2023 - 2024 Concurrent Enrollment Program Student and Parent Handbook

Welcome to EICC’s College Connections Program

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (Clinton, Scott and Muscatine) have collaborated with area high schools to offer high school students opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school. This program is called College Connections. We are excited for students to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

First, we want to congratulate you for joining a growing nationwide movement designed to meet the aspirations and expectations of students, parents, businesses and educators across the country. Choosing to take College Connections courses is an exciting step towards future plans in higher education. College Connections has the potential to help students gain college experiences, excel in career and college readiness, access scholarship opportunities, become competitive in future program selection and save on college costs while attending high school.

EICC’s College Connections program enables students to be enrolled in college and their high school simultaneously. Students can earn college credit on EICC’s campuses, in their regular high school classroom setting or through EICC’s online platform. EICC has college academic advisors assigned to area high schools, and EICC staff collaborates regularly with high school counselors, teachers and administrators to provide services to students.

Iowa community colleges continue to lead the nation in offering concurrent opportunities to high school students across the state. College Connections programming is authorized by Iowa Code 282.26, and 261E.1: Senior Year Plus (SYP). The Iowa Department of Education enacted SYP to provide Iowa high school students increased access to college credit, advanced placement (AP) coursework, e-Learning opportunities and career academies for college credit. College Connections courses implemented at the high schools are the same courses taught at our EICC campuses, and students are official EICC college students. The instruction is consistent and rigorous to satisfy quality standards, accreditation and EICC’s student learning outcomes. College Connections students must meet all requirements outlined in SYP legislation. Additional information about SYP can be found on the Iowa Department of Education website at educateiowa.gov

The College Connections program is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). NACEP accreditation ensures college courses taught by high school teachers are as rigorous as the corresponding courses offered on college campuses. NACEP accreditation helps EICC programs adhere to the highest standards so that students experience a seamless transition to college. College Connections instructors benefit from ongoing professional development through interactions with their faculty liaisons. Additional information regarding NACEP accreditation guidelines, program standards and more can be found at nacep.org

Visit eicc.edu/collegeconnections for more information.