Virginia State seeking dual enrollment program with NK

New Kent school officials are studying an offer by Virginia State University to partner in a dual enrollment program whereby county students can earn college credit while still in high school.

If New Kent accepts the proposal, which would go into effect starting with the next school year, it would mark county schools’ first dual enrollment venture with a four-year college. New Kent currently has a partnership with Rappahannock Community College, a two-year institution, which also involves the Bridging Communities Regional Career and Technical Center.

“VSU has made a real strong pitch,” New Kent school superintendent Rick Richardson told county school board members during the group’s Jan. 22 work session.

“Students could get two years of college credit before finishing high school, and that would be important to parents since it could cut [four-year] college costs in half,” he said.

In a separate interview, Richardson said New Kent has no intention of severing its dual enrollment ties with RCC. The county hosts the Bridging Communities Center, and that arrangement with RCC will continue, he added.

“VSU came to us asking if there’s interest in considering a dual enrollment program with them,” he said. “We presented this to the board for their consideration. The board will review the program in February and decide whether to move forward with it.

“This does not kill our dual enrollment program with RCC,” he said. “If we accept, it means we would be broadening our dual enrollment program. There are advantages with a four-year college that don’t exist with a two-year community college.”

VSU officials have offered to make a formal presentation of their proposal to the school board, Richardson said. That presentation could take place during the board’s Feb. 4 meeting, but as of press time the matter had not been added to the meeting’s agenda. As of press time, the matter is tentatively on the board’s agenda.