| What courses are available for dual enrollment? |
Students can take a variety of courses that align with their interests and future major. Consult with your high school counselor for options. |
Students and Guardians |
| How do I find out if I'm eligible for dual enrollment? |
All students admitted to dual enrollment must demonstrate readiness for college by meeting specific academic criteria. Consult your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details. |
Students and Guardians |
| Will these credits transfer to other colleges? |
Yes! Dual enrollment credits are generally accepted at public and private colleges in Virginia. Specific accepted courses depend on the student’s major and college or university. |
Students and Guardians |
| How much does dual enrollment cost? |
Courses that count toward a Passport or Uniform Certificate of General Studies taught by high school faculty in the high school are offered at no cost to the student. Each high school should have a prescribed pathway to complete the Passport or UCGS at no cost to the student. Courses outside of the pathway and courses taught on a college campus may be at full cost or a discounted rate. Consult with your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details. |
Students and Guardians |
| Can I earn high school credit while earning college credit? |
In many circumstances, students can earn high school credits while also earning college credit. Consult with your high school counselor for more information. |
Students and Guardians |
| WIll I need to pay for textbooks or additional materials? |
Textbook and material costs vary based on course and high school. Consult with your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details. |
Students and Guardians |
| Is financial aid available for dual enrollment? |
Federal and state financial aid are not available for dual enrollment students. However, some Virginia community colleges and school districts offer tuition assistance for eligible students. |
Students and Guardians |
| How do I apply for dual enrollment courses? |
Apply for admission at your local community college and meet with your high school counselor or college advisor to select eligible courses that align with your academic and career goals. |
Students and Guardians |
| Are AP or IB courses the same as dual enrollment? |
No, AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses are high school classes with college-level material, where college credit may be earned by passing exams. |
Students and Guardians |
| Are there online dual enrollment courses? |
Yes, many Virginia community colleges offer online dual enrollment courses. Availability depends on the subject and specific college. Certain courses may still have in-person components, so confirm with the offering college. |
Students and Guardians |
| What are the Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies? |
The Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) are 16 or 31 credit programs that give a strong foundation to students' higher education. Completion of the Passport or UCGS ensures that credits transfer and apply towards general education requirements at all 4-year public colleges and most private 4-year colleges n Virginia. For information related to CCRV, a specific high school’s pathway, or general dual enrollment questions, please contact a high school counselor or dual enrollment coordinator for your service region. |
Students and Guardians |
| Are all UCGS courses offered at a high school and taught by a high school instructor at no cost to the student or division, even if they’re not in the UCGS pathway? |
Yes. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Can students take courses that don’t necessarily lead to
Passport/UCGS completion if they’re offered at the high school? Would this be at no cost? |
Yes, students can take any UCGS course offered at the high school and taught by high school faculty at no cost. However, the advising toolkit distributed this summer by VDOE emphasizes advising students to complete the Passport or UCGS, and a prescribed pathway to Passport and UCGS will be developed through collaboration between high school / division and college. While it’s possible for a student to take additional UCGS courses at no cost, advising should focus on taking courses leading to Passport and UCGS completion. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Is there a credit limit for students taking UCGS courses? |
No. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Will students who plan to complete UCGS be expected to take SDV 100? |
The SDV requirement for UCGS has been removed from policy. A student matriculating to the community college for a degree could be required to take SDV upon college enrollment. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Will students in UCGS be considered “degree seeking”? |
Yes. |
SIS |
| Will Dual Enrollment students' plans show as degree-seeking? |
Yes. |
SIS |
| Can districts use Advanced Placement (AP) courses instead and have students send AP scores to count as UCGS courses, instead of offering as many UCGS courses? |
Students can transfer in AP course scores for specific UCGS or Passport classes if there is an established exact VCCS equivalency to a specific UCGS course. Students should be made aware that universities may re-evaluate AP scores and may not accept an AP score for a general education or major requirement. 25% of credit hours must be taken at home institution (community college). |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Are Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses offered at no cost? |
CTE courses will not be provided at no cost at this time. |
Student Populations |
| Can a Dual Enrollment student take courses during the summer at no cost? |
If a student is taking a course on the college campus, the student will pay tuition. The UCGS pathway is assumed to be made up of classes offered in the fall and spring. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Why are all UCGS courses taught by high school faculty at the high school at no cost? |
As system leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure full alignment with the spirit and intent of state legislation. To that end, the Chancellor has determined that this course of action represents the most prudent and strategic path forward for the VCCS. It underscores our collective commitment to meeting the expectations of the CCRV legislation and to erring on the side of greater clarity, consistency, and compliance—rather than risk being out of step with the law or falling short of the Commonwealth’s expectations. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| What happens if a student elects not to take a course at the high school for whatever reason (ex: doesn’t like the instructor or prefers to take another class and it’s a scheduling issue). Do we then have to offer to enroll them in an online course? |
If a student elects not to take a course in the established pathway at the high school for some reason, there is no obligation for the college to provide a seat in an online course at no cost. |
Passport and UCGS: courses and credits |
| Is there an orientation requirement for online students? |
For this year, colleges should employ their own practice while we develop systemwide guidance for 2026-2027. Note that an orientation, depending on your local implementation, may require access to VCCS Canvas, and currently DE students don’t necessarily access VCCS Canvas. |
Online Courses |
| Is there a system-wide requirement regarding exam proctoring? |
For this year, colleges should employ their own practice while we develop systemwide guidance for 2026-2027. Expectations should be clearly communicated in advance to high schools and students. |
Online Courses |
| Can high school students be added to existing sections if seats are available (i.e., added to online course sections with non-DE students)? |
Yes. |
Online Courses |
| Can colleges “pool” all the students in a district (or districts) and offer DE-specific sections? |
Yes. |
Online Courses |
| Classes in the high schools may not be fully aligned with the college calendar. Can colleges offer online classes that follow the college calendar rather than the high school calendar? |
Yes. Note that this means that if a class period is set aside in the school day for students to take a virtual course, the high school will have to find something for the students to do during that time when the college course is not in session |
Online Courses |
| If a student is taking a course for dual enrollment that is a requirement to graduate and they do not pass, can they still graduate high school? |
If a student fails a dual enrollment course that is a required course for their high school, they have not met the requirements to graduate. |
Students and Guardians |
| If a college is offering an online course to fulfill a block in the high school's pathway, will it be offered each semester? |
The college is not required to offer a course each semester. Courses might only be offered in the Spring or Fall. Students should work with an advisor or dual enrollment coordinator to ensure they are scheduled for the appropriate courses to complete the UCGS. |
Online Courses |
| Can synchronous online courses be used to meet the pathway requirement at no-cost? Or should all the online versions taught by college faculty be asynchronous to qualify for the pathway no-cost? |
Yes, synchronous courses can be used, but it may be challenging to identify synchronous classes that work with a high school student’s schedule. |
Online Courses |
| Do “lab fees” include instructional materials for a course? Who provides access to technology to students? |
High schools and/or parents or guardians are responsible for providing students with essential technology, such as a laptop, for Dual Enrollment (DE) courses. However, DE students are welcome to use college-provided equipment and resources when they are on campus, just like any other college student.
If a course requires specialized software and the college normally provides that software as part of its enterprise license (e.g., MatLab), the college will cover the cost. If the software is considered an instructional material—similar to a textbook—then it must be purchased by the high school.
This represents a shift in practice for some districts, where students have previously purchased their own textbooks. It’s important to communicate these expectations clearly and early. We strongly recommend that colleges send school partners a detailed list of required textbooks and instructional materials in advance of the semester. |
Technology and Fees |
| Are homeschooled students able to take UCGS courses at not cost? |
The legislation only encompasses classes taught at a public high school and by a qualified high school teacher employed by public schools. Unless a home school student takes the class through their public high school and on that site, they would not be included in the legislation as written by the General Assembly. You can consult with your local school division to determine their policy on part-time home school student enrollment. |
Student Populations |
| What is the definition of “qualified” high school students? |
See Policy 6.6.3 Criteria for Participation in Dual Enrollment for further information on criteria: The student is a rising public or private high school junior or senior, or homeschool student studying at the high school junior or senior level. The high school student has permission of the principal or designee, and the parent. The homeschool student has permission of the parent. The student demonstrates readiness for each college-level credit-bearing course in which they want to enroll. The dual enrollment student must meet all course pre/corequisites as listed in the VCCS Master Course File and established by the college at which the student is enrolled in the course. |
Student Qualifications |
| If a student is taking a college course that is not required for high school completion, can it still count for dual credit? |
Yes. Dual enrollment means students are getting both high school and college credit, even if the high school credit does not fulfill a requirement for graduation. |
Students and Guardians |
| The Code requires the following: E. The Program shall include appropriate counseling by high school and comprehensive community college staff to ensure that all high school students and parents of high school students receive thorough information about the availability of and process for enrolling in Program courses and the opportunity to earn Passport Program and Uniform Certificate of General Studies Program credits that will transfer to public institutions of higher education. Is "appropriate counseling" system wide--or is this the responsibility of each college? |
The advising toolkit will provide guidance to high schools to provide this appropriate counseling. Program placement is also a means of providing information about the Passport and UCGS. |
Advising |
| Is there a requirement for the High School to use their Dual Enrollment credentialed teachers? |
Yes. |
Instructors and Credentialing |
| If a division has a credentialed instructor but chooses not to use them, can the college charge the division for the online course? |
If a division has a credentialed instructor, they must use them. |
Instructors and Credentialing |
| All current DE students who will be continuing on next year and so have already completed XAP will need to be moved into the UCGS program and have the XDUL student attribute added, correct? |
Correct. There is a process being developed to do this in batch. |
SIS |
| Would placing students in an additional program cause any problems? Our academy students are program placed early on with the XDUL. |
No, this won’t cause a problem. |
SIS |
| With DE plan stacks does UCGS need to be on top? |
The SIS system does function differently between a Plan add (same program stack) vs Program Stack add. However, we are also utilizing the XDUL student attribute to assist in segmenting data for fees processing to ensure this does not impact the DE solution. We will add this scenario for testing and confirm behavior in the college input sessions. |
SIS |
| Is there any way to add an inactive status to the XDUL student attribute to indicate that the student has converted to non-DE enrollment? My concern is if we are asked questions about previous terms - being able to see the history of a student's XDUL status would be helpful. |
This history should be preserved by the process adding a new row when the XDUL is removed. |
SIS |
| Will there be a query that the college can run to capture all DE students? |
Yes. |
SIS |
| How do we maintain (assuming flag or track) the types of Dual Enrollment Students that we work with (Dual Only, Governor’s School, & Combination) for reporting purposes? |
The same categories of dual students we currently collect will continue to be collected during the admissions application: High-school + College credit (041), College-credit only (042), and Mixed (043). If other categories are needed, we can discuss for future implementation. |
SIS |
| Are there plans to create something in SIS that would allow us to charge different tuition rates within a single semester? For example, an out-of-state student may take classes at the high school and receive the waiver, but if they took a course independently within the same semester, they would be billed at the in-state rate even though they may not be eligible for the waiver. |
As currently designed, the new process will be doing payment by 3rd party contract processing. Only qualified classes, taken by qualified students, will be included for no cost crediting on their account. We will be utilizing class attribute values along with other data elements to segment the class/student to determine whether regular fees apply vs TPC to waive. We will do specific testing on this scenario to ensure everything works as expected. |
SIS |
