TSTC, Texas schools end successful year in dual enrollment

(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College, along with charter schools, home schools and school districts across Texas, are wrapping up another year of dual enrollment.

“I think it went very well,” said Kadie Svrcek, TSTC’s director of internal operations for dual enrollment. “It was very nice to have all of the schools back, with students able to come back to campus in a normal sort of way and getting back into the swing of things.”

For fall semester 2021, there were more than 760 high school-aged students taking dual enrollment classes with TSTC. The number dropped to more than 640 students statewide in spring semester 2022.

For the 2022-23 academic year, more than 880 students are registered to take TSTC dual enrollment courses.

Svrcek said some factors in boosting the number of dual enrollment students include TSTC’s occupational skills awards, stackable credentials and pinpointing specific schools with programs that match up with what the college offers.

Aurora Everett, the Ferris Independent School District’s career and technical education, Pathways in Technical Early College High School and advanced academics coordinator, said students took part in Cybersecurity and Structural Welding classes this academic year. She said some students will continue at TSTC in the fall.

In the 2022-23 academic year, the school district will add HVAC Technology for students to take at TSTC’s North Texas campus.

“We have adjusted our schedule for next year to be more college and dual enrollment ready,” Everett said.

The Connally Independent School District had 15 students take part in several programs, including Automotive Technology, Computer Programming Technology and HVAC Technology.

“Our students love to attend classes and have a little break in their schedules to do something different than the traditional high school classes,” said Sara Schnelle, Connally ISD’s career and technical education director. “We had several students earn their industry-based certifications in their designated pathway. A majority of our graduating seniors will be attending TSTC in the fall in their pathways to either receive their associate degree or certificate.”

Next year, the district will have about 25 students taking dual enrollment classes with TSTC.

“The opportunities that TSTC allows for our students are fantastic,” Schnelle said. “It sets students up at an earlier age to figure out what they want to do for a career.”

New for TSTC in the 2022-23 academic year will be dual enrollment classes in the Process Operations Technology program in Marshall.

“It’s a really good program to go into,” Svrcek said. “I am excited to see how it goes, especially with Eastman Chemical Co. being our main industry partner with that. They are very good at getting students internships.”

Registration continues for the fall semester. For more information, go to tstc.edu.