Our Vision

Transforming communities through increased access, success, and support in dual enrollment.

Our Mission

The Office of Dual Enrollment’s mission is to establish high-quality, innovative pathways designed to expand access to college credit for students who may not already be college bound or are underrepresented* in higher education in order to equitably increase college attendance and graduation rates so that students have a strong academic self-concept.  

1. To expand access to underserved rural areas and to marginalized students who may not already be college bound or are underrepresented in higher education. 
   
2. To increase high school graduation rates, college attendance rates, and college and career readiness for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education, low-income, or first generation through implementation of dual enrollment pathways. 
   
3. To support dual enrollment students in a caring environment that fosters students’ sense of belonging and strengthens their academic self-concept.  

*Underrepresented students may include first-time college students, low-income students, students who are current or former foster youth, homeless students, students with disabilities, and students with dependent children (Ed Code §76004). 

Our Values 

The Office of Dual Enrollment’s values are aligned with the college’s values. Through creating dual enrollment and middle college partnerships, Palomar College strengthens its commitment to transforming lives for a better future. 

• Access – Expand access to college for historically underserved, first generation, low-income students by making participation easy and free with a robust support system to successfully navigate higher education.   
  
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Connect with a diverse student body and pursue underserved and historically underrepresented students who have historically not attended college by including cross-culturally responsive curriculum in the dual enrollment pathways. 
  
• Academic Excellence – Increase college readiness and strengthen students’ academic self-concepts while holding students to high standards of academic excellence in a caring environment. 
  
• Student Focused – Build students’ confidence in taking college courses and increasing their sense of belonging in higher education through positive experiences at Palomar College.  
  
• Community – Develop relationships and identify social capital and agency in our communities to recognize the unique needs and strengths across the district in order to make connections between high schools, colleges, and employment. 

Our Goals and Objectives

GOAL 1: Build structure, capacity and institutional support for the Office of Dual Enrollment to meet the dual enrollment and middle college needs of our high school partners in both rural and urban areas.   

1. Establish office structure with a staffing plan (2024-2025) with consideration for support for both urban and rural areas of the district including services for concurrent enrollment and HS Articulation/Credit by Exam (formerly CTE Transitions).   

2. Establish a menu of services that Palomar College can provide to each of our district high schools.   

3. Create processes, including a course scheduling process and timeline, that are clear and transparent.   

4. Develop a process for improvement through an analysis of disaggregated data.   

5. Set target and stretch goals based on analysis of disaggregated data of dual enrollment and middle college programs.   

6. Establish a district funding process that supports dual enrollment goals and growth. 
    

GOAL 2: Increase access to early college credit through intentional pathways across the district in order to close historical equity gaps in education.   

1. Facilitate the application process beginning with making the special admit form electronic. 

2. Strengthen pipeline with rural high schools, especially in our tribal nations, by increasing early college credit opportunities and developing College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP) agreements. 

3. Increase early college credit opportunities for justice impacted students in our district by strengthening partnership with SDCOE JCCS.    

4. Strengthen collaboration between Dual Enrollment, HS Articulation/Credit by Exam, and CTEE Division to increase options for pathway development.  

5. Create early college credit models leading to completion of 12+ units toward general education certification, a certificate, or an Associate degree.   

6. Create a menu of classes/pathway map for each middle and early college at the education centers with culturally responsive pedagogy in mind.   
    

GOAL 3: Develop a sense of belonging in education, and specifically to Palomar College, in our communities through intentional recruitment of historically underserved students. 

1. Tailor recruitment efforts toward historically underserved and underrepresented communities.   

2. Host middle and early college events at the educational centers to build community and belonging.   

3. Engage parent and guardian support by leveraging parent groups and translating resources and materials into Spanish.   

4. Develop ongoing student and family outreach for college success      

GOAL 4: Strengthen coordinated and timely support across the dual enrollment student journey with a focus on success and retention. 

1. Strengthen collaboration between Dual Enrollment, Student Recruitment, and Counseling by outlining services for dual enrollment students by each area.   

2. Provide college counselors for middle college high schools and dual enrollment and require counseling appointments at specific milestones and momentum points along the dual enrollment student journey.     

3. Strengthen the collaboration between Dual Enrollment, the Disability Resource Center, and the high schools by updating the process in CCAP agreement.   

4. Systematically provide student workshops in the areas of recruitment, orientation, technology, study skills, and time management.   

5. Improve utilization of resources available to dual enrollment students such as tutoring, the Library, Career Center, Transfer Center, and more.   

6. Strengthen student support services by examining student journey and identifying the appropriate student support through the K12 partner or college. 
    

GOAL 5: Increase awareness and understanding of dual enrollment across the campus and throughout the community including Palomar employees, students, and families. 

1. Update or create operational and student handbooks and websites that are accessible and easy to read.   

2. Provide orientation and training with culturally responsive teaching methods for Palomar faculty working with dual enrollment.   

3. Provide opportunities for dual enrollment faculty to collaborate and connect internally and externally with our K12 partners.    

4. Provide training to departments about the dual enrollment program and its processes.   

5. Provide high school partners with in-service training about Palomar including enrollment processes, resources, degree attainment, and academic remedies.