Dual Enrollment and Early Admission Programs

Polk State College provides accelerated opportunities to academically talented students from all Polk County public secondary schools, many area private high schools, and students registered as homeschooled with the Polk County School Board. The application process begins online (www.polk.edu). Private school and homeschooled students must read the Dual-Enrollment Articulation Agreement and Addendum and agree to its terms and conditions. This document defines the qualifications, rules, and regulations regarding dual-enrollment programs offered at Polk State College that apply to all Polk County. A Polk County Public School student must use the Polk County Public School’s portal called DELTA to gain approval for class registration. A private or homeschooled student must complete the Dual-Enrollment Approval Form. The Dual Enrollment webpage of the College website provides more complete details.

Additionally, an interested student may also contact a Student Success Advisor on the Winter Haven Campus or on the Lakeland Campus via phone or email (863.297.1000 or deregistration@polk.edu). When contacting via email, the high school name must be included in the subject line. Information is available from school guidance offices, at Polk State’s advising offices, and through the College’s website (www.polk.edu).

Polk State College offers accelerated learning through three early college programs: The Accelerated Degree Program, Full-Time Early Admission, and Dual Enrollment. All of these options are commonly referred to under the umbrella term “dual-enrollment.” The student’s tuition and fees for approved dual-enrollment courses are waived by the College.

Additionally, the College provides dual-enrollment opportunities through its three Collegiate High Schools: Chain of Lakes Collegiate, Lakeland Collegiate, and Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate. More information about the Collegiate Program can be found on the College’s website.

The Polk County School Board provides textbooks to public school dual-enrollment students. A student attending a private school must follow the textbook policy of the specific private school. The College provides textbooks and required supplies to eligible homeschooled students who are registered with the Polk County School District. The Dual-Enrollment Student Textbook Policy includes the following related to eligible homeschooled students:

1. Course materials must be obtained from the Polk State College Bookstore on the campus on which the student is taking classes.
2. Course materials are available between the Financial Aid Bookstore Purchase Dates as specified on the Polk State College Academic Calendar. The Academic Calendar is available online (https://www.polk.edu/academics/academic-calendars/).
3. A student may obtain course materials on the business day following the date the student enrolls for the course (i.e., for a course requiring supplies).
4. The student must bring two printed copies of the course schedule to the College Bookstore to receive course materials.
5. The student is required to provide photo identification as well a valid e-mail address to receive communication from the College Bookstore. Each student should monitor the e-mail address provided to the Bookstore throughout the semester for communication regarding return dates for books and materials.
6. Course materials must be returned to the College Bookstore by the specified date. A student who fails to return course materials is subject to a financial hold on his or her account. Additionally, registration is canceled for any courses in the upcoming term, and the individual is barred from further registration until the obligation is satisfied.

Dual-enrollment courses may be taken in a variety of ways: on a Polk State College campus, at a high school in a class taught by a Polk State College-approved instructor, or via the Internet through distance learning. Courses may be taken as part of a student’s regular high school curriculum or in addition to the high school load. A student is required to maintain a specific GPA in both the secondary school coursework and within college courses to stay in the program. The Dual-Enrollment Agreement provides specific details, as does the College’s Dual Enrollment webpage.

If a dual-enrolled student withdraws from a course after the Drop Period (cf., Academic Calendar), he or she receives a grade of W on the Polk State College transcript; this counts as the student’s first attempt in a course. A student may attempt a course two times as a dual-enrollment student; the third attempt (or any subsequent attempts) may not take place until the student graduates from high school. The student’s third attempt (if approved) is charged at the full cost of instruction, which is approximately the same as the out-of-state tuition rate. This expense is the student’s responsibility. The student is advised that multiple attempts of courses can adversely affect future academic opportunities, potential program acceptance, admission status at the intended college or university, financial aid eligibility, and the cost of tuition.

Note: The information above reflects the rules and regulations in effect at the time of this document’s publication. Polk State College reserves the right to make policy modifications as necessary to address any changes in legislation and to meet the needs of the College. Updated information and details are available on the College’s Dual Enrollment webpage.