Requirements for high schools and teachers to offer UNO dual enrollment courses, including approval of teacher credentials and alignment of course content with UNO standards. The application and certification process for dual enrollment teachers, ongoing eligibility expectations, and procedures for handling extended teacher absences.
In order to offer a UNO course for credit at your high school, your school must meet the requirements for each dual enrollment course. We encourage you to review the list of courses UNO currently offers for dual enrollment. If there is a course that is not currently on the list that you would like to explore, please contact the Office of General Education and Dual Enrollment for information and guidance on how to proceed. We encourage teachers to seek support of their principal. If your school already participates in dual enrollment with UNO, we suggest you contact your school/district dual enrollment liaison so they are aware of your request.
For a high school course to be considered for dual enrollment credit, two key processes must be completed:
- High school teacher credentials must be approved by the appropriate UNO academic unit.
- High school dual enrollment course content, approach, and rigor must be aligned to a corresponding UNO undergraduate course listed in the official UNO undergraduate catalog.
Faculty Qualifications
High school teachers must meet the same academic requirements as on-campus faculty in order to offer a dual enrollment course. The instructors must meet the expectations and requirements outlined in university policies and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) expectations for accreditation.
The guidelines set forth by HLC’s Board of Trustees in 2015, state, “Faculty teaching general education courses, or other non-occupational courses, must hold a master’s degree or higher in the discipline or subfield. If a faculty member holds a master’s degree or higher in a discipline or subfield other than that in which he or she is teaching, that faculty member should have completed a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline or subfield in which they teach.”
Credentials must be reviewed for each individual course and each individual teacher. For each course request, please include the teacher’s résumé and unofficial transcripts (both undergraduate and graduate are required). See Appendix B for guidelines on teacher criteria.
Dual Enrollment High School Teacher Certification
Dual enrollment high school teachers who meet the educational and experience criteria, as determined by UNO academic departments, will be approved to teach a dual enrollment course at the high school. Appendix B outlines teacher requirements for each UNO academic department. Teacher criteria vary from department to department and from course to course, therefore it is possible to be approved for one UNO course, but not the other. UNO does not offer general certification to teach all courses.
Length of Certification
Teacher certification is continuous, once fully approved by the academic department. Certification can lapse or expire when:
- The high school teacher leaves the participating high school
- The high school teacher does not maintain UNO Dual Enrollment Program or academic department standards
- Changes in UNO policy, course content, and/or accreditation warrant a change in teacher credentials
Lapse of Certification/Recertification
If certification should lapse or expire, teachers can request recertification. Requests can be submitted via email or mail to:
Office of General Education and Dual Enrollment
233 Kayser Hall
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182-0796
unodualenroll@unomaha.edu
How To Apply To Be A Dual Enrollment Teacher
To apply to become a dual enrollment teacher, teachers must submit a résumé, syllabus, expectations for dual enrollment, and unofficial copies of both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Documents are submitted via email or mail to the Office of General Education and Dual Enrollment.
Teacher Extended Absence/Substitute Teachers
In the case that an approved high school teacher will be out of school for an extended absence or illness, the high school will notify the Office of General Education and Dual Enrollment immediately. The school administration will provide the office with credential information (résumé and transcripts) of the substitute, which will be reviewed by the appropriate UNO department. After review, the high school will be notified. UNO’s commitment to student success extends to our Dual Enrollment Program and we will make every attempt to achieve a positive outcome in this situation.