Early College and Dual Enrollment: A View from Higher Education Leadership

1. Early College and Dual Enrollment: A View from Higher Education Leadership Dr. John C. Cavanaugh, President & CEO Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area OSSE Postsecondary Conference January 10, 2014 Newseum, Washington, DC

2. Background Principles • Fundamental principle: It’s About the Learning • Or at least it should be • Students should be allowed to be in the most academically challenging environment in which they can succeed • Need to move beyond bright lines between secondary and postsecondary • Need to articulate clear learning outcomes

3. Early College Approach • General notion is that if a student can succeed in a college course, they should be enrolled even if they have not yet completed secondary education • Secondary student enrollment on an ad hoc basis has long history • Learning outcomes may accrue to postsecondary record, depending on situation

4. Dual Enrollment Approach • Given basis in student learning, assignment of “credit” becomes a match between the learning and the level that learning has been assigned • If learning clearly demonstrated at a higher level, then “back transfer” of that learning should be automatic—accrual of learning outcomes occurs at both levels • That forms basis for “dual enrollment”

5. Moving Forward • No right or best administrative model • Lack of options penalizes students • Steps forward MUST start with well defined learning outcomes and competencies at secondary and postsecondary levels

6. Thank You! jcavanaugh@consortium.org