What Does It Mean to Be a College Student?

Dual Enrollment is an opportunity to begin college early, but college is different from high school. Your instructor will provide a syllabus explaining course requirements, assignments, grading, attendance expectations, important dates, and course policies.

• Attend and participate regularly. College attendance policies apply even when the class meets at your high school.
• Read and follow your syllabus. The syllabus is your guide to assignments, grading, deadlines, and instructor expectations.
• Check Canvas and your Ventura College email. Do not rely only on your high school email or learning-management system.
• Communicate directly with your instructor. Ask questions, attend office hours, and reach out early when you need help.
• Know your deadlines. You are responsible for college add, drop, withdrawal, and other course-specific deadlines.
• Use support services. Tutoring, counseling, library services, accommodations, Basic Needs, and other college resources are available to Dual Enrollment students.

Learning how to ask for help, manage deadlines, communicate with faculty, and use college resources is part of learning how to "do college."

How Do I Get Started?

• Apply to Ventura College. Use the Apply Now link on the Ventura College website. Use a personal email address that you will continue to have access to after high school.
• Receive your Ventura College student ID number. The California Community Colleges account/ID created during the application process is not the same as your Ventura College student ID number.
• Activate MyVCCCD and complete required onboarding. Your MyVCCCD portal gives you access to registration, college email, Canvas, student records, and other services. Complete any required online orientation or onboarding steps.
• Choose your course with guidance. Work with your high school counselor, principal, designated school representative, and/or a Ventura College counselor to select a course that fits your goals.
• Complete the correct Dual Enrollment approval process. Depending on your high school, you may use the Dual Enrollment Recommendation e-form or DualEnroll. Not every high school uses the same process.
• Clear prerequisites. Some courses require prerequisite clearance before registration. Complete this as early as possible and provide documentation when requested.
• Register or complete enrollment. If you use the e-form, approval does not automatically register you. If your school uses DualEnroll, registration for the approved course may be completed through that system after approvals are processed.
• Confirm your enrollment. Check MyVCCCD to make sure the course appears on your official schedule. Then review your Ventura College email, Canvas, and instructor information.

Here is the next section formatted for readability, keeping all of your original text completely intact:

Choose Courses That Count Toward Your Goals

Dual Enrollment is most valuable when the courses you take connect to a goal. Before registering, ask how the course may apply toward a Ventura College degree or certificate, transfer preparation, a career pathway, or your high school graduation requirements.

• Plan ahead. If you plan to take several college courses while in high school, consider meeting with a Ventura College counselor to develop an educational plan. A clear plan can help you avoid taking unnecessary courses and can show how your college credits fit together over time.
• Verify requirements. Your high school determines how a college course applies to high school graduation or other local requirements. The receiving college or university determines how Ventura College credit will apply after you transfer.

Prerequisites and Course Requirements

A prerequisite is a course, skill, or requirement that must be completed before you can enroll in another course. Prerequisites apply to Dual Enrollment students just as they apply to other Ventura College students.

• Review options. Review the Schedule of Classes and course description before requesting a course.
• Submit documentation. If you completed a prerequisite outside Ventura College, you may need to submit a prerequisite clearance request and supporting documentation, such as a transcript.
• Understand the process. Dual Enrollment approval and prerequisite clearance are separate processes. Approval to participate in Dual Enrollment does not automatically clear a course prerequisite.
• Don't delay. Complete prerequisite clearance early so it does not delay registration.

Here is the next section cleanly formatted with headers and bullet points while preserving your original text word-for-word:

What If the Course Is Full or Waitlisted?

Dual Enrollment approval does not guarantee that a seat will be available in a course. If a course is full or has a waitlist, review the registration information shown in MyVCCCD and contact your high school counselor or the Ventura College Dual Enrollment team before selecting a different course.

• Avoid unauthorized changes. Do not assume that being approved for one course allows you to register for another course or section. A different course may require a new approval, prerequisite clearance, or updated school authorization.
• Follow CCAP rules. CCAP students should follow the instructions provided for their specific high school and CCAP section. Do not add yourself to a different section unless your high school and Ventura College direct you to do so.

Approval Is Not the Same as Registration

One of the most important things to understand is that approval does not always mean you are registered.

• Dual Enrollment Recommendation e-form: After the request is approved and any prerequisites are cleared, you must register for the approved course through MyVCCCD.
• DualEnroll: Once the required approvals are complete, registration for the approved course is completed through DualEnroll. You do not separately register for that approved class through MyVCCCD.
• Final check: For every enrollment method, check MyVCCCD after registration to confirm the course is on your official schedule.

Fees, Textbooks, and Course Materials

Dual Enrollment can significantly reduce the cost of earning college credit, but costs depend on the type of Dual Enrollment course you are taking.

• CCAP: Students are exempt from fees, and required textbooks and instructional materials are provided at no cost under the CCAP agreement.
• Non-CCAP and Self-Select: Eligible K-12 students are exempt from the college enrollment fee. Other college fees, textbooks, access codes, supplies, or course materials may apply depending on the course and enrollment type.
• Be prepared: Before the class begins, check MyVCCCD and the course information for any charges or required materials. If cost is a barrier, contact Ventura College before dropping the course so staff can connect you with available resources.

Here is this section cleanly formatted with headers and bullet points while keeping your exact text entirely unchanged:

MyVCCCD, Ventura College Email, and Canvas

Once you become a Ventura College student, you will use college systems in addition to the systems you use at your high school.

• MyVCCCD: Use it to review your schedule, registration information, student records, grades, college email, Canvas access, and other college services.
• Ventura College email: Check it regularly. Important messages about your enrollment, deadlines, and student account may not be sent to your high school email.
• Canvas: Many instructors use Canvas for the syllabus, announcements, assignments, course materials, grades, and messages. Log in early and check it throughout the term.

Your Course Syllabus

Your syllabus is your guide to the course. Read it at the beginning of the term and keep it available throughout the class.

• Instructor contact information and office hours
• Course description and learning outcomes
• Required books or materials
• Assignments and exams
• Grading policies and grading scale
• Attendance and participation expectations
• Late-work policy
• Important dates and deadlines
• Academic integrity expectations
• Student support and accessibility resources

Enter major due dates into your calendar. If a policy or assignment is unclear, ask your instructor rather than guessing.

Here is this section cleanly formatted with headers and bullet points while keeping your exact text entirely unchanged:

Attendance, Absences, and Missing Class

College attendance expectations may be different from your high school attendance rules. Your instructor will explain the course attendance policy in the syllabus.

• Notify your instructor directly. If you must miss class, contact your instructor as soon as possible, check Canvas, review the syllabus, and determine what work you missed. Notifying your high school about an absence does not necessarily notify your Ventura College instructor.
• Communicate early. Repeated absences may affect your ability to remain enrolled in a course. If attendance becomes a problem, communicate early with your instructor and your high school counselor or CCAP contact.

Grades and Your Permanent College Record

College students receive a final grade for each course. Unlike high school, you may not receive regular progress reports or marking-period grades. Your syllabus explains how your grade is calculated.

• Monitor your progress. Review Canvas and instructor feedback throughout the semester. If you are unsure about your grade or course expectations, contact your instructor early and use office hours or tutoring.
• Understand the impact. Your Dual Enrollment grade becomes part of your permanent VCCCD academic record and appears on your Ventura College transcript. That record may later be considered when you continue at Ventura College, attend another college, transfer to a university, or apply for financial aid.

What Do the College Grade Symbols Mean?

College transcripts may include symbols that are different from the traditional A-F grades. The following is a quick reference. See the current Ventura College Catalog for the complete definitions and rules that apply to each grade symbol.