New Waverly Isd
AGREEMENT FOR THE BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM
This Agreement for the Blinn College District Dual Credit Program (“Agreement”) is by and between BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT, a public community college established under Chapter 130 of the Texas Education Code and a political subdivision of the State of Texas ("College"), and:
New Waverly ISD
a Texas Public independent school district and political subdivision of the State of Texas, (District) with an Effective Date of August 1, 2025 (Effective Date). Individually, the College and the District are referred to herein as “Party” and collectively as “Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Texas Education Code (TEC) §§ 28.009, 29.182, 29.184, and 130.008; and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 4, Subchapter D and Chapter 9, Subchapter N authorize the creation of higher education coursework with a public school district for the purpose of students receiving dual credit, i.e., receiving both high school and college course; and
WHEREAS, the College is a state District desire to establish a dual credit program (Dual Credit Program) with eligible students enrolled in such school.
NOW THEREFORE, for the mutual consideration set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:
A. Blinn College District (“College” or “Blinn”)
- The College will offer dual credit courses in accordance with all applicable Texas statutes, rules, and policies of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Education Code, and the Texas Administrative Code. Appendix B lists all statewide goals for Texas dual credit.
- The College will ensure all dual credit courses are taught by qualified instructors, who meet SACSCOC/ THECB credentialing requirements, employ the same quality, collegiate-level curriculum, materials, learning outcomes, and standards as other sections of the same course taught at the College or awarded credit at the College, and assess student performance using the same standards of assessment and equivalent grading practices (based on College/Board of Trustees/Commission on Colleges and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges standards).
- In accordance with Applicable Law (as hereinafter defined), the College will offer dual credit courses listed in the current edition of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) and Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM). Courses offered in each semester shall be determined by the College and agreed upon by the District/School. Courses provided by the College under this Agreement shall be consistent with the educational purpose, policies, and quality of the College and shall be under the direct control of the College. Developmental courses are not available to dual credit students. Kinesiology courses that count towards the high school district’s physical education graduation requirement will not be offered for dual credit students.
- Dual credit courses may be offered during any semester in a location and classroom mutually agreed upon by the School and College. The College will extend every opportunity to use the available technology across all course support tools.
- The District is responsible for ensuring that dual credit courses align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum through the College. The College Crosswalk will be used to equate high school coursework to college coursework. Crosswalk courses shall be equivalent to those designated under appropriate Texas statute/rule and the most current applicable course catalog. All college credit earned shall be transcripted as college credit and will apply toward an associate degree or core curriculum at the College. Secondary credit will be awarded through the School for local high school graduation requirements. See Appendix A and C.
- The College will provide a list of eligible courses for enrollment and instructions on how to access enrollment procedures each semester. Course eligibility is subject to pre-requisite or co-requisite requirements, program approval, instructor availability, and amount of course demand.
- Whereas the College will follow existing Board of Trustees policies with regard to assigning a grade for College credit in the dual credit course, if the College grading scale differs from the District’s grading scale, the District/School will provide participating students with a comparative document displaying both the College grading scale and the District’s grading scale. See Appendix A.
- Although a student may pass a College class with a grade of D, the District/School will be responsible for communicating to students and parents that under 19 TAC § 74.26(d), credit for courses for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade which is the equivalent of 70.0 on a scale of 100; College personnel will not be expected to communicate with parents. See Appendix A.
- Dual credit students are not affected by the provisions of TEC §51.907. Therefore, dual credit courses with Q drop will be recorded as a W and will not count against the statewide cap of six state-drop-drops.
C. Applicable Law
The Parties agree to operate the Dual Credit Program and perform their obligations under this Agreement in accordance with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and relevant college and district policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, the following (“Applicable Law”): the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), as codified at 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 99; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; Chapter 37, Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code; Chapter 21, Chapter 22 of the Texas Administrative Code; Texas Labor Code §21.001, et seq.; and all other laws and regulations applicable to the subject matter of this Agreement collectively shall be referred to as “Applicable Law” or “Applicable Laws” when used herein.
- The College strongly encourages dual credit students taking classes online to have an in-school time scheduled to work with a high school proctor.
B. The School
- The School is responsible for providing a learning atmosphere and classroom facilities comparable to the ones offered on the College campus, regardless of modality of instruction.
- The School will provide instructional technology and other auxiliary equipment typically used in support of classroom instruction.
- The School will provide facilities, personnel, and equipment to meet the partnership agreement for the orientation/Internet, Interactive Video Conference (IVC). Appendix B describes video access requirements.
- The School will assign professional-level personnel, as applicable and as agreed between the Parties, who will be responsible for identifying, advising, and verifying prospective students’ eligibility to participate in the Dual Credit Program in accordance with Applicable Law.
BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Blinn College District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education or activity in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations.
Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. The College’s Title IX Coordinator is:
- Dr. Daren McCain
- Title IX Coordinator
902 College Avenue
Brenham, Texas 77833
979-830-4700
titleix@blinn.edu
For details regarding the district’s nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be found at: https://www.blinn.edu/title-ix/
BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
The College prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against any employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, or any other status protected by law. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of College District policy. For more information, please see College Board Policy DIAA.
BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT STATEMENT ON PARENTING SERVICES
Any student who, because of their pregnancy or parenting status, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the Parenting Services Office. Please note that the instructor is not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until verification from the Parenting Services Office has been provided. For additional information, please contact the Parenting Services Office.
SECTION 2. DUAL CREDIT ADMISSION - STUDENTS’ REQUIRED ACTIONS
- Students may attend the College under circumstances in which the student demonstrates readiness for college-level coursework or otherwise is eligible in accordance with Applicable Law. The following requirements for all students must be met:
- Obtaining written or electronic permission from an authorized school official or parent/guardian, if the student is under 18 years of age (or as otherwise specified and permitted by district policy);
- Completing and submitting an application for admission on the application platform provided by the College; and
- Any other requirements prescribed for the dual credit program in applicable College policies and procedures.
SECTION 3. CLASSES AND SCHEDULES
- Prior to the start of each academic year, the College and School will meet to discuss and schedule all dual credit offerings in a timely manner. To facilitate meeting College/Campus enrollment requirements, the District/School must notify the College of the planned schedule for dual credit classes prior to the beginning of each academic year. The course schedule must include location, modality, and instructor assignments, as applicable. The student must meet all placement and prerequisite requirements.
- Students who are enrolled in private or non-accredited secondary schools, or who are homeschooled must meet all admission requirements set forth in this Agreement.
In the case of technical dual credit courses, the dual credit class can include a combination of technical dual credit students, college credit students, and/or local articulation students.
- In order for the College to provide face-to-face instruction for an academic dual credit course on the School's or another high school campus, the campus must be within a reasonable commuting distance from a College campus; a minimum class size/number will be required. The Parties agree that the minimum number of students for a dual credit course in which the instructor is providing face-to-face instruction on the School campus will be specified from the District/School as well as other School district officials or educational institutions. If there are not fewer than the minimum number of students required, the Office of Dual Credit Programs will confer with the District's dual credit representative to explore instructional alternatives. The College will not be responsible for and will not provide transportation for dual credit students.
SECTION 4. FACULTY
- The faculty assigned to College dual credit courses must meet the same requirements for credentialing/guidelines required by the College. Each dual credit instructor will be required to submit the credentials as required by the College Human Resources office as required by applicable state and federal law.
- All faculty will have faculty handbooks, dual credit guidelines, and other policies as required for the employment of College faculty.
Section 4.B. does not alter the employment status of any Party's personnel, create liability for either Party, or constitute the employment of an employee of either the College or the District to employees or staff that affects the other's employer.
SECTION 5. FACILITIES
- Per SACSCOC accreditation guidelines, dual credit courses are offered in adequate physical facilities, whether under the control of the College or under the control of the School. The College will assess the facility prior to the beginning of instruction and periodically review facilities to ensure compliance.
- College and District/School representatives at each site will assess the facilities, schedule accessibility, and seat the instructional modality.
SECTION 6. FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER (FAST) PROGRAM
The State of Texas has created the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program which provides financial aid to eligible students for dual credit courses at educational institutions statewide at no cost to these students. The Texas Education Code (TEC) defines “educationally disadvantaged” students as those who have received financial assistance under public, non-profit program.
- A core curriculum requirement
- Completion of a study requirement
Eligibility for the FAST program is determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Each semester, the College is required to submit a roster of dual credit students to THECB for verification of FAST eligibility. In order to prepare and submit this roster, the District/School agrees to identify and verify to the College the students enrolling in the Dual Credit Program that meet the eligibility requirements for the FAST program. This verification shall occur by August 5th.
Students are eligible to enroll at no cost in a dual credit course under the FAST program if the student matches the following criteria:
- Is enrolled in high school at any time during the dual credit course of study
- Is enrolled in a dual credit course at a participating institution of higher education
- Has submitted eligibility documentation to the district designated dual credit representative.
If a student eligible for FAST chooses to enroll in a course for which the course cost is not reimbursed, the school will not be required to pay tuition or fees for that course.
SECTION 9. COLLEGE FACULTY COMPENSATION
- Full-time College faculty who instruct dual credit courses will be compensated according to College policy.
- College adjunct faculty or other instructors instructing dual credit courses as College adjunct instructors will be compensated per College dual credit instructional agreement for the respective semester.
- All other instructional service arrangements will be compensated in accordance with the Texas Community College Coordinating Board Dual Credit Faculty Salary Plan.
- Instructional resources (such as technology or instructional materials) as agreed to by the Parties will be covered by the District/School or College using FAST program funds, if applicable.
SECTION 10. LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES
Dual credit students and instructors may use the library resources located on any of the College Campuses. Students should use the library resources for completion of course requirements. Circulation privileges and other library resources for students and instructors who are part of the Dual Credit Program are identical to those provided to all College enrolled students.
SECTION 11. ACADEMIC ADVISING AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
- The designated academic advising contact for dual credit for the College is:
Shannon Williford
Director, Dual Credit Programs
979-209-8218
shannon.williford@blinn.edu - Support Services—Dual credit students may use the computer labs, writing centers, and learning centers on any of the College’s campuses.
SECTION 12. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
- Dual credit students must comply with College policies and procedures, including, the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the College Catalog: http://catalog.blinn.edu.
- Students must comply with the College's academic regulations as it relates to academic integrity.
(http://catalog.blinn.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=18&coid=1184#scholasticintegrity-faculty-responsibility-and-student-rights) - Students must comply with the College's conduct rules in cases of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until the student arranges a conference or is readmitted into the class. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for this conference. Failure to conform to civility protocol, please refer to College policy, FLB.
SECTION 13. FUNDING AND PAYMENT
- Tuition and fee payment is required for all dual credit courses, except as exempt by applicable law. A payment plan is available if requested. Payment is required before the Census Date or as otherwise designated by the College. A Dual Credit Program student who fails to pay by the required date may be dropped from all classes in which they are enrolled.
- Payment for dual credit courses offered at School facilities or by School instructors must be made directly to the College by the school district, student, or parent as required. The College will invoice the District for courses offered at School facilities, and the School will submit payments as agreed upon prior to the start of the semester.
- Textbook arrangements for dual credit courses will be determined by the College and the District/School.
- If a student requests to take a class more than two times, he or she will be responsible for the tuition charge at the current rate or $50.00 per semester hour for the course. Technical courses and FAST-eligible students are exempt from this fee. (see Blinn College Catalog - College Expenses)
- The College is not responsible for the transportation of dual credit students.
SECTION 14. RECORDS AND REPORTING
- Class Rosters. The College will provide class rosters (listing the names and grade in a numerical format of dual credit students completing the course) to the School at the close of each semester.
- Student Records; Record Retention; FERPA. In accordance with Applicable Law, each Party will maintain student records and as may be necessary or advisable to operate the Dual Credit Program; provide the other Party copies of such records to evaluate the proper and efficient transfer of grades, attendance, and dual credit status. Each Party will restrict access to student records as required by law. Both Parties will be responsible for maintaining appropriate student records retention in accordance with the College’s records retention policy and the District’s records retention law. The College will provide dual credit program records and student information only to the District/School designated representative, or as otherwise permitted by law.
- Graduation. The School will track and report to the College the graduation status of each student participating in the Dual Credit Program.
- Complaints/Student Issues. Both Parties agree to cooperate in the resolution of student or parent complaints relating to the Dual Credit Program.
Conflicts should be resolved at the lowest level possible with an understanding that, if not satisfactorily resolved, there is a procedure for advancing the conflict through each Party's organization. The key approach will be to maintain communication with early discussion sought on issues/conflicts and solutions summarized in writing after each discussion. In order to be collaborative, the College must be able to communicate with the administrators on campus in which the dual credit students/programs are present.
Each Party shall designate an administrative liaison for the purpose of resolving concerns or problems the campus (liaison must be Principal or other designated campus administrator) and College level (Director, Dual Credit Program). If a resolution is not found at that initial level, the conflict resolution should proceed to the respective District/School level administrator (such as a District Director or Assistant Superintendent of Instruction) and a designated College-level administrator (Director, Provost, and Vice Chancellor, Student Services or designee; if not resolved, the Provost and the Vice Chancellor, Student Services shall make final determination subject to the Board approval for the College. The resolution or result must be reported back to the appropriate Party's executive administration.)
SECTION 16. TERM AND TERMINATION
- Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence upon the Effective Date and continue until July 31, 2025 unless sooner terminated as set forth herein (“Term”). The Parties may meet before the expiration of the Term to discuss renewal of the Agreement.
- Termination for Convenience. Either Party may terminate this Agreement prior to expiration upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other Party. Such notice shall be sent to the authorized administrator listed in Section 17.
- Effect of Termination. If the Agreement is terminated for any reason during a semester, students enrolled in dual credit courses at the time of termination shall be permitted to complete such courses and receive appropriate credit. All fees, tuition, and other costs and obligations incurred prior to the effective date of termination owed under the terms of this Agreement shall remain payable.
SECTION 17. GENERAL CONTRACT TERMS
- Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Recitals, the Appendices, and any exhibits, all of which are incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties regarding the subject matter here described. This Agreement supersedes all negotiations or previous agreements between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Parties expressly acknowledge that in entering into and executing this Agreement the Parties rely solely upon the representations and agreements contained in this Agreement and not otherwise.
- Amendments. This Agreement may be modified and amended only by written signatures of both Parties, and any such modification and amendment shall be deemed to become a part of this agreement.
- Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement and the rights and obligations herein shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of law principles, and venue for resolution of any dispute, if required to be resolved in a court, shall be in Washington County, Texas or the courts of Washington County, Texas for any action under this Agreement.
- Notice. All notices hereunder by either party shall be in writing and delivered (1) by hand, (2) by U.S. Postal Service certified mail, return receipt requested, (3) by nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (4) by email with confirmation of receipt as a PDF attachment, to the other party’s authorized representative set forth below or to such other person or address as either party may hereafter specify by written notice.
Mailing Address:
New Waverly ISD
Attn: Superintendent
355 Front Street, New Waverly, Texas 77358
Contact: Shannon Williford
Email: shannon.williford@blinn.edu
- Relationship of the Parties. In the performance of their respective duties hereunder, the Parties hereto and their respective employees and agents, are at all times acting and performing as independent contractors of each other (notwithstanding the foregoing, employees of the District may teach college courses as adjunct professors of the College or through some other teaching arrangement, if such arrangement is approved in advance by the Parties). This Agreement does not create a partnership or joint venture between the parties hereto, nor does it authorize either Party to serve as the legal representative or agent of the other. No Party will have the authority to act for or bind another Party in any respect, to incur or assume any expense, debt, obligation, liability, or make any representation on behalf of the other Party. Neither Party, as such, shall have control over the other party with respect to its hours, times, employment, etc. The Parties acknowledge and agree that no Party will be liable for the negligence or intentional wrongful acts, errors, or omissions, if any, of the other Party, its employees, agents, or representatives.
- No Waiver. No waiver or non-enforcement by either Party of any right, power, privilege or remedy, or any breach or default, or provision of, this Agreement or any amendment hereto, or pursuant to this Agreement will impair any such right, power, or privilege or be construed as a waiver of or acquiescence in any breach or default in the future, or a waiver of any other right, power, privilege, or remedy, or any breach or default, of any kind or character under this Agreement or pursuant to this Agreement.
- Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
J. Counterparts; Electronic Signature; Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be one, and all of which will constitute one and the same instrument. Each Party may rely on facsimile or electronic signature pages as if such facsimile or electronic signatures were originals. The Parties consent to receive documents, information, and notices via electronic mail.
SECTION 18: LIST OF APPENDICES
The following appendices are attached to and incorporated into this Blinn College Dual Credit Program Agreement:
- Appendix A: Board Policy EG(LOCAL) and Current College Procedures for Granting Credit
- Appendix B: Dual Credit Approval Form
- Appendix C: Notice of Reimbursement of Services
- Appendix D: Dual Credit Course Crosswalk
- Appendix E: Advising Terminology
- Appendix F: Dual Credit Statewide Goals
EXECUTED BY THE PARTIES as of the dates set forth below:
- New Waverly High School
- Name of School
- Mary Hensley, Ed.D., by Leighton Schubert,
signature authority for the Chancellor
of the Blinn College District - Date: 7/31/2025
Signature:
Mary Hensley, Ed.D.
Chancellor