Making dual credit available to high school students aids them on the pathway to a college degree, according to Russell Lowery-Hart, Ph.D., chancellor for the Austin Community College District. He adds community partners provide social services and academic support to ensure student progress.

“Dual credit is offered for free, so it really allows access to higher education for anyone and any lot in life, and then gives them a pathway to success that’s aligned to the work that our community has for them,” says Lowery-Hart.

Lowery-Hart joined WorkingNation’s editor-in-chief Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation Overheard at SXSW EDU 2024 in Austin.

He says, “Our employers are a big part of what we’re building – including all of our nonprofit and social service partners, and our educational partners in building an ecosystem that allows a student to get social services and academic supports from the institutions while they’re in class.”

Lowery-Hart notes the benefit to high school students, “[They] can graduate with a credential that could lead to a family-sustaining wage or, what we’re seeing happen now, they can graduate high school with an associate degree and then immediately matriculate into one of our four bachelor’s degrees – cybersecurity, nursing, engineering, and software development.”

Learn more about the Austin Community College District.