Administrative Standards

A. Type A Courses

1. Subject to the College’s approval of the instructor and compliance with the approved course procedures, the College will approve Type A Priority course requests.
2. The College may disapprove Non-Priority Type A Course requests if deemed necessary by the College to ensure appropriate levels of oversight and support for priority courses and other aspects of its dual credit partnership with the District. 

B. Type B Courses

Dual credit courses taught at a high school or other District-managed location by one or more College faculty members.

1. Where the use of College faculty members is concerned, the College primarily provides Type C courses to District schools (as defined below).
2. The College may disapprove Type B course requests if the College determines, in its sole discretion, that the College is unable to provide College faculty members.

C. Type C Courses

Dual credit courses that are taught online, taught via distance learning, co-taught by a District teacher and College faculty member, or other hybrid models of other types.

1. Type C courses are offered according to the College's academic calendar when taught by College faculty.
2. High school faculty members delivering Type C Courses must be certified for alternative delivery instruction by the College.
3. Other requirements applicable to the delivery and administration of a Type C course must be determined between the Parties. 
4. The College may disapprove a Type C course request if the College determines, in its sole discretion, that the College is unable to provide a College faculty member.

D. Type D Courses

Dual credit courses taught at the College or a College satellite location (other than a District-managed location) by one or more College faculty members.

1. The Parties will mutually specify the Type D courses, if any, that are appropriate course requests.
2. Type D courses are subject to cancellation or modification by the College in accordance with generally applicable College policies.

E. Type E Courses

Dual credit courses taught at the College or a College satellite location (other than a District-managed location) by one or more District Instructors. 

1. The requirements applicable to the delivery and administration of a Type E course must be defined between the Parties.

A. Annual Course Requests

B. Action on Course Requests

1. The College will proceed to the dual credit course review process for District course requests after the course selection deadline determined by the College. 
2. The College may disapprove any course requests for reasons noted in the District Course Offerings section above.
   • The basis for the disapproval must be provided on the course request form and returned to the District within fourteen (14) days from the annual course selection deadline, provided the District Liaison (or designee) submits or ensures submission of all required documentation by that deadline.

C. Type A Course Instructor Qualifications Review

1. For a new Type A course request, the District Liaison (or designee) will include with the course request form the instructor qualifications review form identifying the proposed instructor and indicating how the instructor meets the DCQA Qualifications Requirements, which are: 
   • For transfer courses (1.1. PCS), these qualifications include a minimum of a Master’s Degree with 18 graduate hours in the academic field of study or discipline.
   • For career technical education courses (CTE 1.2 PCS), these qualifications include 2,000 hours of work experience and the appropriate recognizable credential depending on the specific field.
2. Instructors not meeting these qualifications may qualify for a dual credit professional development plan per Section 20 of the Dual Credit Quality Act. Qualifying conditions are as follows:
   • Instructor has a master's degree in any discipline and has earned 9 graduate hours in a discipline in which he or she is currently teaching or expects to teach; or
   • Instructor is a fully licensed instructor in career and technical education who is halfway toward meeting the institution's requirements for faculty in the discipline to be taught.
   • Instructor agrees to demonstrate his or her progress toward completion to the supervising institution, as outlined in the professional development plan.
3. The College Liaison (or designee) will deliver the instructor qualifications documentation submitted by the District Liaison (or designee) to the appropriate College Dean (or designees) for review and provide feedback to the District Liaison (or designee) with preliminary approval or disapproval within fourteen (14) days from the course selection deadline, provided that the District Liaison (or designee) submits or ensures submission of all required instructor qualifications documentation by the deadline.
   • If approved, the College Liaison (or designee) will indicate preliminary approval and identify the College Course Contact on the course request form.
   • If disapproved, the College Liaison (or designee) will identify the basis for disapproval in writing on the instructor qualifications review form and submit the written rationale to the District Liaison (or designee).
     • The rationale must specifically indicate the basis for why the proposed Instructor does not meet the DCQA Qualifications Requirements or another legitimate basis for why the College is unable to approve the proposed instructor for the course.
     • Thereafter, the District Liaison (or designee) may request an in-person or teleconference meeting to discuss the disapproval among the applicable College designees and the District Superintendent (or designee). The appropriate College designees will participate in such a meeting if requested. 
4. The District must submit a new instructor qualifications review form subject to the review and approval process any time the District proposes a new instructor assignment for an approved course during the course selection process timeline.

REFERENCE: Partnership Procedures

A. Purpose

The Districts must adhere to the College's partnership procedures to ensure that:

1. courses address equivalent content and include the same learning outcomes as those courses taught at the College;
2. an adequate onboarding process for new instructors is designed and delivered in advance of the academic year wherein they are scheduled to teach;
3. students have adequate time to complete the College's admission process, which includes application and placement testing (if applicable);
4. students have adequate time to complete the District's registration process to solidify dual credit course offerings and logistics in advance.

B. Planning Areas

The College provides instructions concerning partnership procedures for Districts that cover the following areas:

1. Instructor Onboarding & Professional Development
   • College NOW Orientation (required)
   • Professional Development Opportunities
   • Expectations of District Instructors 
   • Recommended Best Practices
2. Grading Philosophy & Course Review/Site Visits
3. Partner Dual Credit Course Disclosures
   • Expectations of Students
   • Course Grade Level
   • Naming Convention
   • Maximum Capacity
   • Textbooks & Materials
   • Learning Management Systems (LMS)
   • Course Evaluations
4. Student Admission Process Timeline
   • College Application Submission
   • Placement Testing Completion
   • Eligible Alternate Test Scores
5. Roster Management Instructions
   • Initial Roster Submission
   • Ongoing Roster Maintenance
     • Drops/Withdrawals/Removals
6. Student Support Services
7. Contingency Plans
   • Transfer Students
   • Instructor Changes
   • Substitute Instructors

REFERENCE: Partnership Procedures

A. Purpose; Process

In accordance with the Illinois Dual Credit Quality Act and in alignment with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) accreditation standards, all dual credit courses offered in District high schools are subject to review by the community college:

Dual Credit Quality Act 110 ILCS 27/16

Course content, course delivery, and course rigor shall be evaluated by the community college chief academic officer or his or her designee, in consultation with the school district's superintendent or his or her designee. The evaluation shall be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the community college district's review and evaluation policy and procedures for on-campus adjunct faculty, including visits to the secondary class. This evaluation shall be limited to the course and the ability of the instructor to deliver quality, rigorous college credit coursework. This evaluation shall not impact the instructor's performance evaluation under Article 24A of the School Code.

Higher Learning Commission Guidelines for Dual Credit

The institution, specifically its academic departments and disciplinary faculty, exercises proper monitoring and oversight of its dual credit activity to ensure that dual credit courses or programs meet higher education standards.

NACEP Accreditation Standard C3

Faculty liaisons conduct site visits to observe course content and delivery, student discourse and rapport to ensure the courses offered through the concurrent enrollment program are equivalent to the courses offered on campus.

The College’s appropriate academic designee will observe and review the delivery of each Type A Course in a manner that is consistent with the College’s review and evaluation policy and procedures for on-campus adjunct faculty and any related agreements set forth in the partnership procedures.

1. The College will schedule and coordinate all aspects of the observation and review with the Instructor in a collaborative manner.
2. This evaluation shall not impact the Instructor’s performance evaluation under Article 24A of the School Code.
3. The evaluation may impact the Instructor’s approved status and future eligibility as an adjunct faculty member for that Course in accordance with the College’s evaluation policies and procedures.

B. Sharing Results

No later than thirty (30) days after the observation and review, the College will share the results with the District Liaison and be available to discuss the results with the District Liaison, the High School Department Chair, and the Instructor. 

A. Type A Courses

1. The College does not currently charge students tuition or fees for Type A courses.
2. The District or students are responsible for the cost of all required textbooks or materials.

B. Type B Courses

1. The use of College faculty members is subject to a cost of instruction fee of $1,500 per credit hour for dual credit courses taught at District-managed locations. 
2. The District or students are responsible for the cost of all required textbooks or materials.

C. Type C Courses

1. The College currently charges a cost of instruction fee of $1,500 per credit hour for dual credit courses taught online by College faculty members through established dual credit partnerships.
2. The District is responsible for payment to the College upon receipt of an invoice from the College for requested and approved dual credit courses.
3. The District may request a list of recommended College faculty members to contract with and pay directly to deliver course content online.
4. The College charges students its current tuition rates and associated course fees for courses taught online by College faculty members outside of established dual credit partnerships.
5. The District or students are responsible for the cost of all required textbooks or materials.

D. Type D Courses

1. The College currently charges students its current tuition rates and associated course fees for courses taught at the College by College faculty members. 
2. The District or students are responsible for the cost of all required textbooks or materials.

E. Type E Courses

1. The District is responsible for the costs of delivery of Type E courses.
2. The District or students are responsible for the cost of all required textbooks or materials.

If the District is not able to provide or pay for the facilities, equipment, materials, or supports such as academic advising necessary to offer a Course (“Supplemental Requirements”) and the College is willing to address the Supplemental Requirements on behalf of the District to offer the course at a high school, the District and College must agree to a supplemental fee to cover the Supplemental Requirements.  

A. District Payments

For Courses where the District is making payment to the College for fees and, if applicable, textbooks and materials, the College will invoice the District annually. The District will pay the invoice in accordance with standard District payment processes. 

B. Student Payments

For courses where students are responsible for making payments to the College for tuition and associated course fees, students should follow the instructions provided through their student account to make payments by semester due dates to remain enrolled in tuition-bearing dual credit courses.

A. Prospective Student Selection 

1. The District Liaison (or designees) will ensure that all students enrolling in a dual credit course for the opportunity to earn college credit:

   • are in good academic standing at the high school level;

   • complete the admission process within the window of opportunity and meet eligibility requirements;

   • are advised regarding course options appropriate to their educational objectives;

   • have demonstrated the maturity level to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with college-level expectations;

   • are advised that these courses contain college-level materials, coursework, and subject matter.

B. Student Admission and Enrollment

1. The District Liaison (or designees) will work directly with students regarding the completion of admission and registration processes.
2. The College Liaison (or designees) will provide District Liaison (or designees) with adequate information about the College's admission processes according to the information outlined in the partnership procedures.
   
3. The District (or designees) may identify students to enroll in dual credit courses who do not meet the College's prerequisites. In these instances, Districts (or designees) must:
   • identify high school credit only students on dual credit rosters submitted to the College, and
   • inform those students that they will not be awarded college credit even upon successful completion of dual credit courses wherein they are indicated as enrolled for high school credit only. 

C. Awarding College Credit and Transcripts 

1. The College will award college credit for each successful completion of a dual credit course by students who met the College's prerequisites for courses.
2. The College will subsequently record final student grades on official College transcripts, which are available to students for purchase through the process outlined by the Registrar's office.

1. the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of enrolled College students;
2. student conduct policies such as academic integrity, consequences of plagiarism, and academic dishonesty;
3. applicable student support services, including student access and accommodations and other targeted supports identified by College or District designees;
4. postsecondary education advising concerning the degree and certificate programs offered through the College; and 
5. general articulation of dual credit courses into postsecondary education degree completion plans.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as FERPA, protects the privacy of students' education records, and applies to all schools receiving funds under the U.S. Department of Education. 

To administer and assess the impact of partnership standards, the Parties will exchange student information, grades, and other appropriate data as permitted by FERPA and other applicable laws.

• If a student is enrolled concurrently in the District and the College, the Parties may disclose the student’s education records in accordance with FERPA and will mutually share data on the performance of students on a meaningful and timely basis.
• Each Party designates the other Party as its agent with a legitimate educational interest in students’ educational records for purposes of FERPA.
• The Parties will institute policies and procedures designed to ensure that its employees and agents comply with FERPA and other applicable laws governing the privacy and protection of student education records, and will protect student education records against accidental or deliberate re-disclosure to unauthorized persons.
• If a student is attending college — at any age — FERPA rights to the college records transfer to the student. If a minor student is "dually" enrolled, the parents have the right to access any records the college sends to the high school.

Students enrolled in dual credit courses taught at the high school or other District-managed locations shall have access to the supplementary aids and accommodations included in their individualized education program under Article 14 of the School Code or Section 504 plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, in accordance with established practices at the high school for providing these services.

Students who enroll in dual credit courses taught online or taught at the College by a college faculty member shall complete Heartland's Request for Accommodations through Student Access and Accommodations Services. The high school district and Heartland will work together to provide seamless communication about the student's progress in dual credit courses.