College of DuPage expands dual credit program in Glenbard High School District 87

Students at all four Glenbard High School District 87 schools now have access to dual credit opportunities as part of a new agreement between District 87 and the Dual Credit program at College of DuPage.

Dual credit options previously only available at Glenbard South High School are now available at Glenbard East, Glenbard North and Glenbard West. The memorandum of understanding - the first of its kind between the college and a local high school district - was approved by COD and District 87 administrators late last month. Glenbard students now have the opportunity to jumpstart their college careers, earning college credits as part of their high school curriculum.

COD Associate Vice President of Academic Partnerships and Learning Resources Cynthia Sims said the new partnership illustrates the college and District 87's commitment to student success.

"This is the first formal MOU with a district, and it will serve as a model for other districts to follow. We plan to share this new initiative with teachers, students and parents to ensure they are aware of the courses being offered and the benefits of taking them," she said.

Serving more than two dozen high schools in DuPage County, COD's Dual Credit students enroll in selected courses at their high schools for which they receive both college credit and high school credit. Dual credit classes are taught at partner high schools during the regular school day by high school teachers who also are approved as adjunct faculty at COD. The curriculum for each class is approved by COD and is equivalent to the same course offered at the college level.

COD President Dr. Brian Caputo said the partnership is a significant step in the college's goal of continuing to expand and enhance dual credit offerings throughout DuPage County.

"We are thrilled to partner with Glenbard District 87 high schools to offer their students the opportunity to earn college credits and gain essential experience," Dr. Caputo said. "This program enables students to get a wonderful head start on their higher education goals. With dual credit classes offered at no additional cost, students can save a substantial amount of money toward their education investment. Dual credit affords students the opportunity to test the waters, seek out interests, hasten their progress toward degree completion and gain a competitive edge."

Aligned with the Illinois State Dual Credit Quality Act, the agreement features four classes available for the first time as dual credit offerings through COD: English 1101 (English Composition 1) and 1102 (English Composition 2), Math 1218 (General Education Mathematics) and Speech 1100 (Fundamentals of Speech Communication). As part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, the classes are transferable for college credit to more than 100 participating colleges and universities in Illinois.

"This amazing agreement with our partners at College of DuPage is a significant opportunity for our students to do college-level work while they still have support from their high school teachers and counselors," said Glenbard District 87 Superintendent Dr. David Larson. "We are proud to be the first high schools to offer these courses and are excited for some of our teachers to teach dual credit courses."

According to COD Manager of Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Lisa Haegele, the agreement strengthens the ties between COD and high schools and educational leaders in the community, while providing students crucial experience with which to enter college.

"The COD Glenbard Dual Credit MOU is significant because it's a product of not only the hard work put in by the faculty, administration and staff in the Concurrent Enrollment Committee at the college, but also the hard work put in by our partners at Glenbard District 87," she said. "It not only enhances and strengthens the college's Dual Credit program; it also expands dual credit opportunities for students at Glenbard high schools."

Students participating in the dual credit program can choose from a broad range of technical education classes, including architecture, automotive technology, computer and information systems, cosmetology, health sciences, horticulture, motion picture/television and welding, as well as general education classes such as anatomy and physiology, earth science, education, English, foreign languages, speech and math.

Learn more about the Dual Credit program at College of DuPage at www.cod.edu.