TMISD signs dual enrollment agreement
Young, fresh faces will soon occupy the desks at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) as the Javelinas of tomorrow finish crafting their school schedule, filling it up with new dual enrollment offered courses.
On Oct. 18, TAMUK and Tuloso-Midway Independent School District (TMISD) signed an agreement to provide dual credit courses to high school students.
“This is a unique and amazing opportunity, not only for students, but for their families as well. My vision and hope are that students take advantage of this opportunity that we are making available to them,” Superintendent of Schools for TMISD Steve VanMatre said.
“This is a period of transition for Tuloso-Midway High School (TMHS). How fortunate they are to be enrolled at this school when this is taking place.”
VanMatre officially began working for TMISD in June. He explained that as soon as the board approved his contract, he started networking with representatives from TAMUK, the administration at TMHS and district level officials.
“Through their participation, high school students gain first-hand knowledge as to the college-level academic and social expectations that facilitate the transition of motivated students to higher education,” Dual Enrollment Coordinator Miranda Joiner said. “The students will benefit from completing courses taught by our instructors who are renowned leaders in their academic fields.”
Courses offered for the dual enrollment program by TAMUK are approved in the undergraduate course inventory of the university.
TAMUK offers a cadre of only freshmen and sophomore (1000 and 2000) level courses to eligible students. Based on availability each semester, these courses consist of core curriculum and foreign language dual enrollment courses as outlined in the approved course equivalency crosswalk. The crosswalk equates high school courses with college courses and identifies the number of credits that may be earned for each course completed through the program.
“Our university is proud to partner with an outstanding district like Tuloso-Midway—a district with excellent leadership and dedicated educators,” TAMUK President Dr. Robert Vela said. “It is our mission to provide educational access and opportunity for the students of our region, and this agreement allows us to extend our reach to the students of TMISD.”
Students must be enrolled in grades nine through 12. The student must meet the minimum college readiness standards on a state-approved assessment relevant to the course(s) they are requesting. Juniors and seniors from TMISD will take their dual enrollment classes on the university campus.
Freshmen and sophomores will take their dual enrollment classes at Tuloso-Midway High School. Additionally, some students will also take online courses through the university.
“The instructors do an amazing job in truly preparing students for the academic rigors of college,” Joiner said.
Participating students earn college credit while also meeting the requirements of their high school curriculum. This program also offers the opportunity to shorten the time needed to earn an undergraduate degree by providing affordable access to university courses. TMISD will be covering the cost for their participating students.
“We know that dual-credit programs offer high school students the chance to begin earning college credits with little to no cost to them,” Vela said. “These courses can then transfer and be applied toward their degree programs as they pursue their higher education goals.”
The first cohort of students from TMISD will be on campus for the Spring 2023 semester. Then, a much larger group of more than 100 students will be on campus for the Fall 2023 semester. Students enrolled in dual credit courses are considered college students and will have access to college resources such as academic/counseling support, career planning services, library materials and tutoring services.
“We are really impressed with A&M Kingsville. It is an honor for TMISD to be given the opportunity to not only take classes online, but to also send students to campus,” VanMatre said.
“It gives them the chance to check the university out to see if they want to call this their second home after they graduate high school. We are so appreciative; this could not have happened without A&M Kingsville allowing it to.”
