MIDLAND, Texas — There are many reasons why students choose not to pursue higher education, but Midland College is offering a pathway that eases one of those burdens, encouraging students to give college a try.
College provides students with the opportunity to grow, learn and gain new experiences — but it often comes with a hefty price tag.
This was something MC noticed as well, and after nearly a decade-long conversation, they now offer free dual credit courses to any high school student willing to take them.
President of Midland College, Damon Kennedy said the school wanted to, "clear as many barriers as possible, so students have no excuse not to try. We believe free dual credit does just that—it eliminates any financial reason for students not to consider taking dual credit courses.”
The most obvious challenge to enrolling in college is financial, but this new program covers tuition, books and supplies, giving families one less thing to worry about.
“They don’t have to choose between paying for club volleyball or taking dual credit," Dr. Kennedy said. "Students can do both, and we’ll take care of the dual credit piece.”
Midland College offers both transfer and career and technical education (CTE) dual credit classes, which are taught on campus and at local high schools.
They specially noted that the program is not just for public school students. Private, homeschool and charter students are also welcome to enroll.
“The transfer dual credit courses are typically your general education courses—math, science, English, history—whereas CTE courses are more hands-on, but both are college-level," Dr. Kennedy said. "For the most part, our transfer courses are taught on high school campuses by ISD faculty, while students in CTE programs come to our Advanced Technology Center or Cogdell Center, where Midland College faculty teach them.”
Midland College has been working on this program for years, but Dr. Kennedy said when they decided to offer free dual credit they chose to implement it fully instead of starting small.
“When we first started talking about free dual credit, we toyed with the idea of a pilot, but the folks who work with me know that I’m not a big fan of pilot projects," Dr. Kennedy said. "If it’s a good idea, then let’s just go do it.”
Midland College has opened the door for bigger opportunities and more experiences, but now it’s up to the students to take the next step and enroll.