Stephanie Perkins, instructional coach and dual enrollment coordinator for Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence (left); UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce; Clarence Shields, director of postsecondary pathways for Chattanooga Preparatory School; and Ja’Keel Daniels, principal and director of schools for Chattanooga Preparatory School, stand together in Lupton Hall during a celebration of new dual enrollment partnerships between UTC and two Chattanooga charter schools.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga today announced new dual enrollment partnerships with two Chattanooga charter schools—Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence and Chattanooga Preparatory School—expanding opportunities for local high school students to begin earning college credit while still in high school.
Representatives from UTC and both charter schools attended, including UTC Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce; Stephanie M. Orr, assistant director of dual enrollment services at UTC; Ja’KeelDaniels, principal and director of schools for Chattanooga Preparatory School; Clarence Shields, director of postsecondary pathways for Chattanooga Preparatory School; and Stephanie Perkins, instructional coach and dual enrollment coordinator for Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence
The agreements mark the first dual enrollment partnerships between UTC and local charter schools. Through the partnerships, students will have access to UTC dual enrollment courses both online and in person on the UTC campus.
“Dual enrollment is an important part of UTC’s commitment to expanding its educational footprint and strengthening our connection to the communities we serve,” Bruce said. “By partnering with local schools, we are creating opportunities for students to experience college early, build confidence in their academic potential and see themselves as part of the UTC community. These programs help us support our strategic vision of reaching 15,000 students by 2030 while also deepening relationships across our community. Most importantly, we hope these students continue their educational journeys with us after high school and ultimately become Mocs.”
Orr said the partnerships support the University’s broader goal of expanding access to higher education while helping students gain confidence in a college environment before graduating high school.
“Students get to take courses at a lower cost and start their college career earlier,” Orr said. “It helps them to build courage and self confidence in knowing they are capable of doing the college level work.”
Orr said the program is designed to give students multiple pathways to participate through online courses, face-to-face instruction on UTC’s campus and credentialed instruction offered at participating high schools.
Orr highlighted the affordability of dual enrollment opportunities through the Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant, which can help offset tuition costs for eligible students taking college courses while in high school.
“If they meet the prerequisites, students can take courses under the 2000 level and are able to use those grant dollars to cover their courses,” she said. “So far, it has been a very positive experienceand students say they are already in love with college. The experience builds confidence and they can see themselves attaining something they may have once been fearful of—especially when they are first-generation college students.”
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