Technical College of the Lowcountry > News Item > BCSD, TCL to offer expanded dual enrollment opportunities

BCSD, TCL to offer expanded dual enrollment opportunities

Published on March 18, 2024

BCSD Tides program launching this fall on TCL’s Beaufort, New River Campuses

Beaufort County School District (BCSD) and Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) recently announced the BCSD Tides, a new dual enrollment partnership that will allow qualified BCSD rising ninth grade students to enroll in a full-time dual enrollment cohort at TCL’s New River Campus or Beaufort Mather Campus.

*BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez (left) and TCL President Richard Gough*

Launching this fall, each cohort will consist of at least 20 students. Like traditional dual enrollment courses, students will earn both high school and college credit for completing TCL classes taught by TCL instructors. Dual enrollment classes are free to district students. Uniquely, BCSD Tides students will complete the program as a cohort beginning in ninth grade and can graduate high school with two associate degrees and a technical certificate from TCL.

“The BCSD Tides program reflects a deepened partnership between BCSD and TCL in providing district students with more innovative and unique opportunities to excel while in high school as well as advance their academic and professional futures,” BCSD Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez said.

“The new partnership is a great way to leverage college resources to benefit more students. TCL’s college classes along with our state-of-the-art technology, business and health sciences programs are perfectly aligned with Beaufort County School District’s commitment to provide its graduates with post-secondary opportunities and our own commitment to meet the region’s workforce needs,” TCL President Dr. Richard Gough said.

Students will choose one of two associate degree pathways as a major for their ninth and tenth grade years and then will declare an associate degree minor with a technical program emphasis for their junior and senior years.

“What’s most exciting to me is that by the time these students finish their tenth grade year, they will have already completed an entire associate degree – or two years of college,” TCL Vice President for Academic Affairs Laura Dukes said. “Then, they have a chance to earn another associate degree with an emphasis in a specific technical area, fully preparing them for whatever college or career path they choose after high school.”

“BCSD Tides’ extended dual enrollment model is the cumulative result of both learning institutions’ commitment to elevating student learning experiences through technology and teaching,” said Dr. Mary Stratos, Chief Instructional Services Officer for the district.

The program’s rigorous face-to-face instruction meets South Carolina requirements for a high school diploma, Stratos said.

BSCD Tides majors and minors are:

MAJORS:

Associate of Arts: University Transfer Pathway
Associate of Science: University Transfer Pathway

MINORS:

Associate of Applied Science/Computer Technology-Programming
Associate of Applied Science/Computer Technology-Networking
Associate of Applied Science/Cybersecurity
Associate of Applied Science/Business Administration
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science – Medical Assisting
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science – Entrepreneurship/Small Business Certificate

Qualifying students attending Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and May River High Schools will be eligible for the cohort housed on TCL’s New River Campus and will have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities and athletics at their home high school.

Qualifying students attending Whale Branch Early College High School (WBECHS) will be eligible for the cohort affiliated with TCL’s Beaufort Mather Campus. Qualifying students attending Beaufort and Battery Creek High Schools will be eligible for this cohort if they “choice” into WBECHS, where they will have the opportunity to participate in WBECHS extra-curricular activities and athletics.

Student eligibility is based on the following:

Enrolled in BCSD
Must be a legal U.S. citizen or legal resident
Must have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 unweighted scale)
Additional criteria as determined by TCL Admissions and BCSD

For more information on how to apply, interested parents/guardians and students are encouraged to attend one of two sessions, depending on their home address of record:

South of the Broad