HHCA Dual Enrollment Handbook

Colleges require permission from the originating high school in order for students to pursue dual enrollment courses.

Permission is granted based on meeting the following eligibility criteria:

• Seniors and juniors only

• 3.0 minimum GPA (unweighted)

• Academically ready and motivated, mature students

• Parent approval

• Passed all necessary placement assessments, as required by each college

• Turned in signed annual dual enrollment agreement (last page of this document) to the HHCA counselor on or before the deadline

• Received permission from the school counselor

NOTE:

• Students who are not eligible for dual enrollment courses will be required to proceed with high school level courses on the HHCA campus.
• The final HHCA schedule will dictate which dual enrollment courses fit into a student’s schedule, so priorities must be determined carefully.

HHCA Dual Enrollment Students are expected to:

• Attend all HHCA classes, chapels, and required meetings.

• Attend mandatory dual enrollment meeting(s).

• Provide for their own transportation to and from dual enrollment classes at other institutions.

Dual enrollment courses are independent of and cannot be monitored by HHCA. They are a contract directly between the college and the student, wherein HHCA is a liaison. Thus, it is the student’s responsibility to manage all aspects of dual enrollment, including, but not limited to:

• Applying to the college (+ all paperwork/online forms involved)

• Planning courses with the HHCA counselor

• Checking courses for desired college transferability

• Registering for courses with the college’s advisor

• Scheduling and taking any required placement assessments

• Sending AP scores from College Board, if required

• Setting up student emails and portals

• Learning and navigating the course platform 

• Regularly checking email

• Meeting all deadlines, including the institution’s course withdrawal deadlines

• Attending class, even when HHCA fall, winter, and spring breaks do not align with the college’s breaks

• Submitting assignments and assessments on time and with integrity

• Paying all dual enrollment fees

• Dropping courses - Must have HHCA counselor approval and submit email to the college by deadline

• Being familiar with all of the institution’s policies, including integrity violations, grade forgiveness, etc.

• Requesting final course grades be sent to the HHCA registrar directly from the instructor no later than 14 days after the final exam, if determined beneficial.

• Requesting transcripts be sent to the ultimate college of choice from the dual enrollment institution(s).

In-Person Dual Enrollment Students

• May work off campus (at home, the library, a coffee shop, etc.) for “off days” from in-person college courses. 

Online Dual Enrollment Students

• Must work on campus in an academic period. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case by case basis by the Principal.

Typical dual enrollment fees include:

• COURSE FEE: Depends on the college. Typically $300-850+, payable directly to the college.

• BOOK FEE: Any books must be acquired and paid for by the student.

NOTE:  529 funds may be used to cover these educational expenses.

Costs and fees for each institution are outlineD below and may change annually.

Course selection(s) and scheduling should be made under the advisement of the HHCA counselor to determine fit with the HHCA schedule and graduation credit eligibility.

Review the approved courses for each institution outlined below.

For 2023-2024, course times must be pre-approved by the HHCA counselor.

For 2024-2025, dual enrollment courses may only be scheduled at 8:00am, online, or after school hours (after 3:30pm).

Effective for the 2024-2025 School Year:

• Students must take Algebra 2 before taking dual enrollment math courses.

• Students must take Spanish 3 before taking dual enrollment Spanish courses.

• Students must take the first two high school level English courses before taking dual enrollment English courses. 

• Students must take both US HIstory 1 and US History 2 to fulfill the full US History graduation requirement.

• Students must take high school level fine arts and computer credits before taking dual enrollment fine arts and computer courses. 

• No core courses may be taken during the summer.

• Elective courses taken during the summer must be pre-approved by the school counselor.

• Summer courses will be listed under the student's current year on their HHCA transcript (year just completed).

Up to two (2) dual enrollment courses may be taken each semester and in the summer, beginning with the summer after the student's sophomore year, for a maximum of 36 hours of college credit by high school graduation. Courses taken during the summer may only be approved elective courses.

A minimum of two dual enrollment courses per year are required, if taken - one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester.

Course registration will take place between the student and the dual enrollment advisor at the college and may take place in person, through email or by online meeting. Course seats are offered first-come, first serve. Registering early is beneficial. Students must set up this appointment and keep it. If requested, the HHCA counselor may sit in on the dual enrollment advisement appointment with the student. FERPA requirements prevent anyone other than the student from registering for courses.

Transfer of dual enrollment credits varies, especially with out-of-state and highly selective colleges. The student is responsible for verifying course transferability to desired institutions and programs (majors). 

• For in-state transferability, refer to this list of 86 SC transferable courses.
• Students may further explore in-state course transfers here.

For out of state institutions, students should refer to the desired institution’s website to explore the transfer credit policies and/or course equivalencies. It is also highly recommended that the student explore the specific curriculum for their desired major.

Only official grade reports are accepted directly from the issuing institution. If letter grades are presented they will be converted using the SC Uniform Grading Policy (A=95, B=85, C=75, D=75). If numeric grades are presented they will be posted according to the SC Uniform Grading Policy.

Students must request final course grades be sent to the HHCA registrar directly from the instructor no later than 14 days after the final exam.

As stated in the HHCA Student Handbook in this section:

• All approved dual enrollment course grades will be included in the student’s cumulative GPA, numeric average, and posted to their transcript with the issuing institution noted. Withdrawals (W/WP/WF) will also be indicated on HHCA transcripts as recorded by the college. A WF will count as a 50 in the student’s GPA calculation.

• Students who earn a grade of D or F in a course may retake the same course for a second grade. Both courses and grades will be listed on the student's transcript; however, only the second grade will factor into the student's GPA.

• Failing a dual enrollment course carries the same academic penalty as an on-campus class in terms of eligibility. Further, students who fail a dual enrollment course may retake that course but will not be recommended to take any further dual credit courses. If a student fails two dual enrollment courses, they will no longer be allowed to take dual enrollment courses. 

• Integrity violations are serious and will result in consequences from both the college and HHCA. Students receiving integrity violations will not be allowed to take any further dual credit courses.

• Dual enrollment courses are ineligible for end-of-year academic awards.

All approved dual enrollment course grades earned will be part of the student’s official college transcript, including failing grades and withdrawals. Grades, including withdrawal grades, may affect subsequent post-secondary admission and financial aid eligibility at another college or university. Dual enrollment course grades are also factored into South Carolina scholarship criteria and can affect eligibility for the Hope, Life, and Palmetto Fellows scholarships.

Each institution has its own policies with regard to withdrawing from a course, repeating a course, and/or grade forgiveness. It is important to be aware of these policies and deadlines. Students should view their institution’s policies and academic calendar, which includes all deadlines.

HHCA will follow the same course drop policy, grade replacement policy, and policy for posting grades to the transcript as the initiating college.

Helpful Links:

• TCL’s Repeated Course Procedure

• TCL’s Consumer Information Page

• USCB’s Grade Forgiveness Policy (pg. 77)

For a student to acquire COLLEGE CREDIT for dual enrollment courses, the student must request to have their official college transcript sent directly to their enrolling college at the end of senior year.

See each institution’s transcript request information link on the following pages: