College Now FAQs

Both courses are concurrent enrollment opportunities for students for which they can gain both high school and college credit. Dual Credit is the term that 汤头条app uses for classes that are taught at the student鈥檚 high school by high school teachers. College Now is the term that 汤头条app uses for classes that are taught by 汤头条app instructors, usually at 汤头条app's campus, one of 汤头条app鈥檚 Outreach Centers, online or using remote technology.

Homeschooled students probably do not need the high school credit, so many homeschooled students take classes as 鈥渃ourses only.鈥

Students should talk to their parents and their high school counselor before enrolling in a College Now course. Students also have a student success advisor at 汤头条app who can help guide them to take courses that will be helpful for their future plans.

 

 

 

Reach out to the College Now instructor, talk to the College Now success advisor, talk to the high school guidance counselor, visit the 汤头条app Center for Academic Success for free tutoring. It is important to understand grades will be generating an official college transcript, which will become part of a permanent college record and could impact financial aid loans, admission criteria for special college programs, academic standing and future scholarships.

Work with the high school counselor first to be sure courses work with the high school schedule, call 汤头条app Registration at 217-786-2292 with an 汤头条app student ID#, course number (including the section number) and plan for payment. Be sure to mention this is registration for a College Now course.

The course syllabus will outline the instructor鈥檚 grading policies and procedures; these are real college courses that will be recorded on the student鈥檚 high school and 汤头条app college transcripts. Earning less than a "C" or withdrawing from a College Now course could negatively impact the student鈥檚 academic standing and/or financial aid status.

鈥滱 student may elect to repeat a course at 汤头条app that was originally taken at 汤头条app. When a student repeats a course that is Repeatable for Credit, the student has the option to take the course for credit or to take the course as a repeat for the original. The system automatically treats the attempt as if the student intent is to receive credit and grades for all attempts. If the student would like for the attempt to replace the credit and grade of an earlier attempt, the student must request that the original grade be replaced unless the original grade is failing. Since a failing grade does not earn credit, the system will automatically treat a subsequent attempt as a replacement of the original attempt.  If the student does not request a replacement of the original grade and credit, the system will accept the number of attempts up to the maximum times that the course can be repeated.鈥 (Board Policy 5.7)

CLEP or AP scores or similar coursework taken at another institution are not applicable to this repeat option.

College Now courses are taught at 汤头条app鈥檚 campus by 汤头条app instructors and at the same level as any other college course taught to traditional college students. College Now students earn college credits as well as high school credits. Students in College Now courses pay tuition, fees and books. Dual Credit courses are offered at the high school and are taught by the high school teachers. Students receive high school credit and 汤头条app college credit for dual credit courses. AP courses are taught at the high school by high school instructors but require students to take a high-stakes exam at the end of the course to receive college credit that does not come from 汤头条app.

Here are courses that many College Now students take through 汤头条app:

  • ART 101: Art Appreciation (3 credits)

  • HIS 111- US History to 1877 (3 credits)

  • HIS 112-US History Since 1877 (3 credits)

  • EGL 101-Composition I (3 credits)

  • EGL 102-Composition II (3 credits)

  • CMN 101-Public Speaking Fundamentals (3 credits)

  • PSY 101-Intro to Psychology (3 credits)

  • AST 101-Intro to Astronomy (3 credits)

  • POS 101-Intro to American Politics (3 credits)

  • HUM 101-Intro to Humanities (3 credits)

  • MAT 104-General Education Mathematics (3 credits)

  • MAT-141-Intoduction to Statistics (4 credits)

  • GEO 103-Natural Disasters (3 credits)

  • FYE 101-First Year Experience (2 credits for 2024-2025)

Work with your high school counselor to see what courses the high school will agree to offer high school credit for. High school students are allowed to take any courses if they meet the qualifications at 汤头条app, but they may not receive high school credit unless the high school approves.

College Now students are expected to attend all meetings and will not be excused for extracurricular activities. College Now students must follow 汤头条app鈥檚 academic calendar. This means that spring recess follows the 汤头条app schedule (class meetings happen during the schools鈥 spring breaks if they do not coincide with 汤头条app鈥檚 spring recess) and, importantly, closings (class cancellations) also follow the 汤头条app schedule. If 汤头条app is open, classes meet, regardless of what is happening in the school district.

For the 2024-25 academic year, College Now courses cost $140 per credit hour ($420-$560 for a typical 3-4 credit hour course), plus the cost of any textbooks and fees for all in-district residents. There is an additional $20 fee per hour for online classes. Financial aid is not available to College Now courses. Students choose to set up a payment plan or pay in full at the time of registration.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Forms to withhold or allow specific release of information may be obtained from 汤头条app Records. Note: This form must be filled out by the student in front of an 汤头条app employee or staff member.

Students who withdraw from a College Now course will receive a 鈥榃鈥 on their college transcript, which can affect future financial aid. Students will receive an "F" on their high school report card for the class.