The Advanced College Enrollment Institute is Gadsden State’s dual enrollment program. ACE Institute permits eligible high school students to enroll in college courses concurrently with high school classes available online, on a Gadsden State campus or at the student’s high school. They are earning college and high school credit simultaneously.
Eligible students may enroll in the ACE Institute during the summer, fall and spring semesters. ACE Institute students may enroll in any Gadsden State course deemed acceptable by the student’s high school, including general education courses and career technical courses.
ACE Institute students are responsible for the cost of all tuition, fees, books, materials and supplies. Students enrolled in certain career technical programs identified as high wage, high demand may qualify for a scholarship. The ACE Institute Scholarship is funded by the Career Technical Dual Enrollment Grant from the Alabama Community College System. ACE Institute Scholarship applications for the 2021-22 school year will be available March 1, 2021, with an application deadline of May 1, 2021. Career technical programs given scholarship consideration include:
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration*
- Auto Collision Repair*
- Automotive Manufacturing Technology*
- Automotive Service Technology*
- Carpentry*
- Child Development
- Civil Engineering Technology*
- Computer Science
- Diesel Mechanics*
- Electronic Engineering Technology*
- Electrical Technology*
- Engineering Design Technology*
- Health Information Technology
- Industrial Automation Technology*
- Mechanical Design Technology*
- MSSC — Certified Production Technician*
- Precision Machining*
- Office Administration
- Paralegal/Legal Assistant
- Welding*
* Programs indicated with an asterisk are approved for placement with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Check out the video for tips on how to apply for the scholarship!
Admission Eligibility
High school students must meet the following criteria to be admitted into program.
- 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale for approved programs only
- Be in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade (students are considered in the 10th grade during the fall of their sophomore year)
- Approval from high school counselor
Admission Application Process
- Complete an Admissions Application
- Complete Dual Enrollment Program Approval Form with signatures from the student, high school counselor and principal.
- Provide copy of unexpired identification document, such as a driver’s license, for proof of U.S. citizenship
- Courses in English, math and computer science require minimum placement scores before registration.
Continued Eligibility
- Earn a “C” or better in all dual enrollment courses
- Students who do not earn a C or higher or withdraw (W) from a course, are suspended from ACE Institute for one term, not to include the summer term
- Students can reapply following the one-term suspension
Congratulations on being accepted into the ACE Institute! Please review the Admitted Students Checklist for ACE Institute before the first day of class:
- Register for classes with your Enrollment Specialist. You must complete and submit a Dual Registration Form before you will be able to register.
- Pay for classes online through OneACCS or in person at any Gadsden State Business Office.
- Print your class schedule from OneACCS.
- Attend ACE Orientation (required for ACE Scholarship recipients, but all dual enrollment students are strongly encouraged to attend).
- Get your student ID & parking permit (first semester only).
- Purchase textbooks at the Bookstore.
- Make sure you are able to log in to your student systems (OneACCS and myGadsden State) prior to the first day of class.
- Review the Important Dates for ACE Institute for the upcoming semester.
Students must be sophomores, juniors or seniors.
Students must have a minimum cumulative (unweighted) grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for approved programs only.
An extensive list of academic and career technical courses are offered for dual enrollment students. Students should speak with an Enrollment Specialist for the entire course list, including career technical courses. "Special Topics" courses are not eligible for ACE Institute scholarship funding. Developmental courses may not be taken by dual students.
Typically, students must complete three semester credit hours at the postsecondary level to equal one credit (Carnegie unit) at the high school level in the same or related subject. Each course must be crosswalked by the Local Education Agency (LEA) before high school equivalency credit can be determined for named academic courses. Each LEA must crosswalk the secondary course of study and the post-secondary syllabus. High school crosswalks are not required for courses counting as elective credit (career technical courses, fine art courses, etc.)
Students are responsible for the cost of tuition, fees, textbooks and materials/supplies as required in the syllabus of each course unless covered by alternative funding sources, such as the ACE scholarship. Some dual enrollment students may qualify to participate in the tuition repayment plan. Students not enrolled in the tuition repayment plan, who fail to pay tuition and fees by the end of the drop/add period are not considered enrolled and may be dropped from course rolls. View the current tuition rate here: Tuition, Fees and Refunds
Dual enrollment students are not eligible for federal student aid (such as Pell grants). Students wishing to enroll in certain high wage, high demand Career and Technical Education programs may be eligible for a dual enrollment scholarship through Gadsden State's ACE Institute. Students awarded the ACE scholarship may be awarded tuition and fees. ACE scholarship funds may also be used to cover costs of general education courses (math, science or English) in the eligible CTE program of study if the courses are taken concurrently with CTE course(s). Scholarship applications will be available March 1 annually, with an application deadline of May 1 annually. Applications still will be accepted after the priority deadline and will be awarded based on scholarship availability.
If a high school teacher meets the credentialing requirements of the college and is employed as an adjunct instructor by the college, the course may be taught by the high school teacher at the high school. With permission from parents and school administrators, students may travel on their own to college campuses to take classes. Students may also take dual enrollment courses online, however it is suggested that students taking an online course be recommended by their high school counselor, due to the discipline required. Dual enrollment students are encouraged to take summer classes to shorten their time toward a degree.
Dual enrollment credit is contingent upon high school graduation. Official college credit for dual enrollment courses will not be finalized on the student's Gadsden State transcript until proof of high school graduation is submitted to Gadsden State. Request that your high school send Gadsden State your graduated transcript as soon as it is available after graduation. Once Gadsden State receives your graduated high school transcript, you may request that we send your Gadsden State transcript to the college of your choice.