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A dual credit course refers to a course where students earn both high school and college credit for one course, taught by a high school teacher who has been approved by OCU to instruct a college course. 

Adding Courses for Dual Credit

Dual credit instructors in consultation with and permission of the Guidance Counselor and the Principal may submit a written request to the Principal to add a class for college credit.  The Principal or his designee contacts the University Liaison with the request.  The University sends the Principal or his designee a copy of the University course description and course syllabus.

Deadlines for Adding Courses for Dual Credit

The following deadlines are used to ensure enough time to review the course request and syllabus:

Fall Course:  Submit in previous Spring prior to end of the academic year.  Exceptions may be granted for Summer submission but no later than 1 month prior to the opening of the academic year.

Spring Course: Submission may be made during the Fall semester but no later than 1 month prior to the beginning of the second semester.

All Year Course:  Submit in previous Spring prior to end of the academic year.  Exceptions may be granted for Summer submission but no later than 1 month prior to the opening of the academic year.

Standards for Course Approval

The course syllabus must show that the teacher will use an approved textbook, will teach to the University course syllabus, including any objectives listed and generally match OCU's expectations for this course.  In some cases, dual credit instructors may be required to give the University faculty member’s final exam for the course.

The Course Review Process

The dual credit instructor prepares a course syllabus that reflects University requirements and also meets the State of Indiana content area standards.  The syllabus is sent to the Principal for review and then sent to the University for the Provost’s approval.  The Provost decision is made through  a collaboration with the Dean of the respective school.

The Provost will inform the Liaison of the approval or denial and in turn the Liaison will inform the Principal of the Provost’s decision. 

Course Approval and Registration of Students

Once approved, the course may be offered for dual credit.  The University Liaison works with the Principal and/or the guidance counselor with the registration process.  Policies and procedures are gone over.  Sample copies of completed forms are provided for reference.

Grading and Class Attendance

The dual credit instructor submits his or her final grades on the University grade forms as well submits attendance reports.   The grades are the official OCU grades and students will have these grades and the college credit on an official OCU transcript at the end of the semester.  The transcript will not specify dual credit course in any way. Since the high school is approved to teach the class as an approved adjunct faculty member of the University, teaching an approved curriculum and course, they are teaching a real college course and it is reflect that way on the transcript.

Do all students need to complete an application to the University?

Yes.  The application contains the information necessary for the University to assign the student a University ID and number as well as to allow for the student to register for classes. Please get your application through your school's OCU Contact.

Does a student have to pay tuition for the courses he or she has enrolled?

Yes, but there is an exception.  A student who receives free or reduced lunch is exempted from paying tuition for the course as required by current Indiana law.

Is the tuition per credit hour the same for all courses?

Yes.  The student pays $25 per credit hour.  For example, if the course is awarded 3 semester hours of credit, the student pays $75 for the course.   If it is a 4 semester hour course, the student would pay $100 for the course.

Is this tuition rate the same as on main campus?

No.  OCU offers these classes as a service to the high school students in region with the belief that a better prepared student becomes a better employee.  Tuition for a course on campus is currently $500.  Thus, the tuition charge is minimal to dual credit students.

Does OCU receive any state funding to offer these dual credit classes?

No.  OCU does not receive any state aid for these classes.  This is not the case with some of the public higher education institutions in the state.

Can a student enroll in a dual credit classes without submitting a SSN?

Yes.  The University assigns the student a University number to track a student’s course matriculation. This number is permanently the students ID number at OCU.

Can I (dual credit instructor) start a dual credit class if I have not heard about the course approval by the University?

No.  Approval has to be given prior to starting a class.

Do I (dual credit instructor) need to submit a new syllabus each term I teach the class even if I have taught the class before?

Yes.  OCU requires its entire faculty to submit a syllabus for each semester they teach a course. 

I (dual credit instructor, guidance counselor, principal) have a student registering for more than one class.  Can he or she do this on one registration form?

Yes. It will make the registration process easier for the student, the high school, and the University.

How does a student get a copy of his or her transcript?

He or she should contact the registrar either in writing or through email.  The Registrar’s contact information is on the University’s web site.

Why should I take a College Class?

• To prepare you for college as the class will help a person transition to college level work in a known environment (high school)
• To strengthen one’s college application
• To earn advanced standing at your college
• To shorten the time it takes to complete a college degree or to lighten the load during the first semesters of matriculation
• To explore career interest – this works well with the Dual Credit Classes

Does my high school offer dual credit classes or the Early College Initiative?

Check with your high school principal or guidance counselor.  Also you can check this web site.  If your school is listed, dual credit classes are being offered.  The exact classes vary from school to school so you need to check with the guidance counselor as to which dual credit classes are offered.

Are dual credit classes transferable?

Dual credit classes give a student real college credit with a college transcript.  Each University has its own policies in regard to transferability of classes.  In Indiana, most institutions accept each other’s transcripts.   Historically, OCU students have not had difficulty transferring classes to another college.  

OCU transcripts do not mark these classes as dual credit. OCU considers these classes to be OCU classes. Your instructor has had the credentials reviewed against the University standards and our Provost has approved them to teach.   The curriculum has been prepared by the OCU faculty and has been approved by the faculty as college courses.

High School teachers serve as Dual Credit Adjunct Instructors of OCU.  They teach the same material using approved textbooks and to the same standards set on main campus. Your transcript will not distinguish between a dual credit class taken at your high school or on main campus.

How do I transfer my OCU courses?

• Contact the Registrar at OCU and ask him or her to send the transcript to the school where you are enrolling.
• Once you enroll in a college, you need to formally request that the school evaluate your OCU transcripts for transfer.  Each college has a formal process for this review.
• If the school to where you are transferring needs more information about a course, such as a course description, please contact the OCU liaison at your school (see High School Contacts).

Typically, the contact person at the high school is the Principal or the Guidance Counselor.  This contact person is the one who contacts the University liaison to set up meetings, etc.

Current High School Partners and Contact Person

Download the Dual Credit Contact List

OCU’s Dual Credit Program has been working with its partner high schools since 2005 to provide college courses for high school students.  These courses are offered with a minimal charge for tuition.  OCU extends its thanks to these teachers for participating in the program.  Thanks to them, OCU has a high quality program that provides a valuable service to Indiana high school students.

Download a list of professional development resources.

Purpose of Faculty Liaison Program

• To monitor quality, consistency, and curricular alignment of dual credit courses that are awarding college credit.
• To improve communication and encourage dialogue between OCU faculty and high school dual credit instructors to benefit teaching and learning.

Faculty Liaison Responsibilities

• Review teachers' credentials and submit to the Deans and Provost for approval.
• Review course proposals and submit to Deans and the Provost for approval.
• Conduct site visits to the high school with Principal, Counselor, and Teachers.
• Observe classes and follow-up with teachers, if possible.
• Review dual credit course final exams, where applicable.
• Hold individual meetings as needed with high school dual credit instructors.
• Design and deliver orientation workshop for new dual credit instructors.
• Design and deliver staff development content/methods workshops for dual credit instructors.

Staff Development Options

In addition to traditional workshops, OCU hopes to facilitate online professional develop opportunities. These opportunities will be designed to:

• Promote communication among dual credit instructors and college instructors.
• Provide an environment for liaisons to post information, resources, and course materials for dual credit instructors.

Process

• Academic Departments identify faculty who will be willing to serve as mentors to dual credit instructors' and submit the names to the Provost.
• OCU will provide University faculty with dual credit instructor/s contact information and set up field visits as needed.
• Liaisons keep a log of activities to track communication and work with dual credit instructors.

The time is set to coincide with the High Schools and University’s enrollment dates.  The high school contact person will make sure that the dual credit instructors know the deadlines so that materials are submitted on time.

Fall: Submission of applications and registration are due the second Friday of September.

Spring: Submission of applications and registration are due the second Friday of January.

All forms are submitted to Dr. Carlotta Reynolds by these dates.  She then distributes the forms to the appropriate offices for action.

Prior to employment as a dual credit instructor, the potential instructor is to submit the following:

• Official college transcripts
• Resume
• Recommendation from building administrator
• Proof of teacher’s license

At the beginning of the fall semester the dual credit instructors are to submit the following:

• Required federal and state tax forms
• Any additional form needed by the University

At the beginning of every semester, dual credit instructors are to submit the following:

• Course syllabus that includes university student learning outcomes, methods of assessment, university policies in regard to attendance, plagiarism, etc.
• Any additional materials requested by the Provost

At the first of semester, each student enrolled in dual credit classes needs to complete and submit the following to the high school contact person:

• Application for admission to the University
• Required admission test scores
• Letter of recommendation from Guidance Counselor

At the beginning of each semester, each student enrolled in dual credit classes needs to complete and submit the following:

• Registration form
• Tuition payment for course
• Student’s on free and reduced lunches, the tuition payment is waived in accordance to Indiana law.

Other Forms

These forms are to be completed when or if needed:

• Drop/Add Class Form
• Transcript Request Form

As of the 2009-2010 academic year, OCU worked with 36 high schools serving a total of 2021 students.  There were 11,731 credit hours earned with minimal cost to the student. Dual credit programs are a great benefit to your students at the high school.  It can help them make the transition from high school to college level expectations smoother.

If you are interested in becoming an OCU Adjunct Dual Credit Instructor, contact your school Principal.  He will contact the University Liaison to begin the process.  OCU requires that you have a recommendation from the Principal to be an Adjunct Dual Credit Instructor.  Typically, the Dual Credit Instructor has a master’s degree in the content area in which he or she will teach the dual credit class.  An exception to this policy would be significant work experience in the field.  For example, a person owns and operates a web design business and has been developing web sites for 10 years.  Experience teaching at a secondary or post-secondary level is required. 

A determination of eligibility will be made by the Provost. He will examine the Principal’s recommendations, transcript, teacher’s license and any other supporting data that the prospective dual credit instructor might supply.  Such supporting data includes, but is not limited to, a written personal philosophy of education.

Here are some questions a prospective dual credit instructor may ask himself or herself.

• Am I willing to collaborate with college faculty members in the course content area?
• Am I ready to answer questions by parents and students about dual credit classes?
• Am I willing to do professional development on my personal time?

Thank you for supporting your schools involvement with the Dual Credit Program or the Early College Initiative.

When you and your staff are planning the master schedule, as the academic leader in your school you may want to keep your Dual Credit Enrollment options in mind.  OCU advises schools to focus on mainly offering 100 level courses that will apply to a student’s college curriculum regardless of their major.  Nearly all college majors require ENG 101 and 102 English Composition.  Students are also expected to have some liberal arts courses – elective and required – such as history, psychology, mathematics.

Most students will be required to have some math and natural science classes – like College Algebra, Calculus, Chemistry, or Biology.  Many students will be required to take a Foreign Language.  Many high schools offer the above listed courses.  A motivated and hard working student can earn credit in many of his or her classes prior to graduation from high school.

As a building administrator, we value your collaboration and support. If you have suggestions or ideas on how to better serve students, feel free to contact Dr. Carlotta Reynolds at creynolds@oak.edu or Dr. Michael Atkinson at matkinson@oak.edu .