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Dual Enrollment

Ready to get started on your college education before you finish high school? USC Lancaster offers opportunities for eligible high school students to earn college credit while taking courses that also count toward high school graduation requirements. At USCL the term “Dual Enrollment” refers to courses offered through USC Lancaster in a cooperative arrangement with a school district.

News

Returning Students:

Returning students who are unable to attend a session can visit the USCL Admissions Office beginning December 2nd, 2024, or email Mrs. Waller on December 2nd, 2024, at wallerdh@mailbox.sc.edu from your USC email address after the date forementioned.

New Students: 

A new dual enrollment student is one attending USC Lancaster for the first time and must have an acceptance letter for the Spring 2025 term before attending orientation. If you have not received an acceptance text or email, please call (803) 313-7073 to check your status. 

Please view the following dates for all New (enrolling for the first time) students:

Dual Enrollment New Student Orientation - Dec. 2, 2024

Dual Enrollment New Student Orientation - Dec. 12, 2024

*Please note that new students are required to attend one of the above orientation sessions or plan to visit the Admissions Office after December 12th, 2024. 

 

HSLTAP/LTAP Processing Deadlines

 

Fall 2024
  • October 4, 2024
Fall II 2024
  • October 18, 2024

(Note: this will be for new enrollments for Fall II not late Fall)

Spring 2025
  • February 14, 2025
Spring II 2025
  • March 18, 2025

(Note: this will be for new enrollments for Fall II not late Fall)

Summer 2025
  • May 19, 2025

 

Get a Head Start

Dual enrollment courses have been a feature in South Carolina high schools since 1972. The purpose of these courses is to provide an avenue through which highly talented high school youth can earn college credit while simultaneously meeting high school graduation requirements, taking courses in the high school setting taught by an approved USC professor. The university professor designs the course, including the syllabus and all major assessments, and provides instructional time using video lectures, online delivery, and classroom visits. The class meets on the regular high school schedule with the classroom teacher as the facilitator. 

If you're interested in the dual enrollment program provided through USC Lancaster, please contact your school counselor to discuss the possibility of USCL courses being provided at your high school. Dual enrollment is limited to high school juniors and seniors. Exceptions can be made for high school freshman and sophomores depending on age of student and other criteria. (Note: A student must have a minimum 3.00 UGP GPA)

“At the end of the course, credit earned by satisfactory completion of dual enrollment courses (usually an earned grade of “C” or higher) will transfer to public South Carolina institutions, provided that the course is listed on the USC Course Equivalency Database.” 

 

For Dual Enrollment Students

On - Campus Students:
Students taking courses at USC Lancaster should follow the USC Lancaster closure/delay schedule and not that of their high school. For example, if the high school closes but USCL remains open and the student is taking a course at USC Lancaster, the student should attend class as scheduled. As always, we encourage students to contact their professor and check blackboard for more information.

Students taking USCL courses at their respective High School:
Students should check with the course instructor at the high school for more information about the instruction method in the event that there is a closure.

Please Note:
During inclement weather or other emergency situations, USC Lancaster follows the delay and closing determinations made by the county government officials where the campus is located, and not school district closures. The USC Lancaster campus follows delays and closings issued from Lancaster County Government.

  • Question: How many courses will I need to register for to receive Lottery Tuition Assistance Program funding?
    Answer: Two classes (six credit hours, per semester)
  • Question:How many courses will Lottery Tuition Assistance Program pay for?
    Answer: Five classes (15 credit hours, per semester)
  • Question:If I decide to take over 15 credit hours, how much is each additional credit hour?
    Answer: It is currently $75.00 per credit hour. This is subject to change.
  • Question:How do I apply to USCL Dual Enrollment?
    Answer: Students must have a 3.0 grade point average, complete a dual enrollment packet, submit a copy of their birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license (not a beginner’s permit), high school transcript to uscldual@mailbox.sc.edu and complete the online application and pay the $10 online application fee.
  • Question: What does Lottery Tuition Assistance Program cover?
    Answer:Only tuition (students must pay for books, lab fees, and course material)
  • Question:If I fail a course, can I retake the course?
    Answer: Students can retake two courses and complete the grade forgiveness form after they have retaken the course, located in Self Service Carolina.
  • Question: How are grades submitted?
    Answer: Only letter grades are required for USC Lancaster. Numerical and letter grades will be provided to each high school at the end of each semester for report cards, GPA, and class rank purposes.
  • Question:Will my course credits transfer to other colleges and universities?
    Answer: Please visit the colleges and universities website, search transfer equivalency and transfer credit policy. You can also use net to see if a specific course will transfer. All courses will transfer to USC Columbia and other USC campuses.
  • Question:What resources should I use as a dual enrollment student?
    Answer: All students must use their USC student email address, check Blackboard daily and use Self Service Carolina. Students can access all links on USCL homepage.
  • Question:What campus resources are available as a dual enrollment student?
    Answer: Medford Library, Academic Success Center, Career Counseling, Counseling and Disability Services, Student Activities, student engagement opportunities with Student Life, Computer Labs, and Wireless Network.
  • Question:How do I register for courses?
    Answer: If you are taking classes at your high school, the school counselor will provide us a roster listing your courses to register you. If you are taking classes at USCL, you will attend dual enrollment orientation or advisement session.   
  • Question:Do I need to apply every semester?
    Answer: No, Lottery Tuition Assistance and the fall acceptance letter will cover students for three semesters during the academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer). Students will need to reapply for the upcoming academic year.  (Example-2024-2025, 2025-2026 academic years.)
  • Question:When I reapply as a returning student, what documents will I need to submit?
    Answer: You will need to fill out a new application and pay the $10 online application fee for the new academic year. Within the application, you will complete a new LTAP form (Lottery Tuition Assistance) for the new academic year and an updated residency form. Your counselor will complete the LTAP & send an updated transcript to uscldual@mailbox.sc.edu.
  • Question:Where can I find my VIP#?
    Answer: The student’s VIP# will always be located on the acceptance email. The acceptance email should always be retained so the student can reference that number and their USC ID#.
  • Question:What do I do after I have registered for my classes?
    Answer: If you have not claimed your account, please login at sc.edu and follow the instructions on the acceptance letter. Log into Blackboard, USC Columbia & 2 Year Campuses and Click Courses.  Follow instructions on how to claim account, log into Blackboard, and setup email.  If your courses are not there, please wait 24 hours. If after that time, your classes are still not there, call the Office of Admissions at (803) 313-7073. Take time to review all functions in Blackboard.

Application

Immunization Records : Must be provided by all students taking classes on the USC Lancaster Campus.

On Campus Dual Enrollment Agreement

High School Transcript: Every student must provide an official high school transcript.

If you decide to enroll in a course for dual credit, please be aware of the following facts:

  • You are establishing a permanent college transcript so your success is very important.
  • Dual enrollment courses do count toward the GPA and hours earned as part of a student’s first year in college which can affect eligibility for financial aid programs in the second year of college.
  • Students are responsible for maintaining the academic standards of the University of South Carolina as stated in the USCL Student Handbook.

You must follow certain procedures and be aware of your high school’s deadline for schedule adjustment when dropping a course. If you would like to drop a course, check with your teacher to find out the last date to drop without a WF (withdrew failing) appearing on your USCL transcript.

Simply changing your class schedule at the high school does not drop you from the official class roll.  If you are taking classes at your high school, you must notify your school counselor that you wish to drop the course and the counselor will notify the Dual Enrollment Coordinator in writing.  If you are taking classes on the university’s campus, you will need to go to the Office of Admissions to complete a withdrawal form.  Failure to follow these procedures may result in an “F” being placed on your permanent University record. 

At the end of the course, credit earned by satisfactory completion of dual enrollment courses (usually an earned grade of “C” or higher) will transfer to public South Carolina institutions, provided that the course is included on the List of Transferable Courses in the Statewide Transfer and Articulation Policy.

If the course is not included on the above list, you are responsible for contacting the higher education institution to see if the course credit will be accepted.

If you plan on attending a private institution in South Carolina or any public or private institutions outside of South Carolina, you are responsible for contacting the institution and obtaining written assurance that the dual enrollment course credit will apply toward your degree requirements.

At the end of the course, you can check your grade and request a transcript online. To request credit transfer to schools other than USC, a student must have an official transcript sent to that school’s records office. If you are applying to more than one school, you can request an official transcript be sent to each one.

High School Dual Enrollment courses follow the standard attendance policy as stated in the USCL Academic Bulletin. Absence from more than 10 percent of the scheduled class sessions whether excused or unexcused is excessive and may result in a grade penalty.

Tests must be taken on the assigned dates. Makeup tests are only permitted in extreme cases.

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of l974, USCL students have the right to review, inspect, and challenge the accuracy of information kept in a cumulative file by the institution unless the student waives this right. It also ensures that records cannot be released in other than emergency situations without the written consent of the student. For more information on FERPA policy, see the USCL Student Handbook at the above referenced web page.

Access to Medford Library’s Electronic Resources is available from off-campus to currently enrolled students using EZProxy access. 

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The University of South Carolina has designated as the ADA Title II, Section 504 and Title IX coordinator the Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs. The Office of the Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs is located at 1600 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC; telephone 803-777-3854.

 


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