ESCC Foundation approves $12,500 dual enrollment grant fund
With dual enrollment students making up a large portion of enrollment at Enterprise State Community College, the ESCC Foundation Board recently approved the creation of a new dual enrollment grant fund program.
“The ESCC Foundation continually seeks new ways to support the students of Enterprise State through providing financial support relevant to the current needs of those students,” President of the ESCC Foundation Chad Meeks said. “As such, the Foundation Board of Directors recently recognized a need to provide grant funding for dual enrollment students.
“We are pleased to provide $12,500 to establish grants that will allow high school students the opportunity to attend classes at the college while also meeting their current high school requirements. We consider this a great opportunity to support this growing student segment at ESCC.”
For the Spring 2020 semester alone, ESCC had 465 students enrolled in dual enrollment classes. Of those students, approximately 65 percent are enrolled in a Career and Technical Education programs, which are funded by the State of Alabama through Career and Technical Education Dual Enrollment (CTEDE) Scholarships. Approximately 35 percent of ESCC dual enrollment students are only enrolled in general academic classes, but there are no state funds available for these students. The board approved the $12,500 grant funds for high school students who want to advance their academic studies.
These funds are available for high school students throughout ESCC’s service area. Students who receive grant funds will be chosen by the high school counselors and/or principals. Students are encouraged to reach out to their counselors for eligibility requirements.
Each grant will be used for one course in either the fall or spring semester. The cost of books is not included in the grant. Students may reapply for the grant each year as long as he or she remains in high school and maintains the necessary requirements.
Dual enrollment is a program that offers high school students the opportunity to take college courses while receiving both college and high school credit, according to Instructional Resources and Community Education Director Ann Kelley-Spence.
“With the new grant money from our Foundation, it gives more high school students the opportunity to get a jump start on their college education,” she said. “The best part of taking a college academic class is you are getting both college and high school credit. One three-credit-hour college class is equal to one high school Carnegie credit; it is one to one.”
Students planning to transfer to a public university in Alabama can use the STARS Guide to ensure all courses will transfer.
For more information on dual enrollment, contact Ann Kelley-Spence at akelley@escc.edu or call (334) 347-2623 ext. 2208.