NK schools, VSU forge dual enrollment partnership

New Kent School Board members have unanimously agreed to approve a partnership with Virginia State University to offer dual enrollment classes to high school students beginning next fall.

Dr. Muriel Hawkins, an assistant provost at the university, and Tonnie Villines, an information staff member responsible for dual enrollment, gave a half-hour presentation to board members during a March 18 work session.

Hawkins’ initial comments made the decision for New Kent to partner with Virginia State one that would benefit both sides.

“Dual enrollment can earn as many as 30 credits towards college,” Hawkins said. “It also helps families financially by saving thousands of dollars when their kid can take college classes in high school.”

Currently, Virginia State works with 13 high school districts in Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, and neighboring Charles City County. More than 400 students are taking courses in the dual enrollment program at the university.

“We understand every school wants something different,” continued Hawkins. “We are looking to meet with schools with unmet needs.”

Virginia State’s dual enrollment plan focuses on offering courses that aren’t offered through community college dual enrollment programs, according to Hawkins. Virginia State also doesn’t interfere with high schools that currently have successful programs, and they have a mutual agreement with a majority of Virginia’s community colleges to initiate programs that those community colleges have chosen to not to fulfill.

“We opened offices about a year and a half ago, but we have been doing [dual enrollment] for six years,” said Villines. “We started with math with Prince George, and now we are adding [English] composition, biology, U.S. history, and introduction to teaching.

“We can offer anything our catalog has as long as we can certify teachers,” concluded Villines.

To be certified, a New Kent High School teacher’s credentials must include having a master’s degree and additional graduate hours. An unofficial transcript is also needed to be able to teach courses at the high school. An academic panel at VSU would review those documents and certifications and an approval list would be sent back to New Kent schools.

Students would benefit from the courses by being able to earn college credits as well as taking identical courses that the college is offering. Teachers also benefit from the new relationship. After certification is approved, teachers will have access to VSU’s resources, as well as have the opportunity to become adjunct faculty at the university.

Campus faculty will mentor as liaisons with approved teachers. Teachers would be required to attend a one-day work session in August, but will also have opportunities to attend faculty meetings of VSU professors and staff.

One thing that could have influenced the school board’s decision was the start-up time. Upon approval, Villines said it could take as little as two months for the program to get up and going.

At the recommendation of director of curriculum and instruction Nate Collins, school board members had no problem approving the new union. One school board member thoroughly supported VSU’s approach.

“I like the idea and appreciate them working with other community colleges,” said District 1 member Brett Marshall. “It gives the students at the high school level an idea that this may be the path they want to take.”

“They’re not focusing on large schools alone,” he continued. “They are focused on the mixture.”

Collins said the goal is to continue to work with Rappahannnock Community College and let them handle the career and technical educational dual enrollment courses through the Bridging Communities Career and Technical Center located in New Kent’s Historic School. Virginia State is to begin handling the academic dual enrollment classes.