Dual Credit Learning Format Options

OTC Dual Credit offers two learning formats: seated and online.

Seated courses mean students receive instruction from an approved high school instructor as part of their school day. Typically, this type of instruction is in-person and at the high school location. Launch instructors, while teaching online, are high school instructors teaching OTC courses and are considered the ‘seated’ format with OTC. The subjects available for seated classes depend upon the credentials of each high school instructor and accreditation standards.

Online courses mean students receive instruction from an OTC instructor and participate in class with other college students of various ages. This type of instruction only exists in the online format. Many area high schools offer this option for high school students to complete in a computer lab as part of the school day. The subjects available for online classes at the discounted dual credit rate are limited to a specific class list, provided within step four of the dual credit admission steps and checklist.

Contact the high school for course format and subject options with OTC Dual Credit.

Homeschool families are welcome to pursue the online option without contacting a high school.

Expectations and Policies

Students enrolled in dual credit are college students. The expectations outlined below assist students with how to navigate college before high school graduation.

In college, FERPA states educational rights are limited solely to the student, no matter the student’s age. Meaning, we cannot disclose student information to parents, even when students are minors. Students are encouraged to contact OTC directly.

Therefore, OTC expects dual credit students to act like college students, perform at the college level, and be responsible for their own education. The college-level expectations include regular attendance, active class participation, meeting class objectives and deadlines, and seeking academic help through the resources like the tutoring center. Additionally, students are encouraged to use and respond to their myOTC portal email, especially to contact their course instructor directly when a concern or questions relevant to class arises.

Students who are unable to actively participate in online class(es), are withdrawn from class(es) for non-participation.

OTC Dual Credit students follow OTC’s Academic Calendar. For example, when a student’s high school is closed and OTC is open, the student’s assignments for their online course are still due before the deadline.

Students and parents should carefully review the Important Online Dual Credit Information, How to be a Successful Online Learner, and the Student Handbook before deciding to pursue online classes.

The limited list of online class subjects, for the discounted dual credit price, is provided within the dual credit admission steps and checklist.

Accreditation and Transferring Credit

OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommision.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status can be viewed here. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2020-2021.

OTC participates in the CORE 42 Transfer Guarantee program. Most courses offered through OTC Dual Credit transfer to other public institutions in the state. The few courses that are not CORE 42, are noted in the class list within the admission steps. Math courses with a CORE 42 prerequisite (MTH 131 & MTH 140) will satisfy the math general education credit portion of CORE 42, but may not directly transfer to all four-year universities like other CORE 42 courses. Non-CORE 42 courses still have transfer agreements with other colleges and universities. Students are responsible for consulting with other college institutions about transfer policies. For more about these topics, visit documents and links.

Course Materials

Contact your high school to determine if course materials are provided or paid for by the district.

For seated courses, with an approved high school instructor, please contact the course instructor at the high school.

For online courses, with an OTC instructor, students can find course materials information within the enrolled student’s myOTC account after enrollment or in the course syllabus just before school starts.

Parents and students may search for course materials information through the OTC Bookstore, at any time. Learn more about OTC’s AutoAccess program, for any courses with “AutoAccess” listed.

Scholarships – During Dual Credit

Students with a financial need can apply for the Marion Bissett Hoblit Scholarship for assistance with the cost of their dual credit course(s). Examples of financial need include a recent job loss of a primary caretaker, a recent medical expenses to the student or immediate family member, and/or for students on free and reduced lunch at their high school.

The scholarship opportunity is competitive and limited to available funds each semester. OTC Dual Credit typically offers 1400 course enrollments in a semester. The scholarship typically covers the cost of 11 to 19 course enrollments each semester. Therefore, students and families with a financial need are encouraged to apply and make plans to cover costs in the event the student is not selected to receive funds.

Students must apply for scholarship funds during the semester payment window (see step 6 for dates) and complete their course(s) in order for funds from the scholarship to apply toward their invoice.

Students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact dualcredit@otc.edu for the application link. Those who apply will continue to receive payment reminders until all balances are paid in full.

Students able to pay their dual credit invoice, but then encounter a financial need afterward can contact us via dualcredit@otc.edu for additional resources.

Scholarships – After High School Graduation 

Ozarks Technical Community College is offering the High School Programs Transition Scholarship to students who earned credit in any of OTC’s programs for high school students (Middle College, Career Center, Dual Credit, Early Start or College Now).

High School Programs Transition Scholarship:

• This scholarship pays for one college credit course (up to five credit hours) at the in-district Tier 1 tuition rate.
• The one-time award is good for the first semester they choose to enroll after high school graduation.
• If a student is eligible for the A+ scholarship and receiving A+ dollars, the A+ scholarship would pay first. In other words, this scholarship would not be needed.
• Students would only be responsible for the cost of course materials and any associated fees. If they are out-of-district and/or take a Tier II course, students will have to pay the difference in tuition in addition to course materials and associated fees.

To receive the scholarship, students must:

1. 1. Apply to OTC – If you participated in an OTC class within the last year, and you remember your OTC ID, move on to the next step.
   2. Complete the FAFSA
      • If enrolling for summer classes: Complete the FAFSA for the current academic year. For example, if attending in summer of 2021, apply for 2020-2021 FAFSA.
      • If enrolling for fall classes: Complete the FAFSA for the upcoming school year. For example, if attending in fall of 2021, complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA
   3. Complete a scholarship application at OTC’s Institutional Scholarship.

If you have questions about the OTC Application or admissions steps hyperlink, contact admissions@otc.edu

If you have questions about the FAFSA or the High School Transitions Scholarship, contact financialaid@otc.edu 

Costs, Invoices & Payment

Costs

Remember, OTC Dual Credit is the most inexpensive option in the area and credits transfer well to other colleges! OTC Dual Credit courses cost half as much as our dual credit competitors and 80% off regular course rates at OTC.

Contact your high school to determine if costs are paid by the district or if student and their families are responsible for payment. Students and families and responsible for payment with the majority of our school partners.

The cost of dual credit courses depend on the format option.

Seated – Dual credit courses with an approved high school instructor (commonly referred to as “seated”) cost $55 per credit hour. Most classes are three credit hours and cost $165 for the course. Some courses with more credits will cost more than the three credit hour course examples provided. See Course Options by School Partner page for the cost of each course option offered at the high school.

Online – Dual credit courses taught by an OTC instructor and only offered online (commonly referred to as “online”) cost $55 per credit hour. See online dual credit class list within enrollment step 4 for a complete list of online course options in dual credit and the cost for each.

Course materials costs, or the materials needed to support learning in each course, is provided under “Course Materials.”

Invoices

Students and families are billed via an invoice to the student’s myOTC email and mailed to the address provided by the student on the OTC Application to become a student. Invoices list costs accrued and directions for making payment online via a website provided within the invoice.

Billing and payment options for dual credit do not exist with the student’s myOTC account. See more information about invoices and payment in step six of the enrollment steps.

Payment 

Students and families responsible for the cost of their dual credit class(es) make payment via enrollment step six no matter their course type.

Payment in full must occur after billing posts and before the payment deadline, or students will be dropped from their class(es) for non-payment. Disenrollment in college courses may also affect high school credits needed for high school graduation.

How to Enroll – Add Class(es)

Students complete each step in the dual credit admission checklist in order to be eligible. Please ensure information provided in each step is clear and accurate.

Course options by school partner for the discounted dual credit price are provided within the hyperlink above (see enrollment step four).

Deadlines for completion are posted within. OTC uses the date of receipt to OTC for completed items. No other dates are used. Students are not enrolled until they receive a “confirmed enrollment” email from dualcredit@otc.edu.   

How to Disenroll – Drop Class(es)

We hope students are successful; However, if a student is considering dropping, we highly recommend they first review the drop deadline, refund schedule, the possible impact on financial aid in the section below, as well as discuss high school credits and graduation concerns with the school counselor at school and parents or guardians, before completing the process below.

All college credit activity is evaluated for the purposes of obtaining financial aid for college courses after high school graduation. Meaning, activity in dual credit courses count toward the student’s ability to obtain financial aid for college courses in future semesters. Evaluation for financial aid includes enrollment(s), dropping course(s), and all final letter grades earned. It is important students make an informed decision regarding how dropping a class may impact their financial aid ability before dropping the course. Review the policy on our website before contacting Financial Aid office with any further questions.

The next step would be to contact the high school counselor. Afterward, if it is decided that dropping class(es) is best, the school counselor determines if the student initiates the drop process via a registration form or if the school requests the drop via email to dualcredit@otc.edu. If the student is directed to initiate the process, the student completes a new e-signature registration form. To drop class(es) in the registration form, students will select “drop” in the first column, list only the course information for the course(s) requesting to drop, and a drop reason for each, before the student signs and the registration form is delivered to the parent next from DocuSign  (see enrollment step four for more information).

After completion and two full business days have passed, the student can verify changes to enrollment access by signing into MyOTC and selecting the Canvas tab.

Course drop dates reflect the documented completion date of either process above to OTC. No other date will be used.

College Course Load

The number of classes students take in high school differs from the amount taken in college and the credits for each class differ as well. Most full-time high school students take 7 to 8 high school classes each semester. College students typically take less classes that are worth more credits. Four classes, or 12 college credits, is considered full-time in college. The average full-time college student takes four to five classes, or 12 to 15 credit hours, each semester.

Most first-time college students struggle with the differences in expectations, rigor, time commitment, and the level of independence and responsibility that comes with being in college, as opposed to their high school classes. Dual credit students often have to juggle more than high school and college classes. These students often participate in sports, clubs, and work as well.

Therefore, we recommend students start with two college classes, or 6 credit hours, their first semester. Students can take a maximum of four classes, or 12 credits, each semester. If students successfully complete 4 classes, or 12 college credits, with a 3.0 or higher GPA on their final grades, in a previous semester, they may enroll in 5 classes or 15 credits afterward. For more than five classes, or 15 credits, students will have to submit a time management plan, special permission from their parent and school counselor or principal to dualcredit@otc.edu, prior to enrollment. Students cannot take more than 18 credits in a semester.

Additional Resources and Information

Enrollment Services:

Contact dualcredit@otc.edu for assistance with enrollment in dual credit courses.

Academic and Learning Support Services:

Students enrolled in one or more OTC dual credit classes have the same access to learning and support resources as any other enrolled student. High school partners may have additional learning and support resources as well.

Visit Dual Credit Documents and Links for other information.