11 May Yuma high schools & AWC gather for Dual Credit Conference

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YUMA — Over 50 faculty and staff members from Arizona Western College and area high schools gathered at the Schoening Conference Center on Saturday, April 29, to envision the future of dual enrollment for the region.
Interim Vice President for Learning Services Bryan Doak welcomed attendees and shared data highlighting the 600 percent increase the college has seen in dual enrollment since implementing the $25 per credit hour discount for students 18 and under.
Keynote speaker Tonie Badillo, Dean of Dual Credit and Early College High Schools at El Paso Community College (EPCC), shared the 18-year journey of EPCC’s dual enrollment program, which now represents almost one-third of their total student population.
Following the keynote, participants actively engaged in a workshop to identify what’s working, what’s challenging, and what conference-goers still want to know in order to improve local dual enrollment partnerships.
Participants also enjoyed lunch and some fun trivia time before wrapping up with next steps and raffle prizes.
As the event culminated, participants agreed that the conference should be held annually with additional workshops to focus specifically on professional development for dual credit instructors and counselors. Planning for several initial priorities will take place in the upcoming months among AWC and area high school partners.
“One of the most valuable takeaways from the conference was the realization that our program has the potential to grow and evolve with the help of different perspectives and resources. Hearing from our keynote speaker and attendees with different experiences and backgrounds highlighted the importance of collaboration and the potential impact it can have on the success of the program,” said an AWC conference participant.
A participant from a local high school added, “I found valuable the breadth of knowledge and the networking among the different stakeholders in the room. It was a pleasure to work with others and share common goals and experiences.”