Supporting Student Learning for Early College and Dual Enrollment Students

Dual enrollment and early college programs need to support students throughout the life cycle of the program – from recruitment to being successful alumni. Recruitment for dual enrollment programs is best when it focuses on students who have the most gain from the programs, which are often not the students most readily identified by the school. Admissions processes for dual enrollment and early colleges vary as well, with some programs using processes such as Accuplacer or multiple measures to allow students to take classes at the college level. Once in courses, students need help accessing the supports that can maximize their success and need to feel enough belonging on campus to fully engage with resources they need to thrive. Programs must also be able to cultivate the trust of parents and caregivers of students, to help build buy-in for these programs and to cultivate future interest in full-time college enrollment.