a head start on academic coursework and accelerates completion time for a degree
- Increases the likelihood of graduating high school and enrolling in college
- Costs less than coursework for a traditional college student
- Prepares students for college work
- Introduces students to the expectations of a college environment
- Facilitates higher-level thinking skills and challenges creative and high-achieving students
Can dual credit coursework transfer to institutions of higher learning other than ECCC? Once a student has successfully completed dual credit coursework and attained a high school diploma, the dual credit coursework will transfer in the same manner as credit attained by a traditional college student.
Policies, Procedures, and Costs:
How do ECCC policies and procedures apply regarding high school dual credit? Dual credit students and instructors are subject to the same policies and guidelines as all other ECCC students. This includes policies and procedures regarding attendance, grading, academic integrity, etc.
How are the grades for the dual credit course calculated? The final grade that is entered into myEC is calculated based solely and strictly on the grade weights and content as described within the official ECCC syllabus distributed to dual credit instructors for that course. Grades for the dual credit course may not be ranked, curved, padded, etc. How the final grades for the high school credit are calculated is determined by that high school’s administration.
How does attendance work in a dual credit course? Dual credit students are subject to the attendance policies of ECCC. They will be cut from a course if they are absent more than the amount allowable by ECCC and must then follow the proper reinstatement request procedure. Dual credit students are marked absent for every scheduled course meeting they do not attend. Only official absences (those incurred when students miss class while officially representing the College) do not count toward the total number of absences allowed.
Is an absence during an official high school event an official absence from a dual credit course? No. Official absences are limited to those incurred when students miss class while officially representing ECCC.
Who pays the costs of dual credit courses? Students are responsible for paying for course costs, course fees, textbooks, and any other costs generated by ECCC relating to the enrollment.
What is the cost of a dual credit course? Course tuition and fees are published each year in the College Catalog once approved by the College's board of trustees. The ECCC Business Office can also provide current information regarding dual credit course tuition.
Is there a refund available if my student withdraws from the dual credit class? Part-time students will not be granted tuition refunds after the first class meeting. Dual Credit students are considered part-time by ECCC due to their enrollment in less than fifteen semester hours.
Do dual credit students have to meet same course prerequisites or co-requisites as traditional college students? Yes. A student must meet all college-level prerequisite or co-requisite requirements for every dual credit course.
What courses are available for Dual Credit? Click here for a current list of classes and please contact your local high school counselor to learn what courses your student’s high school offers via Dual Credit partnership with ECCC.
How does my student enroll? Students interested in completing Dual Credit courses will need to visit www.eccc.edu and complete the Dual Credit application for admission. Your local high school will submit transcripts and a letter of recommendation for Dual Credit enrollment to ECCC, as well as provide ACT records, if East Central Community College was not selected as recipient of scores when your student completed the ACT.
How will my student receive his/her textbooks? Dual credit students should check with their counselors for information concerning textbooks.
Do dual credit students have to meet same course prerequisites or co-requisites as traditional college students? Yes. A student must meet all college-level prerequisite or co-requisite requirements for every dual credit course.
How does my student enroll? Students interested in completing Dual Credit courses will need to visit www.eccc.edu and complete the Dual Credit application for admission. Your local high school will submit transcripts and a letter of recommendation for Dual Credit enrollment to ECCC, as well as provide ACT records, if East Central Community College was not selected as recipient of scores when your student completed the ACT.
How will my student receive his/her textbooks? Dual credit students should check with their counselors for information concerning textbooks. Most textbooks are provided in an electronic (eBook) format that can be downloaded to multiple devices with read aloud, highlight, and limited print options.
How much do dual credit courses cost? Dual credit course tuition and fees are set each semester with standard college tuition and fees. Often, dual credit courses are offered at a discount. Please consult the College Catalog for the current costs associated with dual credit.