San Joaquin Delta College
5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton 95207
www.deltacollege.edu

Dual Enrollment High School Partnerships
Program Looks to Foster College Success

(Stockton, CA) San Joaquin Delta College recently established a “Dual Enrollment Partnership” with Calaveras High School. The agreement was approved at the college’s February board meeting and is slated to start in Fall 2016. The college anticipates this will be the first of many dual enrollment partnerships with district high schools.

Delta College Dual Enrollment Program

Community college dual enrollment agreements are made possible by California’s AB 288 College and Career Access Pathways Act. These programs expand technical career training opportunities, and allow high school students to get a jump start on their college education by working toward a degree while still in high school. Such programs are expected to motivate students by shortening a college trajectory by at least one year, improve college success rates, and save over $5,000 toward a college degree.

“Dual enrollment is a great program that has worked in many other states,” said Dr. Matt Wetstein, Delta’s Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction.“With California and Delta College jumping on board, high school students will build a portfolio of college credits before transferring. Families will save money, and students will greatly improve the likelihood that they will complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.”

Technical training is a key goal of AB 288. “Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways will be tied to articulated courses and facilities already in place at local high schools,” adds Wetstein. “Delta’s Calaveras program will initially provide one or two transfer pathway classes each semester taught by Delta College professors, or high school instructors who meet course qualifications.”

Additional AB 288 highlights include:

• Expansion of future dual enrollment transfer and career training pathways.
• HS students can now take up to 15 units per term at community colleges.
• Waives registration fees for HS students enrolling in designated college classes.

Delta College trustee Steve Castellanos represents the college’s Northern District. Castellanos says dual enrollment agreements will expand the college’s reach for foothills high school students who might have difficulty traveling to Delta’s Stockton or Mountain House campuses. “Now, they will have more convenient access to Delta College’s educational opportunities.”

With the high cost of a college education, retention and equity at the forefront, Superintendent/President Dr. Kathy Hart says students who take advantage of dual enrollment will not only save money, but be more acclimated to the demands of college coursework. “Dual enrollment programs can inspire students not necessarily on a college track to rise to the challenge. These agreements have tremendous potential to contribute to the academic success and career dreams of our students.”