New River Community College’s dual enrollment program gives qualified high school students the opportunity to kick start their college careers by enrolling in college course work while still in high school.
NRCC gives everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills, so lives and communities are strengthened. The college believes that all people should have a chance not only to develop and extend their skills and knowledge but also to increase awareness of their roles and duties as citizens. The college serves the educational needs of the public and assumes a responsibility to help provide the requirements for trained workers in the New River Valley through a combined effort with local industry, business, professions, and government, including economic development efforts. NRCC is also dedicated to organizing programs with senior institutions, as well as with those of local public school systems. It is because of these commitments that NRCC partners with high schools in our service region to offer a dual enrollment program.
Dual enrollment is restricted to high school juniors and seniors and homeschool students studying at the high school junior and senior levels. All students admitted under this section must demonstrate readiness for college, meet the applicable college placement requirements and all course pre/corequisites, and address all other college admission criteria. Dual enrollment students may not enroll in developmental education courses. Documentation of parental permission is required for all dual enrollment students. Because enrolling freshman and sophomore students is considered exceptional, the college ready status of each prospective freshman and sophomore student will be treated on a case-by-case basis. Formal approval by the college president, or designee, is required.
High school based dual enrollment is available through contractual partnerships between the college and local public high schools. All students must meet the general dual enrollment student admissions requirements described above. Courses taken for dual enrollment credit will be transcribed on both the student’s college and high school transcripts.
Some of the key benefits of dual enrollment are
Dual enrollment courses are taught by full-or part-time high school faculty who meet Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Conference on Colleges (SACSCOC) credentialing requirements. Dual enrollment credit applies toward NRCC degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Students should consult four-year institutions of their choice to determine the transferability of classes taken.
Dual enrolled students are NRCC students. The learning outcomes for the dual enrollment courses are the same as those for courses taught on campus, and the level and rigor of content are the same as well. Dual enrolled students have unrestricted access to NRCC library’s full catalog of books, as well as a wide range of digital resources.
Students (and their parents or caregivers) must recognize that dual enrollment courses require greater time and effort than regular high school courses. Dual enrollment courses become part of a student’s permanent college transcript, so it is essential that students do well in these courses.
To be eligible for the dual enrollment program, interested students must meet the following criteria:
NRCC’s high school-based dual enrollment program offers an opportunity for students to complete NRCC college courses while in high school. Courses offered meet requirements within NRCC degree and certificate programs. You can find more information about these programs and what courses each program requires at https://www.nr.edu/degrees/.
Though many high schools offer a broad range of dual-enrolled courses, most do not offer all courses required within a given program. High school students may explore options to enroll directly at NRCC to take additional classes through independent dual enrollment. Students and families can find more information about independent dual enrollment at https://www.nr.edu/dualenrollment/pdf/faq.pdf.
NRCC offers courses in a variety of modalities, including in-person day and evening classes, online classes, and hybrid classes (a mix between online and in-person). Not all courses are offered in every format. Class schedules for the current and upcoming term can be found at https://www.nr.edu/schedule/.
