UpGrade

Passed in 2012 by the Virginia Legislature, House Bill 1184 mandates that individualized agreements be set up between the Virginia Community College System and the high schools that surround each community college specifying the degree programs that are available to students.  

The UpGrade program, developed in response to HB 1184, defines the high-school specific pathways that students can follow to earn a General Education Certificate or an A.S. in General Studies degree through Brightpoint. These two initial programs are designed for general transfer to a wide range of majors at four-year colleges and universities. Each high school in the College’s service region offers different dual enrollment, IB and AP course options. This means some students may have to attend class at Brightpoint in order to complete one of the two options. 

Student performance in dual and concurrent courses will be recorded on a college transcript, and could therefore have an impact on future college admission and financial aid eligibility after high school graduation. Therefore, students must be prepared to perform at the college level. Federal regulations require that a student receiving federal financial aid make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the standards set by the College and the federal government. These limitations include all terms of enrollment, whether or not aid was awarded or received.  College credit earned while in high school through dual or concurrent enrollment falls under these guidelines.

Generally students must earn a C or better in a college class or a score of 3 or better on the AP exam, for a course to transfer. However, each post-secondary institution determines their own transfer policy. 

Transfer Policies and Guaranteed Admission Agreements

To learn more about earning college credit while in high school, contact your high school counselor.