Dual Credit - ECS

Dual credit is a program for students who are simultaneously enrolled in Austin ISD and Austin Community College (ACC). Students will attend college-level courses either at Bowie or on an ACC campus and will earn both college credit and high school credit.

In order for a student to qualify for the dual credit program s/he must meet the following requirements:
• be a high school junior(beginning the summer after his/her sophomore year) or senior
• be limited to a maximum of two (2) college-level courses per semester
• meet with an ACC advisor or counselor prior to enrolling in classes
• meet all ACC admissions requirements prior to enrolling in classes (including the THEA test)
• be recommended by the high school counselor or registrar and have parental permission

Austin ISD students are not required to pay tuition for dual credit courses. However, they are required to purchase textbooks and a parking permit (if applicable).

Printable Checklist

Be aware of Registration Dates

1. Apply to ACC online at www.austincc.edu/apply/. Print out and complete a Residency Form. Residency form is submitted to ACC with your paperwork.

2. Complete ACC 101 online at www.austincc.edu/acc101/, and print out ACC 101 checklist page for advising.

3. See your high school counselor to determine college readiness in reading, writing and math or your Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Status.
You are TSI exempt if you meet these minimum requirements:
• ACT English 19, Math 19, AND Composite 23, OR
• SAT Critical Reading 500, Math 500, AND Composite 1070, OR
• TAKS Math 2200, Language Arts 2200 with Writing Subsection 3
If not TSI exempt, obtain a fee waiver form from your high school counselor and schedule to take the COMPASS or ASSET test at any ACC Assessment Center, or ask your counselor if there will be testing at Bowie.
NOTE: Students with disabilities who need accommodations are encouraged to take the THEA; however, limited disability accommodations for the COMPASS may be available. Contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for specifics.

4. Obtain Early College Start Form from your high school counselor
• A student must be a high school Junior or Senior
• Students are limited to two courses per semester (Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Students are restricted from enrolling in college courses that require skills they have not passed on COMPASS, ASSET or THEA (Reading, Writing, Math)
• Courses must be selected and approved by your high school prior to meeting with an ACC Counselor/Advisor
• Your high school determines if any ACC college-credit course you schedule can be granted high school credit as well.

5. Meet with ACC Advisor/Counselor and bring the following with you:
• Copy of High School transcript (with SAT, ACT or TAKS scores if TSI exempt)
• COMPASS, ASSET or THEA scores (if applicable)
• Completed Early College Start Form. Incomplete forms CANNOT be processed.
• Proof of prerequisites (or written permission from ACC Academic Department) for desired courses if the ACC Catalog (or website) indicates prerequisites are required
• Proof of completion of ACC 101
• Residency Form which should have been printed and completed when the on-line application was completed

6. Submit all of the above to the ACC Advising Office on an ACC campus, or to an ACC Advisor who may be visiting your campus. (Check with the ADVANCE specialist for dates.)

7. Register by phone or web for classes once your forms have been fully processed. Use the ACC Course Schedule and Advising Sheet provided by the ACC Advisor as guides for course location. The ACC Course Schedule is at http://www3.austincc.edu/schedule/. Registration dates can be found by clicking on the link above Step 1.

8. Print proof of registration and bring it to your high school counselor.

9. Attend classes – Do not miss the first class.

10.Purchase required textbooks and materials.
Web Site: www.austincc.bkstore.com.

After completing a course, students must obtain an ACC transcript from an ACC Admissions and Records Office and carry that transcript to the Bowie registrar’s office in order to officially report their grade.

Students are expected to meet all requirements of the College. Conduct and disciplinary regulations are detailed in the ACC Student Handbook. Parents are subject to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines that pertain to access to student records, and communication with Austin Community College professors and staff.

Tips for Parents

Speak with the high school counselor and an advisor at ACC for advice about withdrawing from a Dual Credit Course. Withdrawals must be made in person through the Admissions Office prior to the deadline posted in the Course Schedule.

I want to start classes as soon as possible. When should I apply?
You should complete the Early College Start co-enrollment process during your sophomore school year in order to attend classes during the summer semester you become eligible. Students are advised to complete Austin Community College’s co-enrollment process no later than mid-April in order to have the best selection of summer classes.

When are classes offered?
You can take Austin Community College classes after school, during weekends, and over summer. It is important to register for dual credit classes that do not interfere with Bowie classes. As our campus grows, the ability to grant specific off periods on the student schedule declines, especially afternoon periods. Do not register for an ACC course that would require a particular off period on the student's Bowie schedule.

I want to attend classes at ACC. How do I choose a campus?
You can attend any ACC campus or center. Students often select a campus based on convenience, size, or location.

Can I use an ACC course to help satisfy the requirement for full time student status?
No. AISD students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 high school classes to be considered a full time student.

How many dual credit classes can I take a semester?
AISD students may take up to two dual credit courses per semester. Students should seek the advise of their high school counselor when considering two college courses in one semester.

Can I take one semester of US History at ACC and the other semester at Bowie?
No. Students may not "mix" a high school semester with a semester of dual credit. The course must be completed at Bowie or at ACC.

Must I begin at level one for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) courses at ACC?
Unless you can pass ACC's LOTE exams, you will need to begin at level 1. The LOTE courses at ACC are college level courses.

Do dual credit courses qualify for added measures towards the Distinguished Achievement Plan?
Yes. Dual credit courses qualify as an added measure for the DAP with a grade of B or better.

What steps do I repeat if I take a dual credit class next semester?
Each semester requires you to request a new ESC Dual Credit Form from your high school counselor and take it to the advising office at ACC. Depending on the course requested, you may need to take a portion of the ASSET or Compass test if your scores did not meet TSI standards.

Can I take a course online?
Early College Start students may take Distance Learning courses with the approval of your high school counselor and parent, but it is important to understand that these courses maintain the same high standards as a classroom course and require significant self-discipline in order to complete them successfully. Is Distance Learning for You?

Why do I need a parent signature to take an ACC course the spring semester of my senior year?
When seniors request to take a required course for graduation at ACC in the spring semester of the senior year, an acknowledgment of notification is required. It is important to us that you understand that we do not recommend this course of action. During the past few years, we have had an increasing number of seniors who have had academic difficulty with their spring semester dual credit courses, thus, jeopardizing their graduation. The Senior Acknowledgment of Notice Letter is now required before seniors are permitted to enroll in an ACC dual credit course.

Do I need to re-enroll at ACC after I finish high school?
No. You do not need to repeat the ACC admissions process once you have completed it. You will need to submit a new high school transcript to reflect your graduation date before you can register for any more ACC courses.

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