District Policy
9201 - Guidelines for Accelerated College Level Program
Special Programs Washington County School District-Revised 11-13-01; Revised 8-11-15; Revised 10-13-20
1. Purpose:
To administer a cooperative program with institutions of higher education to meet the needs of high school students.
2. Policy:
The university level program is based on the following principles:
2.1. Academically able high school students shall be allowed to profit from enriched or advanced level courses while completing high school attendance and/or curricular requirements.
2.2. An association between the high school and the university will facilitate an enriched curriculum by allowing academically able high school seniors (and in a few cases high school juniors) to enroll in university courses while they are in high school.
2.3. University courses taken as part of the Accelerated College Level Program should constitute additions to the established high school curriculum.
2.4. Registration in a university course will result in the establishment of a college transcript and the recording of college credit upon completion of the course. Such credit is applicable toward college degree programs, but such registration does not constitute "matriculation" as a full-time degree-seeking student. Further, it does not imply any abrogation of the school district's legal control of the ungraduated high school student's educational program and uncompleted compulsory school attendance responsibilities.
2.5. This program does not alter the existing area vocational program, instead it supplements the opportunity for advanced learning in other than the previously established vocational areas or concurrent enrollment courses.
3. Procedure:
3.1. The contact representative of Dixie State University in all matters pertaining to the college-level courses is the Office of Admissions and Registration.
3.2. Courses are to be considered Dixie State University courses, subject to all current university regulations.
3.3. Grading standards (overall scale) are subject to supervision by appropriate university representatives.
3.4. A formal connection between the high school and university will be maintained as follows:
3.4.1. High school students will be held to the same academic standard as matriculated university students.
3.4.2. An agreement form must be completed and signed by all appropriate personnel before the student will be admitted to a college-level course.
3.5. The student is required to purchase the current college-approved texts and materials for all courses.
3.6. The student will pay tuition and registration fees as established by the university.
4. Criteria for selection of students for college level programs:
4.1. Student Admission to the College Level Program
- Completion of a fully signed "Learning Contract/Agreement." (See attached)
4.2. Age/Grade Requirement
- This program is limited to senior and strongly recommended junior students.
4.3. Grade Point Average
- Overall GPA*: Must be a 3.5 or higher in all high school course work from grade nine to the date of application.
AND/OR
- GPA* in subject area: High School grades in courses related to the college subject for which the student is applying must be a 3.5 or better.
*If the student's cumulative GPA is lower than 3.5, yet there is a very strong and justifiable teacher, counselor and principal recommendation for that student to be admitted to the program; the teacher, counselor and principal recommendation should take priority over GPA. It is anticipated that this situation would occur only in very unusual circumstances.
5. Credit
5.1. High school credit will be awarded as follows:
5.1.1. Courses taken during the school day will receive no more than two periods of high school credit for a class of three credits or more.
5.1.2. Courses taken outside the school day will be awarded credit according to the following formula:
5..................1.5
4..................1.0
3..................1.0
2..................0.5
1..................0.25
Note: All college contracted courses and grades shall be posted on the high school transcript.
LEARNING CONTRACT/AGREEMENT
DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY AND WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
ACCELERATED COLLEGE LEVEL PROGRAM
STATEMENT OF INTENT AND INSTRUCTIONS
1. The intent of this program is to permit gifted/accelerated high school students to enroll in Dixie State University course work. Students who wish to participate in the Dixie State University/Washington County School District Gifted/Accelerated Student Program must meet the following criteria:
A. Have high school senior standing (selected juniors admitted by special permission only).
B. Have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a college course related subject GPA of 3.5 or better (refer to page 11-10 for exceptions).
C. Have written permission of the recommending teacher, school counselor, school principal, parents or guardian and the university professor/instructor(s)--see form below.
D. Pay standard university tuition and fees and obtain the required course materials.
2. Academically able high school students may enroll in Dixie State University classes, during regular school hours, when all elements of this Learning Contract/Agreement have been completed. These classes are not considered concurrent. The grades recorded on the college transcript will, also, be recorded on the student's official high school transcript. All grades posted on the high school transcript will affect the cumulative GPA. Contracted students are requested to submit their college transcript to the high school registrar.
GRADE REPORTS
After completion of the course, the Dixie State University Admissions and Registration Office will provide a grade report to the student and to the high school.