Dual Credit for High Schools

College of DuPage (COD) offers college-level academic and career and technical courses to qualified high school students. The Dual Credit option provides access to a higher level of education and is an excellent opportunity to challenge high school students. A Dual Credit course is a college course taken by a high school student for which the student is awarded both college and high school credit.

Advantages for High Schools

Reduce high school dropout rates
Prepare students for college work
Enhance high school curriculum
Enhance student transition to college
Increase student access to COD resources and services
Increase interaction between high school and COD faculty
Improve relationships between colleges and their communities

Dual Credit at College of DuPage

Classes are taught at the high school by schools' instructors.
Students receive both high school and COD credit.
High School curriculum, syllabi, textbooks and hiring standards must meet COD's curriculum guidelines.
High School faculty must meet COD's Faculty Hiring Guidelines.
A formal agreement is signed.
COD tuition and application fee are waived.
A COD transcript is generated for each student completing Dual Credit coursework.

Additional Guideline for Students Registering for Dual Credit

All students in the class must "satisfy course placement test or course prerequisites when applicable to assure that they have the same qualifications and preparation as other college students." (ICCB Administrative Rule 1501.507b-11D)

The Approval Process

The high school/career center is asked to provide the following information to the Office of High School Partnerships at College of DuPage:

- Detailed course syllabus, objectives, topical outline
- Detailed weekly agenda (assignments, projects, exams and other materials)
- Textbook information
- Completed COD faculty application with resume, transcripts and copies of required certifications
- Other discipline-specific information and materials as requested by the COD faculty

The Office of High School Partnerships submits all material pertaining to curriculum to the appropriate COD area/program coordinator for review, and to the COD administrator for additional review and approval, to ensure that all content meets COD curriculum guidelines. Adherence to hiring guidelines for high school faculty is confirmed by COD administration.
When COD curriculum guidelines are met, the COD area/program coordinator, associate dean and associate vice president sign the agreement. The Dual Credit Agreement is then forwarded to the participating high school for faculty and High School administrator signatures.
The original signed Dual Credit Agreement is filed in the Office of High School Partnerships.

Timeline for Dual Credit Agreement*

By March 30: Dual Credit paperwork submitted by secondary school
By May 30: Final signatures obtained
By June 30: Dual Credit office distributes and posts final agreements

* Individual exceptions are considered.

COD Contact Information for High Schools

Karen Randall, Dual Credit Specialist
(630) 942-2458

Sue Blasi, Dual Credit Specialist
(630) 942-4323

Accreditation Standards

To ensure the academic creditability of college-level courses offered by Illinois community colleges, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has adopted administrative rules pertaining to dual credit (Administrative Rule: 1501.402 and 1501.507.b.11).

All state and federal laws, ICCB regulations, accreditation standards and COD policies and procedures, regulations and academic standards apply to students, faculty and staff associated with all courses.