In fall 2009, Mount Carmel Academy is offering the following Dual Credit courses taught by Houston Community College professors at MCA. MCA students stay on campus because the HCC professors come to us. The Dual Credit courses provide both high school credit and college credit so that those students graduating from MCA with dual credits have already been accepted to a college and have earned up to 15 college credit hours before they even start college.
Government 150
Economics 150
English 3 151
English 4 151
College Connections 150
Academic Courses
Academic courses are those that are typically required for students who intend to transfer from HCC and pursue a traditional baccalaureate (four-year) degree at a university. The most popular academic courses are American History, English Composition, American Government, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish. All of these courses satisfy core curriculum requirements at HCC and will transfer to any public college or university in the state of Texas as core curriculum. College algebra, art history, speech, introductory biology, and introductory chemistry may also be taught as dual credit and would transfer as core curriculum. Science lab courses can only be taught as dual credit when the high school lab meets the requirements of the college curriculum, which the MCA Science Lab will meet once it is operational. As we grow, MCA will continue to expand the list of Dual Credit courses we offer.
Student Eligibility
All dual credit students, regardless of whether they intend to take academic, workforce, or college prep courses, must satisfy the following criteria:
• Junior or senior standing in high school;
• Passing TAKS scores; and/or
• Appropriate scores on HCC placement tests (ASSET or COMPASS)
The Southeast HCC campus works with MCA to arrange for the testing of students as needed.
Once a MCA student has qualified to take a Dual Credit course, he or she should meet with Mrs. Giacchino (Principal), Mrs. Becker (Counselor) or Mrs. Hagerty (Registrar) to continue the process of registering to take the courses. MCA will guide the student through the process.
Applying for Admission to Houston Community College
To apply for admission to HCC, students must complete an HCC application. This may be accomplished on line at the HCC web site: http://www.hccs.edu. Click on "admissions & registration center." Select "Dual Credit". Students will need the following information in order to complete the application:
• Social Security Number
• Visa/Permanent Resident Information (if applicable)
• Texas Driver's License
• Social Security Number of Parent/Guardian (if residency claimed upon Parent/Guardian.)
• Permanent Resident Information of Parent/Guardian (if residency claimed upon Parent/Guardian.)
• THEA scores (if applicable.)
• SAT, ACT, and/or TAKS Scores and Test Dates (if applicable)
• ASSET or COMPASS scores (if applicable)
• Dates of high school attendance
Select "High School Concurrent" under Admit Type.
Registration and Payment
Once students have completed the admissions process with the help of MCA staff, they will then be assigned the appropriate class by MCA (in collaboration with HCC.)
MCA students living in-district (Houston ISD, Stafford MSD, Alief ISD and Missouri City residents) may take dual credit classes tuition-free. MCA students living out-of-district (all others) pay only the out-of-district fee of $162.00 per course, which is a fantastic bargain for college credit.
Course Curricula and Grading
A dual credit course is a college course in all respects. The curriculum is the curriculum for the college course. The textbooks are the same books used on the college campus and the grading standard is the same. The college instructor will assign grades on the standard HCC grading scale:
• 90-100 percent is a grade of A
• 80-89 percent is a B
• 70-79 percent is a C
• 60-69 percent is a D
• less than 60 percent is an F.
College students have the option of withdrawing from the class and may be administratively withdrawn by their instructor if they have excessive absences.
College instructors will work with the high school administration to provide periodic grade reports for school records. The rules of dual credit allow college faculty to use two grading scales, one for the high school class and the other for the college class. Consequently, a student could master the course material at a level satisfactory to pass the high school class while failing the college course.
HCC Library Resources for Dual Credit Students
As registered HCC students, dual credit students are entitled to full use of the resources and services of any HCC library. Regardless of which college a student is enrolled in, the resources of any HCC library are available to him or her. Resources and services include access to the HCC print collections, periodicals, reference materials and electronic resources, as well as instruction in the use of these materials and general reference assistance.
While most of the research needs of dual credit students may be met by the resources of the high school library, it is important to inform students that they may access the full resources of the HCC system as well. The college's electronic resources include a broad range of full text databases. These databases are accessible through any HCC Library or they may be accessed from home computers with appropriate authorization. In order for students to use HCC resources or access electronic databases, they must have an HCC Library Card, which may be obtained from any HCC Library. The student will need to present a fee receipt for the current semester and a photo ID, either a Texas driver's license or an ID from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Finally, HCC is an institution of higher education. The HCC Libraries provide materials that support and supplement the educational process. No effort is made to either censor or filter any materials from its collections.
An Open Letter to Dual Credit Students from HCC:
Welcome to Houston Community College! We are delighted that you have chosen to get a jump-start on your college education by participating in the HCC dual credit program. College courses are both interesting and challenging. You will learn a great deal, but you will be expected to work hard. On average, college students should plan to study at least two hours a week for every hour spent in the classroom. Students taking a three-semester hour class should set aside a minimum of six hours a week to study. Some students will need to study more. Most students should schedule extra study time when exams are planned or course projects are due.
Pay careful attention to your instructor's system for assigning grades. If you do poorly on a test or assignment, most college instructors will not allow you to repeat the work in order to improve your grade. You should not expect to receive extra course credit for attendance. Also, your instructor will probably not allow you to do extra work to bring up a poor grade.
The grade you earn in this course will become part of your permanent college record. We all hope that your grade is a good one, but if you find yourself doing poorly in the class, you may wish to drop.
Students who withdraw before the official drop date will receive a W on their transcript. A withdrawal is preferable to a grade of D or F. If you need to drop, be sure that you complete the appropriate paperwork and do so before the last date for course withdrawal.
College courses sometimes deal with controversial issues or subject matter that high school courses would ordinarily avoid. Your instructor will teach the same course he or she teaches on our college campus.
Be sure that you understand your instructor's attendance policy. Houston Community College policy states that students may be dropped if they miss more than six hours of class in a three semester-hour course. In contrast to high school, the college does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. If you miss class because you are ill or attend a school function, those absences will count against you. Your instructor may also have a tardy policy.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions - Your instructor is available to answer questions about course materials or class policies. If you have any concerns about your performance in the course or you are not sure whether you understand an assignment, please do not hesitate to schedule a conference with your instructor. All of us at Houston Community College are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Don't be afraid to ask questions!
We wish you the best for an excellent semester. We are sure that you will not only learn a great deal, but that you will enjoy your courses as well. If you have questions about the college that we can answer, please call us or email us. We always enjoy speaking with students.
Sincerely,
HCC Faculty and Staff
|
