Highschool Administrators

Starting a concurrent enrollment partnership is an investment in your students, your staff, and your community. Successful programs are built through thoughtful planning, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to expanding access to college opportunities for high school students.

As your district explores partnership opportunities with Pine Technical & Community College, we encourage consideration of the following areas:

Expanding Student Access

A key priority of PTCC’s Concurrent Enrollment Program is increasing access to college-level coursework for all students — especially those who may not traditionally see themselves as college-bound.

This includes intentional efforts to support:

• First-generation college students
• Students from low-income backgrounds
• Students of color
• Rural students
• Students exploring career and technical pathways

Thoughtful program design, student advising, and course selection can help ensure these opportunities reach students who will benefit most.

Student Pathways & Transferability

Concurrent enrollment courses should support students beyond high school graduation.

When evaluating potential course offerings, districts are encouraged to consider courses that:

• Transfer easily within the Minnesota State system and beyond
• Align with general education or career pathway requirements
• Support multiple postsecondary and workforce pathways
• Provide long-term academic and career value for students

Strategic course selection helps students maximize the value of earned college credits while supporting future educational goals.

Instructor Capacity & Sustainability

Strong concurrent enrollment programs require long-term planning and collaboration between the high school and PTCC.

Schools should consider:

• Current and future instructor credentialing needs
• Potential instructor pipelines and professional development opportunities
• Scheduling and staffing considerations
• Long-term program sustainability and growth

PTCC works closely with districts and prospective instructors throughout the credentialing and onboarding process to help identify pathways toward qualification and program expansion.

Partnership & Planning

Each high school partnership is unique. PTCC values collaborative planning conversations that align concurrent enrollment opportunities with district goals, student needs, and local workforce priorities.

Schools interested in exploring new courses, instructor approval, or partnership opportunities are encouraged to connect early in the planning process.

For questions or to begin a conversation about concurrent enrollment opportunities, please contact:

Kierstan Peck
Dean of Outreach & Strategic Partnerships

We are happy to meet with districts to discuss course options, credentialing pathways, transferability, scheduling considerations, and long-term partnership planning.

Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC), as part of the Minnesota State system, follows a uniform pricing model for concurrent enrollment.

• $3,000 per course, per semester, per mentor-mentee relationship

This structure supports faculty mentorship, course alignment, and overall program quality.

Examples

• Example 1: One teacher teaches one course in a semester with the same faculty mentor → $3,000
• Example 2: One teacher teaches two sections of the same course in the same semester with the same faculty mentor → $3,000
• Example 3: One teacher teaches two sections in the fall and one section in the spring (same course and mentor) → $6,000 (one fee per semester)

Students must meet:

• Program eligibility requirements
• Course prerequisite and placement requirements (including high school GPA, ACT, MCA, SAT scores)

Non-Concurrent Enrollment Students: High schools may allow additional students to take concurrent enrollment courses for high school credit only.

However, all students receiving college credit must be held to college-level expectations and standards.

Students only need to apply and be admitted to PTCC once. They do not need to reapply each semester or request permission to enroll in each course.

Once admitted, students may register for any concurrent enrollment course offered at their high school, provided they meet eligibility requirements. This streamlined process saves time and creates a more seamless, college-like experience for students.

All high school instructors teaching through Pine Technical & Community College’s Concurrent Enrollment Program must meet credentialing requirements established by PTCC and the Minnesota State system. These standards help ensure concurrent enrollment courses maintain the same academic rigor, learning outcomes, and instructional quality as courses taught on campus.

Credentialing requirements vary by discipline and are reviewed in accordance with Minnesota State Policy 3.32 Faculty Qualifications and Procedure 3.32.1 – College Faculty Qualifications.

In general, instructors in liberal arts and sciences disciplines must possess:

• A master’s degree in the discipline or subfield, or
• A master’s degree in another field with at least 18 graduate semester credits in the discipline

Career and technical education (CTE) instructors are evaluated using a combination of:

• Educational background
• Related occupational experience
• Industry certifications or licensure
• Professional and technical expertise aligned to the discipline

A listing a qualifications by credential field is available here.

PTCC also recognizes that educators may demonstrate qualifications through alternative pathways and special expertise. As part of the credential review process, the college may consider discipline-specific professional experience, industry engagement, professional development, certifications, presentations, leadership roles, and other relevant expertise.

Instructor Application & Review Process

The approval process includes two steps:

1. Instructor credential review and approval process
2. Course alignment and approval process

Schools and prospective instructors are asked to submit:

• New Concurrent Enrollment Teacher Application
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Instructor Credential Review Form
• Additional supporting documentation, when applicable

PTCC works collaboratively with high schools and prospective instructors throughout the review process to help identify pathways toward qualification and ensure all required documentation is complete prior to course approval and scheduling.

To allow adequate time for credential review, onboarding, mentoring, and course planning, schools are encouraged to begin the instructor approval process early in the academic planning cycle.

For complete details regarding instructor qualifications, required materials, timelines, and onboarding expectations, please refer High School Teachers page.

Concurrent enrollment courses must:

• Follow the approved common course outline
• Include all required learning outcomes and major content
• Maintain college-level rigor and assessment standards

If an instructor is unavailable due to extended leave:

• The high school must work with PTCC to identify qualified coverage
• Substitute instructors must meet credentialing requirements
• PTCC approval is required prior to instruction

High school partners agree to:

• Provide qualified instructors (employed by the school district)
• Assist students in completing the college application prior to course start
• Ensure course rosters are confirmed by the 15th day of class
• Ensure grades are entered within 4 days of course completion
• Verify all student eligibility requirements
• Recommend and authorize student enrollment per Minnesota Statute 124D.09
• Administer placement testing in partnership with PTCC
• Collaborate on orientation/information sessions for students and families
• Lead local marketing, recruitment, and student selection
• Coordinate accommodations in partnership with PTCC
• Require instructor participation in annual professional development
• Participate in ongoing program meetings
• Provide approved textbooks and course materials

PTCC will:

• Approve instructors in alignment with Minnesota State, HLC, and NACEP standards
• Provide instructor orientation and professional development
• Assign qualified faculty mentors
• Award and transcript college credit
• Communicate student eligibility requirements
• Provide placement testing for CEP students in partnership with the high school
• Collaborate on orientation/information sessions
• Provide course outlines and access to learning resources (including D2L Brightspace and library services)
• Review and approve course materials
• Administer course evaluations and required surveys
• Participate in regular partnership meetings
• Ensure compliance with all system and accreditation standards
• Create contracts and invoices for school districts

Concurrent enrollment at PTCC is built on a shared commitment to:

• Academic rigor
• Student success
• Equity and access
• Continuous improvement

We value our partnerships and look forward to working together to expand meaningful opportunities for students.

Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC) is proud to be an accredited member of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).

NACEP accreditation ensures that courses offered through concurrent enrollment are equivalent in rigor, content, and outcomes to those taught on campus.

To maintain accreditation, PTCC aligns its program with national standards in areas such as:

• Faculty qualifications and support
• Curriculum alignment
• Assessment practices
• Professional development
• Program evaluation and continuous improvement

These standards guide the expectations and processes outlined on this page and help ensure that students receive a high-quality, college-level experience while still in high school.