Sep 10, 2014

Theresa Jones, the new director of the College of the Mainland Dual Credit Program, is focused on creating opportunities for students still in high school to earn more than 24 hours of college credit by graduation.

“Students want to get a jump start on college,” said Jones. The Dual Credit Program currently serves 822 high school junior and seniors, an 11.7 percent increase over last year.“We’re hoping to grow it to more than 1,000 in the next year or so,” Jones said.

Students appreciate the time and cost savings and the opportunity to begin college while still at home. “It gives them experience in the classroom with a college professor. It provides an opportunity for students in high school who might be first-generation college students to begin to experience some success and move forward with their education. We want them to know we’re there to support them.”

The program is open to students in nine area high schools, and they can take courses at their high school campus, COM’s main campus or the COM North County Learning Center in League City. Students can receive information about the Dual Credit Program at their home high school during COM staff’s scheduled visits that allow them to apply to the program, register for classes and take the ACCUPLACER placement tests.
 
“I really love the community college setting because it’s an opportunity for anyone who wants to work hard and change his or her life,” Jones said. “It’s very rewarding to see students with all their apprehension come, grow and then walk across the stage and graduate. And you know you were a part of it.”

Contact Theresa Jones at 409-933-8449 or Judy Pryor at 409-933-8679 for more information about the Dual Credit Program or visit www.com.edu/dual-credit.