Fourth in a series on rural universities.
Universities often partner with high schools to enhance educational opportunities, bridge gaps between secondary and higher education and prepare students for future academic challenges. Such partnerships are especially important in rural high schools that are “off the beaten path,” like many of the high schools in West Texas and especially the top 46 counties. The majority of 1A or 2A high schools average 65 to 180 students respectively, according to the University Interscholastic League, accounting for about 20% of Texas schools. Universities claiming to serve rural communities must be engaged with these high schools because the students deserve a chance to be optimistic about their future as it relates to higher education if that is a path they choose to pursue.
University summer camps, mentorships, research opportunities, college readiness workshops, outreach and recruitment programs, as well as career and technical education programs, are means to enhancing relationships between high schools and rural universities.
Dual enrollment programs are a particularly important opportunity for universities to reach rural students through course offerings not usually available in rural schools, according to New Hampshire’sampshir’s HaA Casey School of Public Policy. For example, college-level mathematics or courses in the sciences or social sciences may not be accessible in rural high schools when the limited number of students does not allow for cost-effective, typically lower-demand, offerings. Dual enrollment programs are important because they offer college preparation coursework and credits to be earned simultaneously for both high school and college. Such courses require developing good study and time management skills early in a student’s academic career providing a higher likelihood of success. The costs of such courses are often subsidized, and the overall cost of college tuition is reduced for both students and families. In addition, completing college credits in high school can shorten the time needed to earn a degree, thus allowing the student earlier entry into the workforce.
Students who participate in dual enrollment are more likely to enroll in college after high school and graduate on time than their peers who do not take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities, reports the University of Texas. In addition, the exploration of various career paths through college-level coursework is enhanced through dual enrollment, and dual enrollment can help boost motivation and engagement among high school students by offering challenging and relevant courses. But, buyer beware, the quality and transferability of dual credit coursework are not assured, and not all high school students are ready for dual enrollment courses.
Dual enrollment in Texas public schools has risen by almost 700% during the first decade of the 21st century. According to Blake Decker, of The Texas A&M University System, 186,000 students were taking dual credit courses across all high schools in Texas during the fall of 2021. The preponderance of these dual credit courses, over 90%, were subscribed to at community colleges. Texas, not surprisingly, was the national leader in dual credit subscriptions, followed by California. Texas pragmatism is looking carefully at effective ways to reduce the cost of college attendance and challenge capable and motivated students. Rural regional universities should play a major role in offering dual credit courses. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley had the highest dual enrollment per student in Texas in 2020, according to the University of Texas and Texas A&M International University was second according to the same study.
Over 160 Texas colleges, both two-year and four-year, public and private accept dual credit courses according to Univstats.com. The cost savings to families and students who avail themselves of the opportunity for dual credit study are significant. In the last academic year, Texas high school students enrolled in over 200,000 dual credit courses, according to the Texas Education Agency. The average cost of a three-hour dual-credit course at Texas colleges can vary widely depending on whether the institution is a public or private college. Generally, for public colleges in Texas, the cost per credit hour ranges from $50 to $350 for in-state students. Therefore, a three-hour course could cost between $150 and $1,050 for an average of $400. Many school districts cover the costs of dual credit enrollment making it difficult to get an accurate statewide cost analysis. However, it would be safe to assume the cost per three-credit dual enrollment course on average would be $100 providing an estimated savings to Texas families of approximately $60 million per year. Early College High Schools or charter schools in Texas are increasing annually according to the Texas Education Agency. Therefore, the cost saving for a bachelor’s degree in Texas is growing.
At West Texas A&M University, we will continue to work with smaller, rural school districts in our region and every corner of the state to offer excellent and efficient educational opportunities. It is the Panhandle way. As THE Panhandle’s University, WT is redefining excellence in response to Panhandle pragmatism.
Walter V. Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns, with hyperlinks, are available at https://walterwendler.com/.
