Our dual credit program has been accredited through NACEP since 2008. The accreditation process for NACEP is rigorous, thorough, and ongoing. For this reason, many dual credit providers choose not to obtain the accreditation, and therefore are not held to the NACEP standard for dual credit providers. Because we have been continuously accredited since 2008, you can be assured that you will be supported through faculty liaison site visits, communication and feedback, quick and courteous response from the MBU ECP staff, annual professional development opportunities, and tuition concession.
PARTNERSHIP
Because of MBU’s core Christian values, we value relationships and we want you to feel personally connected to the MBU community. You are more than a name or an email to us. When you contact us, we strive to be professional, friendly, and courteous. Parents and students who contact our office will be treated with kindness and respect. As a teacher or administrator, you are always free to offer suggestions or voice concerns.
Schools and teachers seeking to participate in MBU ECP must make a written or verbal request to the Director of MBU ECP. Typically a school’s principal, curriculum director, or head counselor makes the request. If the program director agrees the school meets the criteria to provide MBU ECP programs, the review of teachers and courses begins.
MBU ECP STUDENTS
The MBU ECP Student Guide and MBU ECP Student Policies contain vital information and policies pertaining to your students. It is imperative that all students, parents, teachers, coordinators, and administrators become familiar with this information and adhere to the policies.
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL
Criteria include teacher qualifications, appropriate and rigorous high school prerequisite courses, student selection, and course alignment with the respective MBU course. The high school principal or designated coordinator submits names of teachers and courses to be reviewed for approval. MBU ECP then provides the school with the following items for prospective teachers and courses:
MBU Course Syllabus sample provided by MBU faculty. Click here for the syllabus checklist to ensure alignment.
Criteria for Teachers Teachers seeking to teach Missouri Baptist University courses through MBU ECP must demonstrate strong credentials in the chosen discipline, experience in teaching the subject, a recommendation by their high school administrators, and a dedication to offering students a challenging college course in the high school setting.
Candidates for EXCEL dual credit teaching are expected to hold the following credentials expected of part-time instructors on the MBU campus and must be approved by the chair or dean of the academic division in which the course is housed:
A master’s degree in the discipline or a master’s degree including, or in addition to, at least 18 graduate hours in the EXCEL dual credit subject.
Three years of teaching experience in the subject area.
Certification in the subject area.
Process of Candidate Review
The Director of MBU ECP may first ask for a short summary of the candidate’s credentials and experience. If the candidate is not likely to be approved, the name is not entered into the candidate list and no application forms are submitted for review.
If the Director determines that the credentials merit a review by a division chair, the candidate completes the MBU ECP Faculty Information Form and submits it along with undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
The Director reviews the materials for completeness and then forwards the information to the appropriate division chair or dean for review. The division chair or dean makes the decision whether to approve* the candidate.
*The MBU ECP program received written approval on December 19, 2016, from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to extend the time allotted for compliance with HLC Policy assumed Practice B.2., specifically for faculty providing dual credit instruction. The time allotted for dual credit faculty to come into compliance has been extended until September 1, 2023. Per the HLC approval letter, the dual credit teacher may be granted the extension if he/she develops and maintains a plan on file with the MBU ECP program to come into compliance by the deadline. This would result in a “provisional approval” to teach in the MBU ECP program. Candidates who have been granted the HLC extension are notified that they will need additional discipline-specific graduate courses and that they must submit a plan for completion and continue to provide updated transcripts showing ongoing successful completion or required graduate course work.
If the candidate is approved by the chair/dean, then the Director notifies the high school teacher and coordinator with an acceptance letter. Candidates will be notified that they are required to attend the annual MBU ECP summer professional development and training workshop to obtain orientation and training prior to enrolling students in their course.
Candidates who need a significant number of graduate hours or degree completion are notified that they will not be approved to teach an MBU course until the appropriate graduate work is completed. The Director contacts the coordinator and the teacher and lists the additional criteria that would need to be met before the candidate could be approved. The candidate’s materials will remain on file.
Candidate Training and Orientation
Once accepted, EXCEL dual credit teachers are required to obtain new instructor training and orientation prior to enrolling students in their dual credit classes. This training is available at the annual MBU ECP summer professional development and training workshop. Candidates who are unable to attend the event must receive individual training and orientation prior to registering students for dual credit offerings.
Information Regarding Course Approval Courses taught for dual credit must be approved by the appropriate MBU Chair. A review of course content, assessments, and texts ensures that the high school meets the rigor of the University course.
Process of Course Approval
A district or high school administrator, curriculum coordinator, or guidance counselor contacts MBU to request a review of a possible dual credit offering. The MBU ECP director sends a course description and sample syllabus to the high school.
Once the Director determines a further review is warranted and that an approved dual credit teacher is identified, the teacher submits a Course Approval Form with a proposed syllabus based on an MBU course syllabus. The proposed syllabus should be aligned with and formatted like the sample provided by the appropriate academic chair or faculty liaison. A syllabus checklist should be utilized to ensure alignment.
Upon receipt of the proposed syllabus, the appropriate EXCEL faculty liaison (usually the academic division chair and/or the instructor for the on-campus course) reviews the syllabus to determine if the high school can deliver the course content, appropriate text, methods, and assessments to align with the MBU course.
If there is some discrepancy between the MBU syllabus and the proposed syllabus, the EXCEL faculty liaison works with the high school teacher and, in some districts, with the appropriate curriculum director to modify the high school course. If the University determines the high school cannot meet the expectations of the on-campus course, the high school does not receive approval to offer the MBU course.
If both the teacher and the proposed syllabus are approved by the MBU faculty liaison or by the division chair, MBU will approve the course offering for the next school year. The Course Approval Form includes three signatures: a high school administrator’s signature, the appropriate MBU division chair’s or dean’s signature and the signature of the Director of MBU ECP.
Site visits provide opportunities for MBU ECP staff members and on-campus faculty to maintain contact with participating high school administrators, counselors, teachers and students, and to offer support to each participant. Faculty liaisons or MBU ECP staff, at the invitation of the high schools, complete classroom visits to speak to both students and teachers. In addition, courtesy visits are made by one of the staff to answer questions or provide materials. These methods of communication ensure that MBU courses offered at the high school sites reflect the rigor of the on-campus courses and offer continued, convenient communication between the university and EXCEL dual credit instructors.
Faculty Liaison Site Visit Procedures
The faculty liaison contacts the high school teacher to set up a time for the visit and, if possible, a discussion before or after class. This visit can occur in person or through video conferencing.
The faculty liaison ensure that updated materials (syllabi, sample assignments and assessments, resources) are available online or in hard copy for the high school teacher.
The high school teacher prepares samples to submit to the site visitor (assessments, syllabi, reports, portfolios, class handouts, graded papers with names redacted).
The site visitor goes through the appropriate process of entering the school, registering at the main office and wearing any designated visitor tag.
The site visitor observes the class and participates in the discussion if appropriate.
The high school teacher may choose to ask the site visitor to speak to the students or to answer questions.
After the visit, either during a conference period or later, the site visitor and teacher may discuss several items including student performance, instructional strategies, types of assessments, teacher questions or concerns and recommendations.
The faculty liaison completes a site visit report to provide feedback to the teacher and to the MBU ECP office. A copy of the completed report is provided for the teacher.
MBU FACULTY REVIEW OF COURSE
MBU faculty liaisons provide sample syllabi, exams, and other assessments. EXCEL teachers should ensure that their own syllabi and assessments cover the MBU course objectives. Each year they will provide their faculty liaison with the following items: a syllabus closely comparable to the MBU syllabus, sample tests, other sample assessments, and examples of student work. In addition, the faculty liaison may request other course materials and may request the registered students take the on-campus version of the final exam.
GRADES AND CREDITS
College courses are usually described in terms of credit hours. Some courses are considered as “three-hour courses.” In other cases, courses may be considered for one, two, four, or even five hours of credit.
The grading systems for each individual course will be explained to the students by the course instructor. Students earn course grades after completing the entire course, and the final grade is assigned by the high school EXCEL dual credit teacher. If the course covers the entire school year, one final grade is assigned at the end of the yearlong course. Questions about grades should be resolved with the dual credit instructor.
Because the high school semester ends later than the MBU semester, EXCEL dual credit students will receive grade reports from the MBU ECP office after high school instructors have submitted grades and after they have been entered into the student MBU transcripts.
To receive credit on a Missouri Baptist University transcript, students must fulfill the minimum student criteria, obtain parent or guardian approval, and obtain approval by the designated high school administrator or coordinator, and pay for the course.
Final grades should be based on a grading scale at least as rigorous as that of MBU:
90 – 100% A 80 – 89 B 70 – 79 C 60 – 69 D 59 and below F Withdraw W Stopped attending XF
Process of Submitting Grades
MBU ECP instructors are able to submit their student’s grades directly through our MYMBU portal.
Once the course ends, the high school instructor can log into their MYMBU portal to view their grade roster and submit their grades.
The EXCEL dual credit coordinator and/or the instructor should retain a copy of the completed grade roster in case a question arises.
Because the high school semester ends later than the MBU semester, students will receive grade reports from the MBU ECP office after high school instructors have submitted grades and after they have been entered into the student transcript.
DUAL CREDIT ATTENDANCE POLICY
Like students on campus at Missouri Baptist University, EXCEL dual credit students are expected to attend classes regularly. The EXCEL dual credit program accepts the high school’s policy for absence from an EXCEL dual credit course, and EXCEL dual credit instructors include the absence policy in their syllabi.
STUDENT EVALUATION
As it does for on-campus courses, Missouri Baptist University provides opportunities for MBU ECP students and teachers to evaluate the corresponding high school courses. The availability of course evaluations is a NACEP requirement and teachers are required to distribute them to their dual credit students.
All students enrolled in an MBU ECP course for credit are asked to evaluate the course through an online evaluation form. Teachers are required to provide students with the link to the online form and are encouraged to provide a few minutes of class time to complete the evaluation. Information received on the evaluation will be treated confidentially, and only group results will be reported to the instructor.
ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS: WORKING WITH THE MBU ECP OFFICE TO SERVE YOUR STUDENTS
Become familiar with the registration process and be able to answer students’ questions or direct them to the Director of EXCEL Student Services.
Assist students with the online registration process, submit grades, and course evaluations to the MBU ECP Office by the assigned date.
Notify EXCEL of anticipated changes in course content and/or text, overall curriculum, instructor, or any other situation, which may affect the quality or suitability of an EXCEL course.
When appropriate, speak with students about the transferability of dual credit courses within Missouri and outside the state. If students have questions that you can’t answer, please direct the students to the MBU ECP office rather than leaving them with incomplete or incorrect information. Encourage the students to check with the colleges/universities they are considering because the choices of institutions and majors can make a significant difference in how courses transfer.
CONCESSIONS FOR MBU ECP PARTNERS
During each semester, a high school teacher, counselor, or administrator who works directly with the MBU ECP program may receive a concession for one free Missouri Baptist University graduate course. The interested partner should contact the Graduate Admissions office to verify course schedules and request the graduate registration materials. Upon receiving the tuition bill, contact the MBU ECP office to obtain a concession form. Click HERE for a current list of available graduate level courses that may be relevant for dual credit disciplines.
MBU ECP partners whose children are registered for MBU ECP courses may receive a concession for those courses. An MBU ECP Concession Form should be submitted to the MBU ECP Office.
MAINTAINING EXCEL DUAL CREDIT INSTRUCTOR STATUS AND NON-COMPLIANCE
Maintaining Instructor Status
To maintain the approval to offer EXCEL dual credit courses and to receive tuition concession for one graduate course, EXCEL dual credit instructors must meet the following requirements per NACEP accreditation standards:
Each year attend an MBU ECP summer professional development and training workshop to obtain annual professional development and MBU ECP program updates. Although 100% participation is ideal, we realize that during a particular year, a teacher may be unable to attend the on-campus workshop. Teachers who are unable to attend the event are expected to provide a written explanation for their absence. The Director of MBU ECP will send email notices to instructors who do not provide a written explanation for their absence from the annual workshop event. The faculty liaisons of absent teachers will be notified that a professional development opportunity should be provided for the absent teacher within the academic year. This may include any information that was communicated during the summer workshop.
For each course taught, the dual credit teacher should develop and submit an updated MBU syllabus: fall (for year-long and fall semester courses) or spring (for spring courses). The syllabus should be submitted to the teacher’s MBU faculty liaison so that it can be checked for compliance.
Work with the faculty liaison to schedule a classroom observation and other consultations and provide any requested documentation pertaining to the course.
Complete necessary administrative tasks such as timely grade reporting and course evaluations.
Maintain communication with the MBU ECP office.
Non-Compliance Policy
The vast majority of EXCEL dual credit teachers maintain full compliance to the policies and procedures. In the rare case that an instructor is found to be in non-compliance, the Director of MBU ECP will make every effort to increase engagement to bring the instructor into compliance. Instructors who continuously do not meet the expectations are considered non-compliant.
Non-compliant instructors will receive notice by e-mail from the Director of MBU ECP, their MBU faculty liaison, and/or the MBU ECP coordinator at their high school sites specifying the area of non-compliance, corrective actions that must be taken, and a deadline for corrective actions. The high school coordinator will also be notified.
In the event that the instructor does not address the issue by the deadline designated in the first notice, he or she will be considered in a probationary period and will receive a notice as such from the Director of MBU ECP designating any areas of instructor non-compliance and a deadline for correction.
If compliance has not been reached by the deadline stated in Step #2, the Director of MBU ECP will notify the high school administration stating that the instructor is no longer approved to teach a Missouri Baptist University EXCEL dual credit course.
FIRST GENERATION INITIATIVE
MBU has an impressive history of working with first generation students. Click here to learn more about how you can nominate a student for the First Generation Scholarship.
MBU ECP ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Advisory Council was formed in 2018 to enhance the partnership between the MBU ECP program and its high school partners. It consists of select members from the MBU ECP program and faculty and secondary partner coordinators and teachers. Its purpose is to increase communication by providing a forum in which school partners share ideas, plans, and concerns regarding their schools’ college credit opportunities. Members are given opportunities to ask questions and give counsel to the MBU ECP staff in order to enhance service provided to the students, families, schools, and communities served through the MBU ECP office.
The Advisory Council meets annually on the campus of Missouri Baptist University. Membership on the council is by invitation. Teachers and administrators who are interested in serving on the Advisory Council should contact the Director of MBU ECP.
