Utah: Enhancing dual/concurrent enrollment coordination

Not every state has an explicit advising component as part of its dual/concurrent enrollment programming, or has a system in place to steer students away from taking duplicative credit hours. Legislation signed by Utah governor Gary Herbert last Friday, however, strengthens the state's dual/concurrent enrollment program on both these counts.

The measure:

• Requires the state board of education and board of regents to coordinate advising to a prospective or current high school student who participates in the concurrent enrollment program.
• Specifies that "advising" include information on general education requirements at higher education institutions and how the student can efficiently choose concurrent enrollment courses to avoid duplication or excess credit hours.
• Directs the board of regents to make available specified student and student coursetaking information to any requesting higher education institution in the state system that participates in concurrent enrollment. (As specified in the bill analysis, such student information will facilitate advising for concurrent enrollment.)