Dual Enrollment in Community Colleges: The Importance of Understanding the Student Experience

In Short 

• A recent five-item survey of community college students who were previously dually enrolled found that students had been more likely to receive guidance about their dual enrollment coursework from someone who worked at their high school or friends and family than from someone who worked at the college in which they were dually enrolled. 
• The findings also illustrated that the majority of dually enrolled students did not matriculate to the college where they took dual enrollment courses.
• When the findings were disaggregated by race/ethnicity, they highlighted the existence of an equity gap in access to dual enrollment coursework: White and Asian students reported taking more dual enrollment courses than did Black and Latinx respondents.
• This data collection led CCCSE to develop and pilot a comprehensive dual enrollment survey of student engagement to help college leaders better understand the experiences of this population while they are active participants in dual enrollment programs—so that the benefits of the programs can be maximized for all students.
• By understanding more about students’ experiences with dual enrollment, colleges can improve student outcomes and foster relationships that lead to sustained enrollment